370 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 





NOVA SCOTIAN APPLES IN ENGLAND. 



The leading article in the last numer of the Gar- 

 dener's Chronicle, is devoted to an account of a 

 collection of fruit, sent from Nova Scotia to the 

 Royal Horticultural Society's Exhibition at London. 



The apples " were distinguished for size and the 

 brilliancy of their colors." Among the specimens 

 particularly alluded to are, the Gravenstein, "a 

 Danish apple, of the highest excellence for •both 

 table and kitchen — beautiful specimens, far finer 

 than those sent the other day from Denmark and 

 Germany. Blue Pearmain, an excellent variety, 

 not unlike the King of the Pippins in shape, but 

 three times as large, and prettily mottled all over 

 with reddish spots, giving the whole apple a warm 

 brown aspect." Many other well known varieties 

 are described in glowing colors, and the editor re- 

 marks in italics: "All these were from open stand- 

 ards.'''' The fact that such beautiful apples can be 

 grown on ordinary trees in the open air, seems to 

 surprise him. After alluding to other varieties, the 

 editor remarks : 



"What gives this collection special interest, is 

 the example it affords of the excellence of the cli- 

 mate of a Colony which half the world believes to 

 be dismally dreary. Such apples as these are, and 

 such pears, plums, and apricots as these were, can 

 only come from a country at least, as genial as our 

 own. We cannot but wonder indeed that the Eng- 

 lish markets are not supplied with Nova Scotian 

 fruit; for it is far finer than most of that impor- 

 ted from the United States. Such Graveusteins, 

 such Blue Pearmains, such Chebuctos, are rarely, 

 if ever, seen in Oovent Garden, where they would 

 make a fruiterer's fortune." 



We have no doubt about it. They would " make 

 a fruiterer's fortune." Why is it that we do not 

 export more apples to England? Never was there 

 a better time to send them than the past season. 

 Apples never were cherper, finer or more abund- 

 ant, and yet but comparatively few, at least from 

 this section, have been exported. 



These Nova Scotian Apples were "put in boxes 

 consisting of little compartments for each variety, 

 which was packed in bran." The editor remarks 



of the collection: "Notwithstanding the distance 

 it has traveled, part of its contents are as fresh, and 

 in as good condition as if they had been brought 

 from the nearest fruit-room." 



The pears were much decayed, having been 

 packed in moss — " the worst possible material." 



CULTIVATION OF GKAPES. 



Our friend Samuel Williams, of Waterloo, N. 

 Y., in a private note remarks: "The grape business 

 bids fair to be run into the ground. Fine Isabellas 

 were sold here at five shillings (62£c) per bushel. ] 

 have made a little wine. The pure juice was verj 

 sweet, yet to give it alcohol to preserve it, I addec 

 two pounds of coffee sugar to the gallon." 



We do not think there is any danger of running 

 the grape business into the ground. Fruit of al 

 kinds has been unusually abundant the past season 

 and the prices have consequently ruled low. Sue! 

 an excessive crop may not be produced again fo 

 many years. There is little danger of permanent! 

 overstocking the market with good fruit. Eve: 

 the present year the low prices did not last ver 

 long. Good pears in New York, such as Bartlet 

 Louise Bonne de Jersey, Duchess d' Angoulem* 

 Seckel, &c, which usually bring from $12 to $1 

 per barrel, sold this year, at the opening of tb 

 season, for $4 per barrel ; but it was only for 

 few weeks. We presume the low prices induced 

 greater consumption, for it was not long befoi 

 pears went up to $8 and $10 per barrel. It is s 

 with apples ; there has been an immense crop a 

 over the country, and freights have been excee< 

 ingly high, and labor very scarce, so that even 1 

 thing seemed to conspire to reduce the price far b 

 low an average. Apples, however, are now highe 

 and the probability is that before next spring goc 

 prices will be obtained. 



Taking one year with another, a good apple o 

 chard is highly profitable, and we see no reaso 

 to apprehend a permanently overstocked marke 

 For twenty years people have been saying that ^ 

 were planting too many trees, but still the suppl 

 of good fruit has not on the whole been equal 1 

 the increasing demand. So it will be in the futur 

 Fruit is no longer a luxury. It is fast becoming 

 necessity in every family, and those who plant goc 

 varieties, and take care of their orchards, will mei 

 with their reward. 



Very full extracts are given in the Cottage Ga\ 

 dener from Miss Cooper's Journal of a Naturam 

 in the United States, under the head of " Extrac" 

 from a too much neglected Book." 



