A Useful Branch of the Service in the British Columbia Fruit Industry 



(Photo furnished by Mr Maxwell Smith, Dominion Fruit Inspector, Vancouver.) 



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The unsuitableness of the Chmax basket 

 for fancy packing is, probably, one of 

 the reasons why peaches are usually 

 packed on end. The sides and handles 

 are not sufficiently rigid to admit of any- 

 pack other than what would be termed 

 in Georgia or California a straight 4-4, 

 three layer pack. This is the simplest 

 of all the peach packs, and, apparently, 

 is the only one known to many of the 

 packers in the Niagara district. The 

 cause is easily found. 



While a score of different packs can 

 be put in the Climax basket, the fore- 

 going is the only one that can be reason- 

 ably expected to keep its place. The 

 practice of spreading the handle when the 

 cover is put on, loosens the fruit and, 

 as a consequence, a fancy pack would 

 be spoiled. Even the customary 4-4 

 pack often reaches its destination in a 

 disordered state. The Climax basket is 

 [objectionable also, in the fact that the 

 imsy leno cover permits tampering with 

 the fruit. It also allows dust and dirt 

 to enter. Still, the Climax basket is the 

 accepted package, and it rests with the 

 fruit grower to make the best of it. 



The time will come in Ontario, how- 

 ever, as it has in nearly all the States 

 across the line, -when better packing and 

 a better package will be demanded for 

 the best class of peach trade. Person- 

 ally the writer would recommend the 

 adoption of the six-basket carrier, 

 shown in the accompanying illustration. 



THE SIX BASKET CARRIER 



It is light and strong, holds three- 

 quarters of a bushel, gives good ventila- 

 tion, is neat in appearance, and with the 



divider, six baskets and cover, the cost 

 is not great. It is put together with 

 strong wire staples, well clinched on the 

 inside. The panel heads afford a sure 

 grip to the hands, and damage from 

 breakages rarely occurs. When loaded 

 • in cars, the shape of the package permits 

 a perfect fit ; the tiers are separated for 

 ventilation by means of inch slats tacked 

 across the ends of the package. The 

 Horticulturist would hke to hear the 

 opinion of peach growers regarding this 

 package as a substitute for the Climax 

 basket. 



Bud OrcKard Trees in August 



The usual time • for budding is in 

 August, although it may be done any 

 time during the growing season, when 

 the bark peels easily. Top budding is 

 an important operation in the secondary 

 cure of orchards. Varieties that have 

 been planted and found not suited to 

 local and climatic conditions, or to the 

 demand of the market, may be worked 

 over by means of budding with some 

 variety of desired merits. It may be 

 employed to reform the tops of trees 

 that have been found not true to name. 



The process is not a difficult one. 

 Buds of the desired variety are taken 

 from vigorous growing, healthy shoots 

 of this season's growth. If selected 

 from bearing trees of known worth, so 

 much the better; there is less danger 

 from degeneration — purity being en- 

 sured — as such a practice tends to breed 

 up rather than down. The upper buds 

 on the shoot usually are discarded, as 

 are those at the lower end. The re- 

 maining portion of the shoot is termed 



a "stick." The leaf blades on this stick 

 are then removed, but the petioles are 

 left to serve as a handle for the buds, 

 which are located always in the axils of 

 the leaves. When the sticks are thus 

 prepared, they should be placed, butts 

 down, in a bucket of water, and covered 

 so as to keep them fresh. They should 

 be used as soon as possible. 



The budder takes a shield-shaped bud 

 from the stick, and inserts it in a T- 

 shaped incision which he has previously 

 made on a limb of the tree that is to be 

 budded. A ligature of string or raffia 

 is then applied, with moderate pressure, 

 to hold the bark firmly over the bud. 

 . In about .two weeks the buds should be 

 united, and the bandage may be re- 

 moved. The buds should remain dor- 

 mant over winter. In spring, as soon 

 as the buds show signs of growth, the 

 top of the stock must be cut back close 

 to the bud. By this means, a new and 

 profitable top may be secured in a com- 

 paratively short time. 



Very few apples are being planted in 

 this district. It is claimed that this 

 section is better adapted to the more 

 tender fruits, and that the apple section 

 will be found more largely in the 

 northern and eastern counties in the 

 near future, if not already there. — W. 

 H. Bunting, St. Catharines. 



We have set out several acres of 

 orchard during the past few years. In 

 purchasing the stock we had nothing to 

 do with agents, we found greater satis- 

 faction from dealing direct with reliable 

 nurserymen. — W. H. Crews, Trenton. 



