FRUITS AT OUR FAIRS. 



guide. The Exhibitions are a poor guide, 

 as in my opinion the prize list should 

 read differently, and this work should 

 rest on the shoulders of the Fruit 

 Growers' Association. For instance, the 

 prize list reads : " Twenty best varieties 

 of pears." Now sir, I might have 

 in reality, the best twenty, but my 

 friend with the largest specimens, two 

 or three worthless varieties, which I 

 think should not count points enough 

 to change the prize. I think this 

 trouble to the judges could be settled 

 for all time to come by stating the 

 names of the varieties to be shown in 

 the collections, so many winter, fall and 

 summer ; care to be taken not to name 

 any summer varieties that might not 

 keep to September. This method would 



keep out of collections any worthless 

 varieties, such as the Easter Beurre, 

 Winter Nelis, Josephine de Malines and 

 so on. I want to be understood when I 

 say worthless, that I mean worthless to 

 grow for profit ; this plan would work 

 admirably with the collections of plums, 

 since there is such a mixed up lot every 

 year and they were particularly so last 

 fall. There would have to be a few 

 extra varieties named in the list in case 

 of a certain variety failing to fruit, or 

 otherwise one might count the number 

 on hand, if they are sbprt it will make 

 easier work to judge, if one lot has the 

 full number and the other is one or two 

 short of the given number of varieties. 



Roderick Cameron. 



Shaffer and Columbian Compared. 

 — During a very dry season, like the 

 preceding one, many raspberries are 

 liable to crumble more or less. Strange 

 as it may seem, berries growing in a very 

 wet place with poor drainage are affected 

 in much the same way. Poor soil is 

 sometimes a cause for the same trouble. 

 In this case, the raspberry itself is at 

 fault. Shaffer's Colossal is a vigorous 

 grower and very productive, but while 

 the berries are very large and finely 

 flavored, they are extremely soft, of a 

 dull ugly color, and not all firm, making 

 it a poor variety for shipping. It is, how- 

 ever, a delicious berry, and is excellent 

 for table use and for canning. The 

 Columbian, which closely resembles 

 the Shaffer, is a better berry, being much 

 firmer, remaining longer on the bush, 

 and retaining its shape after being 

 picked ; though even the Columbian is 



not an ideal market variety. — American 

 Gardening. 



Proper Temperature. — " The fol- 

 lowing table will give the best tempera- 

 ture for the storage of some of our 

 most common produce. 



Apples from 30° to 45° 



Berries " 36 to 40 



Celery " 35 



Cranberries " 34 to 38 



Pears " 36 



Onions " 34 to 40 



Potatoes " 36 to 40 



Asparagus " 34 



Cabbage " 34 



Maple sugar and syrup " 40 to 45 



Flour and meal " 40 to 45 



Brined meats " 36 to 40 



Dried beef " 36 to 45 



Fresh beef « 37 to 39 



Ham, ribs and shoulder .... " 30 to 35 



Eggs " 33 to 35 



Lard " 34 to 45 



Mutton " 32 to 46 



Veil " 33 to 36 



Grapes ... " 36 to 38 



Butter should be given a separate room 

 with temperature at 22°.'' — Am. Gardening. 



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