230 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



September, lOO'i 



quality. None of these fruits, however, enter 

 in commerce, as the quantity produced is very 

 limited. All the small fruits such as currants, 

 raspberries and strawberries are very much 

 better crops than they have been for years, as 

 we have had not late frosts interfering with the 

 fruit. 



The OKana^an "Valley 



H. Gordon, Vernon, B.C. 



A considerable area of strawtierries came 

 into bearing this year for the first time. The 

 crop was good, but probably over ,50 jxr 

 cent, of it was absorbed by the local demand, 

 Tha price for the best was .$3.7.5 per crate 

 of 24 baskets. The favorite variety is Magoon, 

 prized for its good shipping quality. No growers 

 appear to have planted late strawberries to 

 succeed Magoon; there is an opening for late 

 varieties, especially at present when the demand 

 exceeds the supply greatly. A variety more 

 suitable for the local trade than Magoon might 

 easily be found; the qualities which adapt a 

 strawberry for shipping are rather a detri- 

 ment than an advantage for local sale. At 

 present, however, a strawberry is merely a 

 strawljerry to the western merchant ; quality, 

 except in regard to size, goes for nothing. With 

 the increased supply likely to be seen in the 

 next few years, it is probable that merchants will 

 be led to discriminate and offer higher prices for 

 varieties of higher general quality than Magoon. 

 A glance at the display in the local stores reveals 

 the fact that much has yet to be learnt here in 

 regard to picking the fruit, but taking it all round 

 the strawberry harvest has been creditable to the 

 growers. 



The cherry crop was much below the 

 average, and a very severe thunderstorm 

 accompanied by hail did severe damage in 

 some localities. It is feared that many orchards 

 have been ruined for the season, but the storm 

 was irregular in its course, and it is to be ho[x;d 



that time will prove that the many escaped 

 while the few were injured. Such a storm is 

 most unusual in this valley. As a general rule 

 the reports from tlie apple orchards predict an 

 excellent crop, wliilst it is probable that the 

 peach crop will still further enhance the reputa- 

 tion of the southern portion of this valley. 



The Farmers' Institute recently advertised 

 an evening lecture in Vernon, "On Fruit," by a 

 gentleman from Victoria. No report of the 

 meeting has appeared in the local press up to 

 the present, and the writer has been unable to 

 find anyone who attended. It is possible that 

 the indefinite title of the address failed to 

 attract those for whom it was designed; it is in 

 any case certain that the fruit growers would 

 attend such meetings in large numbers if they 

 could anticipate with some degree of certainty 

 attractive and instructive meetings addressed 

 by persons entitled to speak with authority. 



The need for an experimental station with a 

 staff of such experts is being felt more and more. 

 Meanwhile, discussions on important or topical 

 subjects might be held with advantage; but 

 neither the Farmers' Institute nor the local fruit 

 growers' association, which existsonly in name, 

 makes any such attempt to assist its members. 



BritisH Columbia 



C. p. Metcalfe, Hammond 



The long drought has at last l)cen broken. 

 Considerable rain has fallen, helping along the 

 blackberries, fall and winter apples, pears and 

 prunes. Plums dropped heavily before the rain 

 came, and are now showing considerable plum 

 rot, Munilia Irucligena. Of the early apples. 

 Yellow Transparents and Duchess were a very 

 light crop. Red .'Istrachan bore a fair crop of 

 clean fruit, though somewhat deficient in color. 

 Gravensteins are .showing up well, probably 80 

 to 90% of them will be Xo. 1. Cherries bore a 

 light crop, but of excellent quality, the season 



f;eing conspicuous by the absence of rot. Crab- 

 apples also are a good crop; Transcendent 

 100%; Hyslop, 80%; Florence and Martha^ 



Prospects for another year in strawberries 

 and raspberries are fairly good. Plants, cane;, 

 bushes, and so forth, .seem to be recovering; 

 quickly from the unusually dry season, and an- 

 making rapid gro.vth. 



Special attention .should now be given to the 

 orchard and all cultivation should V)e gradually 

 discontinued. Cover crops can now be sown 

 to take up the .surplus moisture and to check 

 the growth of the trees. Trees are liable t^ 

 grow too late in the fall in this Province, especi- 

 ally on the lower mainland, where we sometimes 

 have a considerable rainfall during the month 

 of Se])teniber. 



The Packer Safety Fruit Wrapper. — Buntin,] 



Gillies & Co., Hamilton, are offering for sale the 

 best fruit wrapper that has been put on th" 

 market. This paper is sold in four differe 

 sizes, and at prices that put it within reach 

 all fruit growers. An excellent factor about th 

 paper is that it is finished smooth on one sid^ 

 and rough on the other, the rough side goes nextl 

 the fruit, and is supposed to absorb any moisture I 

 on the fruit while the smooth side, being hard < 

 finish, resists the moisture from the outside and 

 keeps the fruit dry. The light crops this year ■ 

 will probably induce the wrapping of fine speci- 

 mens more than usual and should create a large ■ 

 demand for fruit wrapping paper. For full 

 particulars see advertisement in this issue. 



The Herbert is the leading variety of red . 

 raspberries. Fruit growers who have tested j 

 it under normal conditions have found it the ! 

 variety most productive and profitable. Plants 1 

 derived from the original stock are to be had i 

 at the Ottawa Nurseries. Read the adver- | 

 tisement on another page. 



A COURSE FOR YOUR BOY 



AT THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



GUELPH, NEED NOT EXCEED $100 PER YEAR 



A FEW OF "OUR" BOYS 



WE HAVE THE BOY IN THE WINTER — YOU HAVE HIM AT HOME ON YOUR OWN FARM IN THE 

 SUMMER. MAKE APPLICATION AT ONCE AS ACCOMMODATION IS LIMITED 



Mention The Canadian Horticulturist when writing 



G. C. CREELMAN. B.S.A., M.S., President. 



