282 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



carrying water. If no other circumstances 

 arise it may be deemed advisable to irrigate 

 again every month until the last of August, 

 when water should be discontinued from all 

 fruits. Young trees will take mere water 

 than older ones, and a wetting at the time 

 the fruit buds are appearing is quite essen- 

 tial. Give no water at the time of blossom- 

 ing. After the fruit is half grown it can be 

 forced to greater size by copious irrigation. 

 The apple attains one-tenth of its final size 

 during the last month of maturity. Russian 

 varieties have thick, leathery foliage which 

 cannot readily transpire, and for this reason 

 but very little water should be given them 

 at any time. 



Of course it must be understood that the 

 management of an orchard in the fall must 

 depend largely on the dryness of the season, 

 the age and fruitage of the trees, as well as 

 their variety and general condition. While 

 young trees not yet in bearing, or those not 

 carrying a load of fruit, may need no water 

 after the 15th of August, it may be quite 

 essential to give waterings to trees heavy in 

 fruition to more thoroughly develop the fruit 

 itself and aid in the picking. It has often 

 been observed at harvest time that the 

 apples do not come off easily and do not 

 feel right in the hand. Under these circum- 

 stances to postpone the picking and irrigate 

 the orchard may require four or five days' 



time. In twelve hours there will be a notice- 

 able difference ; in thirty-six hours the 

 apples will gain in color, plumpness and 

 size. When picking is resumed the apples 

 will come off nicely and be larger and more 

 highly colored. The gain may be at least 

 ten per cent. The last irrigation effects 

 cherries, plums, and grapes as much or more 

 than apples, and we always irrigate heavily 

 while they are ripening. The keeping 

 qualities are also better. 



Pears. — This valuable fruit will succeed in 

 most kinds of soil, but flourishes best in rich 

 loamy, or heavy red clayish, or sandy soils 

 The latter is especially adapted to it if it 

 carries the oxide of iron, an element quite 

 common in many of the mountain districts 

 of the far west. The best kinds to plant for 

 permanent orchard are standard sorts budded 

 on pear stock, which, if well cared for, 

 should stand for two hundred years. The 

 planting should be sixteen or twenty feet 

 apart. Dwarf pears are best budded on the 

 quince, although this practice forces their 

 blooming period and places them in more 

 imminent danger of spring frosts. Gen- 

 erally speaking the same amount of water 

 is required as for the apple and plum, and 

 the same general rules, particularly as to 

 cultivation, should be followed. The fruit 

 should never be allowed to become thorough- 

 ly ripe on the trees. 



Mr. R. Cullis, Secretary West Durham 

 Farmers' Institute, writes us of a success- 

 ful orchard demonstration meeting held on 

 8th inst. at Camborne, in the orchard of 

 Mr. Wm. Parsons. Messrs. E. Lick, of 

 Oshawa, and T. J. Carey, of Cobourg, 

 Dominion Fruit Inspectors, were the speak- 

 ers. As a result of the meeting a local 

 Fruit Growers' Association was organized, 



to be known as the Township of Hamilton 

 Local Fruit Growers' Association. The fol- 

 lowing officers were elected : Pres. — Mr. 

 Thos. Davidson, Camborne ; Vice-Pres. — 

 Wm. S. Case, Cobourg; Sec.-Treas. — R. 

 Cullis, Camborne. Nearly every one pres- 

 ent joined the Association. An adjourned 

 meeti-ng of the Society will be held in Co- 

 bourg on June loth at 2.30 p. m. 



