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The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Minas. Both of these rivers are under the influence of the Bay of Fundy tides, 

 and are consequently tidal rivers, each flow bringing enormous deposits of 

 alluvial mud which has created the soil, and given it superior fertility. 



This Valley, so-called, is the fruit-growing belt of Nova Scotia. In almost 

 every other county in Nova Scotia fruit can be grown and is grown. Especially 

 is this the case in Lunenburg, Yarmouth, Inverness and Cape Breton, and in 

 consequence of the fine qualities of the fruit which are grown in other parts of 

 the province, the impression has been formed that these other parts could 

 compete successfully with the Annapolis Valley in fruit culture. But the history 

 of the fruit growing of the world indicates that while fruit can be grown in many 

 places there are certain special belts where fruit con be grown prolifically and at 

 permanent profits. The State of Michigan is a fruit growing State, but the fruit 

 belt there in which fruit is grown permanently with large profit, occupies but a 

 comparatively small portion of the area of the State. The same statement is 

 true of Ontario and the State of New York, and other fruit growing sections. 

 The Annapolis Valley seems to be the natural home of all kinds of fruit. The 



Fig. 389. — Orchard in Blossom. 



From the Windsor and 



Annapolis Railway. 



great staple fruit grown now for export is the apple, but pears, plums, cherries, 

 and even grapes, are grown luxuriantly, and in the domain of small fruit, such 

 as strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, and cranberries, the capacity 

 for production is practically unlimited. 



A few years ago the fruit industry was scarcely appreciated in the Annapolis 

 Valley. Its qualities as a fruit raising country were comprehended by the 

 French in their early settlements. Annapolis Town, old " Port Royal," one of 

 the oldest and most interesting historical points in North America, is in the very 

 centre of the fruit garden, and in this settlement, during its occupancy by the 

 French, as well as in other sections of the Valley, including Grand Pre, apple 

 trees had been planted by them, and many of these trees are still living, though 



