r s 4 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



APPLES IN NOVA SCOTIA. 



L. WAKEMAN, in a letter to the Cincinnati Times, dur- 

 ing a trip through Nova Scotia, says of the famous Nova 

 Scotian orchards : I have more faith, however, in Nova 

 Scotia apples than in her gold. The Annapolis and 

 Gaspereau valleys contain about 600 square miles of culti- 

 vable land At the present time one-tenth of the area, or 

 nearly 40,000 acres is planted with apple trees. Almost a 

 half-million barrels of (iravenstein, Baldwin, King of 

 Tompkins, Nonpareil, Russets, Ribston Pippins, and other 

 varieties of apples are now annually yielded and exported. Over three-fourths 

 of the area is yet in young trees. From 5,000,000 to 10,00,000 barrels of apples 

 will certainly be raised annually in these two valleys within ten years' time. 

 They are proven to be the finest and hardiest varieties in the world, and the 

 demand is never met. In the fall, American buyers fill the region, purchasing 

 in 1,000 barrel lots. Experience has proved that the European markets are just 

 beginning to know this fruit region, and, as every barrel which can now be 

 secured is taken there, the competition between American and English buyers 

 will always insure the Annapolis Valley apples raisers from $3 to $5 per barrel 

 in gold. The method of English shipment is highly interesting and is additional 

 good luck to the Nova Scotia apple farmer. He has only to pack his apples 

 carefully, stencil and brand his name upon it, mark it "John Doe," or "John 

 Roe, London," and deliver it at any depot of the valley railway. If he send 100 

 or 1,000 in this way he has no further trouble or anxiety. His apples go direct 

 to Halifax. There steamship agents, who are practically agents of London 

 buyers, care for them. In three weeks' time the apple grower receives by 

 mail exchange on Eondon for the apples he has left at the station platform, and 

 the price is the highest paid in the world. These conditions are giving a great 

 impetus to the apple culture in this wonderful valley. About forty trees are 

 planted to the acre, and at maturity yield from three to seven barrels of apples, 

 for which never less than $3, and often more than $5 per barrel is secured. 

 The whole valley is a vast orchard and every farmer is rich, or rapidly getting 

 rich. 



The Apple Crop is acknowledged to be almost a universal failure in the 

 Continent of North America ; possibly reaching about quarter of the average 

 quantity. Surely apples will be very high priced this winter. The Commercial 

 Circular speak discouragingly of the prospect of the English market ; but when 

 England's crop is exhausted, where then will apples be had, but from 

 Canadian sources. 



