THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



'221 



the flower or fruifc. Of more import- 

 ance, however, is the improved manage- 

 ment of our fruit trees. Here the in- 

 terest of the horticulturist and the bee- 

 keeper combine and run parallel. A 

 judicious pruning of our fruit trees will 

 cause them to blossom nioi-e freely and 

 yield honey more plentifully. 



From these facts we learn the value 

 of the honey bee to agriculture. Blot 

 them out and we must go almost 

 entirely without fruit and vegetables, 

 besides being a source of profit for 

 their honey and wax. The bee actually 

 brings to our doors loads of fruit and 

 vegetables and other products of the 

 farm. 



My pear trees and grape vines were 

 so laden with fruit last year as to lead 

 me to make the remark that we would 

 not have many next year. But I find 

 I was under a mistake. They are so 

 laden with fruit that I will be obliged 

 to prop my pear trees to keep them 

 from breaking down, and a handsomer 

 sample of fruit you never saw. I am 

 certain if fruit growers would intro- 

 duce a few hives of bees among their 

 fruit trees their fruit would be much 

 improved. 



Yours truly, 

 Arkona, Ont. George Ott. 



REPORT OF FRUIT CROP IN BERLIN. 



In small fruits, such as strawberries, 

 currants, and raspberries, the supply 

 from local sources in the immediate 

 neighborhood has been fully equal to 

 the demand, and fair remunerative 

 prices have been realized. The almost 

 total annihilation of the common sour 

 cherry has given an impetus to this 

 class of fruit as a substitute for pre- 

 serving purposes. 



In plums, the crop will be good, of 

 such varieties as have passed through 

 the fiery ordeal of epidemic, and I think 

 that those varieties which have escaped 

 will be planted again, having learned a 



lesson of wisdom from experience, viz., 

 that purer and healthier varieties must 

 be depended on. 



Early apples of the Russian type are 

 very al9undant ; and, although of only 

 recent introduction, will in course of 

 time become popular, especially in towns 

 and cities near by ; but being summer 

 fruits, they will not bear distant trans- 

 portation. 



Our common fall apples are compara- 

 tively a failure, and very little cider 

 will be made. The cold wave which 

 passed over during the time of blossom- 

 ing, and which was succeeded by three 

 nights of only slight frost, did material 

 damage. 



Winter apples, of the more valuable 

 class, will be scarce ; the only excep- 

 tions I notice are the Baldwins and the 

 Golden Russets, which carry their full 

 quota. Northern Spies are sparse, and 

 Rhode Island Greenings are compara- 

 tively few. In pears, the crop will be fully 

 up to the average. Summer varieties, 

 such as the Doyenne d' Ete and Rost- 

 tiezer, bear heavily ; and later varie- 

 ties, such as Ananas d* Ete, Bartlett, 

 Belle Lucrative, Clapp's Favorite, and 

 Louise Bonne, caiTy their full bearable 

 crop. 



The geographical position of this 

 (Waterloo) county not being favorable 

 for the general culture of grapes and 

 peaches, I have nothing to report on 

 them. Yours truly, 



Simon Roy. 



Berlin, 17th April, 1886. 



P.S. — I may state, in connection 

 with the pear, that I have seen no 

 blight on the trees this season. — S. R. 



RUSSIAN APPLES. 



We Canadians are not likely to take 

 much stock in either Russian politics 

 or in Russian civilization, as we imagine 

 they are "not up with the times," but 

 we must certainly accord to Russia the 



