420 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



OUR APPLE MARKETS. 



[HERE is no doubt that apple growing has received 

 a severe set back in Ontario on account of the 

 low prices which have prevailed during 1896. 

 Many growers who have land in orchard that is 

 adapted to peaches or other desirable fruits, or 

 even to vegetable gardening, are digging out the 

 apple trees to make room for more paying crops. 

 Certainly the time has passed when apple 

 orchards of ordinary varieties, without cultiva- 

 tion, manure or pruning, will pay the owner, as 

 they have done in the past ; and the time has 

 come when such orchards should either be dug out, or top-grafted to the very 

 finest varieties. 



Any one who studies the foreign apple reports, as well as those from 

 Chicago and the South, will find that the finest varieties are worth growing, if 

 the owner is prepared to give them the proper care. Canadian apples take the 

 lead in foreign markets because of their keeping qualities, their beauty of color, 

 and high flavor. As an example in proof we quote froin a report by James 

 Adam, Son & Co., Liverpool, dated the 24th October, 1896 : 



"Arrivals this week show the enormous total of 107,782 barrels, a quantity never 

 previously recorded, even at the height of the heaviest season. Of these, about half were 

 catalogued on Wednesday, and, the quality of Boston and New York stock being mostly 

 of a rather low standard, price, unfortunately, experienced a further decline. 



" Canadian stock, however, has maintained a steady tone throughout, anything really 

 choice being eagerly competed for, thus proving that a good outlet exists for fruit of this 

 class. Unfortunately, there is yet plenty of room for improvement in values, if senders 

 are to find the business a profitable one, as, after deducting the heavy freight charges, 

 results, in many instances, barely cover packing expenses, much less cost of fruit, etc. All 

 the same, we can hardly think that proper care is being given to the selecting of fruit for 

 export, so many samples shown this week being anything but good. This, perhaps, applies 

 more particularly to Greenings than to other varieties, many of them being badly spotted, 

 though Baldwins, as a whole, are somewhat of a disappointment thus far, the stock 

 running small in size, and, as before pointed out, being unattractive in appearance Kings 

 maintain a high standard of quality, and the trade is not failing to appreciate them. 

 Snows, too, considering the quantity, command a fair share of attention, and, although 

 prices were hardly so firm on Wednesdaj', they picked up again yesterday, when some 

 very satisfactory sales were made of this variety." 



In Messrs. Woodall & Co.'s report of Nov. 7th, over 85,000 barrels were 

 reported as receipts of the week, and prices promising to advance. Newtown 

 Pippins were arriving and selling from 14/ to 22/ for medium to good; while 

 Baldwins and Greenings were bringing 9/ to 10; Blenheims 10/ to 12/3, and 

 King 11/ to 13/. 



On the 18th of November the following encouraging reports came to hand : 



Liverpool. — Messrs. Simons, Shuttleworth & Co., cable : — " Baldwins, Greenings, 10/ to 

 12/; G. Russets, 11/ to 13/; R. Russets, Spies, Spitz, Seeks, C. Reds, T. Sweets, 9/ to 



