274 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



December, 1909 



•good markets. The outlook is promising, 

 however. Better systems ot distribution, 

 the increase in population and the advanc- 

 ing tide of immigration into the Northwest 

 are creating a demand for our fruits, both 

 fresh and canned, the potentialities of 

 which are unlimited." 



"The Over-planting of Strawberries and 

 the Western Markets," was the subject of 

 an address by Mr. Robert Thompson, St. 

 Catharines. "Small Fruits in the Young 

 Apple Orchard," was dealt with by Mr. L. 

 A. Hamilton of Lome Park. The former 

 appears elsewhere in this issue. Mr. Hamil- 

 ton's address will be published later. 



CHERRIES 



Mr. F. G. Stewart, Homer, discussed the 

 subject "Sweet Cherries for South-western 

 Ontario." He said that the soil for this fruit 

 must be light and dry. The trees must be 

 well cared for, particularly in the matter of 

 stjraying. Plenty of spraying material 

 should be applied. Among the varieties 

 recommended were Governor Wood, Alton, 

 Napoleon Biggareau, Black Tartarian and 

 Windsor. Mr. C. E. Bassett, Fennville, 

 Mich., pointed out the absolute necessity 

 for air drainage in the cherry orchard. He 

 said that a free circulation of air will large- 

 ly prevent fungous diseases. 



In an address on "Cherries for the Com- 

 mercial orchards of Ontario." Mr. A. E. 

 Sherrington, Walkerton, said that sweet 

 cherries are not a success in the northern 

 parts of the province. Yellow Spanish is 

 the most successful. To prevent rot in cher- 

 ries the trees should be sprayed in the 

 spring before any growth apijcars with 

 three pounds of bluestone to 40 gallons of 

 water, again with Bordeaux just before 

 the bloom opens, repeat after the blossoms 

 fall and again 10 days later. The soil 

 should be warm, dry and sandy. The Mor- 



ello class can be grown on well drained clay 

 loams. On sandy soils the trees may be 

 planted 20 feet apart and on clay loams 

 25 feet. In pruning direct the growth by 

 pinching when young. Some varieties re- 

 commended by the speaker were : Early 

 Richmond, if well cared for and fed, Eng- 

 lish Morello, profitable but the tree is short 

 lived ; Montmorency, best commercial vari- 

 ety ; Olivet, satisfactory. 



"Do Cherries Pay?" This question was 

 answered by Mr. Sherrington with figures. 

 At 25 feet apart there are 70 trees to the 

 acre which should yield 8 to 10 baskets a 

 tree at 8 to 10 years of age, or 560 baskets 

 an acre. At a net price of 60 cents per 11 

 quart basket, this gives $336 to the acre. 

 This shows that it is profitable to grow 

 cherries of this class. Harvesting, the pack- 

 age and the market are the problems. Cher- 

 ries can be shipped to the west successfully. 

 They should be harvested when ripe, 

 and when dry as they will then stand up 

 much better. Three or four tickings should 

 be made from a tree. The fruit should not be 

 handled but picked by the stem, clipped or 

 pulled. Mr. Sherrington pays 12 cents :. 

 basket for picking. He said that the 11- 

 quart basket is not the best packagt, for 

 cherries. We require a smaller package or 

 a box which should be flat. 



GRAPES 



"Is Grape Growing Profitable at Present 

 Prices?" was discussed by Mr. Murray Pet- 

 tit, Winona, who answered in the negative. 

 He said that there is no profit in grapes 

 when they sell below 13 cents a basket. The 

 cost of producing an acre of grapes is as 

 follows: Land, $125; 430 vines at 3 cents; 

 $12.90; preparing land and planting, $8; 

 136 posts at 16 cents, $21.76; setting posts, 

 at 15 cents, $6.80; 390 pounds of wire at 

 3 cents, $11.70; bracing end posts and stap- 



ling wire, $6; cultivating and pruning for 

 three years, $30 : this makes a total of 

 $222.16; add to this interest, $33.32 and we 

 have a grand total expense for the first 

 three years of $255.48. 



After the vine is established the cost of 

 production on an acre according to Mr. 

 Pettit is : Interest on investment, $12.74 ; 

 pruning and tying, $6; cultivation, $8; 

 spraying and fertilizing, $9 ; picking, 

 packing and delivering, $13 ; baskets, $26 ; 

 interest and repairs on machinery, $16; 

 total, $90.99. Supposing the production 

 were 750 baskets an acre and they sold at 

 10 cents each, or $75 an acre, the producer 

 would sustain a loss or $15.99 ; if they sold 

 at 11 cents he would lose $8.49 ; if at 12 

 cents, the loss would be 99 cents to the 

 acre. Mr. Pettit reasoned, therefore, that 

 grapes must sell at least for 13 cents to 

 commence to pay profit. He said that the 

 grower should have 15 cents for Concords 

 and Niagaras, and 20 cents for Rogers, 

 and that if they would co-operate they could 

 get these prices. The fruit inspectors and 

 the growers should be more careful in keep- 

 ing poor stuff off the market. 



An interesting discussion followed Mr. 

 Pettit's address, most of the growers stating 

 that Mr. Pettit's estimated cost of produc- 

 tion was a little high. Mr. Fred Goring, 

 St. David's, who has earlier soil and an 

 earlier location said that he finds the cost 

 of production much less than the figures 

 given by Mr. Pettit and that his prices are 

 better. Mr. Robt. Thompson claimed that 

 grapes can be grown for one-half the cost 

 mentioned. Mr. E. D. Smith also thought 

 that Mr. Pettit's figures were a little high. 

 He said the growers should not be discourag- 

 ed because grapes sold at a loss towards the 

 end of this season. Wine men have been 

 off the market for two years. Unfermented 



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