KEEPING GRAPES. 



and A. H. Pettit, Grimsby, brought in 

 the following resolution, which was 

 unanimously carried. 



To the Honorable Minister of Agriculture for 

 Ontario. — 



Whereas, the minute San Jose scale is the 

 most serious enemy that has ever threatened 

 the fruit grower, 



Whereas, the Government has passed an 

 Act which is calculated to save the fruit 

 orchards of Ontario from being infested with 

 this scale. 



Whereas, certain persons, whose orchards 

 were found affected and who were ordered to 

 have them destroyed in their own and the 

 public interest, have waited upon the Minis- 

 ter of Agriculture asking that the law be not 

 enforced. 



Therefore, Resolved, that we consider the 



Act to be all important in the interests of the 

 farmers and fruit growers of Ontario, because 

 it is the onlj' sure way of saving our orchards 

 from ultimate destruction by this terrible pest, 

 and that we consider the interests of the 

 many of much greater importance than the 

 interests of the few, 



We, therefore, express our deep regret that 

 the operation of the law has been suspended 

 at this season of the year when the scale is 

 beginning to spread and when a fortnight's 

 delay may cause irreparable damage, and we 

 earnestly beseech you to enforce the law 

 vigorously and without delay, allowing the 

 findings of the Commission, lately appointed 

 by you, to govern your action with regard to 

 future years. 



And we further pray that you consider the 

 interests of those growers whose orchards 

 have had to be destroyed, by so increa^sine 

 the amount of compensation that they will 

 have no just resison for complaint. 



KEEPING GRAPES. 



PRYNESS is essential to the success- 

 ful preservation of grapes. Mois- 

 ture causes the growth of mould, 

 which at once ruins the fruit. 

 With the present moist storage rooms 

 some good absorbent such as sawdust 

 must protect the fruit. Better success 

 with grapes would be attained in a room 

 cooled by dry, cold air currents than by 

 the present systems of refrigeration. 

 Such storage rooms are already being 

 planned in some warehouses. Grapes 

 do not require a low temperature, 38° 

 to 40° being as low as necessary, provid 

 ed the temperature is steady and the 

 proper conditions regarding dryness are 

 preserved. 



As may be observed from the records, 

 the grapes held up in good condition 

 from six to eight weeks. The results 

 of other seasons agree in fixing this as 

 the limit for grapes grown in our section. 



The length of time varies considerably 

 with the different varieties. Delaware, 

 Agawam, Brighton, Duchess, Centennial, 

 Concord, Worden and Hays, ranking in 

 the order named, have kept the best. 

 It is noticeable that the red grapes head 

 the list, the first three being red. The 

 fourth and fifth of the list are white, 

 while the black grapes, represented by 

 Concord and Worden, rank in the sixth 

 and seventh places. The varieties that 

 kept best are those that rank as early 

 grapes. However, no extremely late 

 varieties were tried. Had they been 

 tried the results might be different. 

 The climate in which the grapes grow 

 modifies their keeping qualities. A 

 grape maturing slowly m a climate of 

 moderately cool, regular temperature, 

 will keep longer than one whose ripen- 

 ing is hastened by excessive heat. — 

 Kansas, Bui. 84. 



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