QUESTION DRA WER. 



4«3 



BERTRAM'S SEEDLING APPLE. 



Sir, — I send you four seedlings for your opinion 

 as to their quality. This tree, of which the samples 

 are the second years bearing, came up in our 

 shop yard, and it seems to be a vigorous and 

 healthy tree and good bearer. I shall be pleased 

 to have your opinion any time. 



John Bertram, Sr., Dundas. 



A fine appearing apple, of about the size 

 of Duchess, and of about the same season. 

 The skin is a pale straw color, suffused with 

 stripes, splashes and tints of bright red. 

 Had we not already the Duchess, we would 

 commend this apple for further trial. 



A GOOD WASH FOR FRUIT TREES. 



Sir, — What is the composition of a good wash 

 for fruit trees, and when should it be applied ? 

 John Thompson, CowaL Ont. 



For cleansing the bark of fruit trees of 

 fungi, and oyster shell bark louse, lye 

 washes are excellent. The concentrated 

 lye or potash may be bought at grocery 

 stores. This comes in pound cans at lo 

 cents each, or three for a quarter. A can 

 of this powder is dissolved in an ordinary 

 large pailful of water, and the solution ap- 

 plied to the trunks of the young trees the lat- 

 ter part of April or up to the 15th of May, 

 by means of an old broom or a swab. The 

 solution is very caustic and will damage the 

 hands or any clothing on which it falls. 

 Great care must be taken, therefore, in hand- 

 ling it. We believe, however, that it is very 

 desirable treatment for all sorts of young 

 trees, and even for older ones which have 

 been neglected. In cases where the trunks 

 are attacked by the oyster-shell bark louse, 

 this treatment is especially valuable. Soda 

 is cheaper than potash and ought to answer 

 equally well. 



PEAR GROWING IN P. E. I. 



Sir. — Mr. Biyfield, president of our P. E. I. 

 Fruit Growers* Association has a photo of a pear 

 tree in full hearing, with the crop of Clapp's Fav- 

 orite which took the prize at our maritime fair. At 

 his request I sent it you. What do you think of 

 this variety for cultivation in Prince Edward 



Island in the light of your experience in the export 

 of pears to Great Britain. 



A. E. BooKE, Alberton, P. E. I. 



The Clapp's Favorite, if gathered before 

 it begins to ripen at the core, is a fine export 

 pear, and carries a little better than the Bart- 

 lett. The only difficulty is to get a proper 

 temperature on ship board, and until we can 

 have a guarantee of about 33 degrees F. for 

 such fruit, it is better to grow Duchess, An- 

 jou, Bosc or some such variety which will 

 carry with apples. 



FRUITS FOR NAME. 



Sir, — I send you two pears and four apples for 

 name. I received October number of your journal 

 and quite agree with your remarks about fewer 

 varieties. I have too many varieties in my own 

 orchard and many orchards about are in the same 

 condition. ' 



Alex. Armstrong, Barrie. 



Pear No. i is Idaho, and No. 2 Duchess. 

 Apple No. 4 resembles Phoenix, and No. 5 

 resembles Princess Louise, but is not ripe 

 enough to judge of its flavor, which should 

 resemble that of Fameuse. 



GRADE MARKS. 



Sir, — I ship my apples north in sugar barrels, 

 with canvas tops, and I would like to know if the 

 Fruit Marks Act requires them to ,be branded. 



A. Armstrong, Barrie. 



The Act requires the grade to be marked 

 on all closed packages. We should judge 

 that barrels with canvas tops, which are eas- 

 ily removable for inspection, are not closed 

 packages, and that the only requirement in 

 such case would be that the faced or shown 

 end be a fair representation of the contents. 



BRIGHT'S SEEDLING PEACH. 



Sir, — I send you samples of a seedling peach 

 tree which came up in my garden eight or nine 

 years ago. Last year we had ten baskets of fruit 

 from it, and this year seven or eight. This peach 

 is fine preserved. Please give me your opinion 

 of it. 



Oct. 3rd, 1903. Chas. E. Bright, Brampton. 



