^at^s and C^mmjents 



THE RED ASTRACHAN APPLE 



THIS beautiful apple was introduced 

 into England from Sweden in 1816, 

 • and since the Early Harvest has be- 

 come so badly affected with scab, the Astra- 

 chan has of late been largely planted in 

 Ontario as an early summer apple. The 

 tree grows to be a large size, and is very 

 productive ; one at Maplehurst, forty years 

 planted, gave a yield of ten barrels in 1895, 

 which is not unusual, so that when prices 

 are good this apple is very remunerative. 

 The quality is only fair, and very tart ; but 

 the large size of the fruit, and its deep 

 crimson color, often covered with a thin 

 whitish bloom, makes it very salable. 



During the last four years New York 

 State and Ontario have been producing this 

 apple in such quantity that after the first 

 two or three pickings the price has been 

 very low and we have been compelled to 

 seek for a distant market. The apple is so 

 tender that it is impossible to land it in the 

 British markets in good condition except by 

 cold storage, held at a temperature of about 

 33° F. , a condition which it has hitherto 



Flo. 2360. Red Astrachan Apple. 



Fig. 2361. Cochran Fruit Case. 



been difficult to ensure. A special officer, 

 however, has been charged with this work 

 by the Hon. Sidney Fisher, and we hope 

 for complete success during the coming 

 season. 



A MAGNIFICENT CROP OF ASTRACHANS 



NEVER before has the promise of this 

 variety been so fine as at present. 

 One hundred and twenty large trees of it 

 at Maplehurst are almost breaking down 

 with the weight of clean, beautiful fruit, 

 and all the finest are destined for export. 

 They will be packed in cases with fillers, 

 similar to the Cochran Case (Fig. 2361), 

 only smaller, and weighing about 40 lbs. 

 each. Each apple will have its own 

 separate compartment, and all the apples in 

 a case will be selected to one size. Astra- 

 chans will go in about three sizes in all, 

 viz.: 2^, 2^ and 2^ inches in diameter. 

 The cases cost about 20 cents each, and 

 four of them will hold about the same quan- 

 tity as an apple barrel. Several shippers 

 will join us in making up car-lots of these 

 tender apples, beginning early in August. 



