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FRUIT GROWING IN QUEBEC 



WORK ON JUDGE CARON'S FARM — 

 BLACK KNOT— WINTER PROTECTION' 



A LETTER FROM H. P. C VRON, L ISLET, QUE. 



SIR, — I always read your journal with the 

 greatest interest. As the following 

 might prove useful to some of your readers 

 1 will report on the crop of fruit for the lower 

 part of the Province of Quebec. We have 

 had a great deal of rain, almost every day. 

 Also, in my orchard, where there are about 

 3000 trees, I have not seen caterpillars more 

 than two or three times. 1 sprayed this 

 spring with Paris green j^ lb. to about 24 

 gallons of water mixed with one pound of 

 lime. The strawberries have done very well, 

 they are the James Vick and Sharpless, cul- 

 tivated in rows 3 feet by 4. They fruited in 

 great quantities, were free from all kind of 

 of diseases, but I must say they were very- 

 acid. I consider this due to the heavy rains. 

 Our gooseberry hushes were overloaded. 

 We cultivate in single rows, one single row 

 between the apple trees, 6 feet apart. They 

 are the ** Smith Improved." We never 

 have mildew. I spray with Paris green 

 once in the beginning of June and once after 

 the crop is removed. At the end of August 

 I have a heavy pruning performed, remov- 

 ing the smaller shoots, only leaving two 

 new shoots and cutting away the two old- 

 est branches, which have been fruitiug (this 

 is the renewal system), and shorten the end 

 of all the long branches. This gives great 

 force to the gooseberry bushes, lets the air 

 freely in, prevents the spread of diseases and 

 the hatching of caterpillars. We sold the 

 gooseberries from 20 to 30c. a gallon. 



The raspberries were very plentiful — 

 White, "The Golden Queen," red, Cuthbert 

 and Marlboro. They took a first prize at 

 the late Universal Exposition at Paris. 

 We cultivate in rows 6 feet both ways. 

 The fruit was not as firm as usual, due to 

 the rain. The blackberries are covered 

 with fruit. Our cherry trees were a great 

 success, some trees of nine years old giving 

 10 gallons and more ; but I cannot say how 

 much a tree produces really, because we 

 are surrounded by a lot of poor people who 

 eat freely of our fruit, not being invited to 

 do so. In about 500 cherry trees I found 

 this summer not more than 10 or 12 black 

 knots ; but I must say that our plum trees- 

 are terribly aff"ected by the black knot. The 

 trees are loaded with plums. As soon as 

 the fruit is picked I shall cut off and burn 

 all the knots, and spray with a }{ pound of 

 Paris green to 24 gallons of water, with one 

 pint of petrol oil. All the trunks of our trees 

 have been washed with the same prepara- 

 tion. I think that the very wet weather has 

 much to do with this disease, the knots are 

 different from those of the cherry trees. The 

 plum trees to look at seem in perfect health. 

 Our potatoes this year are very good and 

 yielding immensely, being planted on sandy 

 hills ; but our cucumbers and melons are a 

 complete failure. Last year we had some 

 melons of the best quality, the only covering 

 given was a thin cotton sheet at night. 

 Our flowers are sad to look on, and we must 



