172 THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST, 



does both before and after the branch reaches the ground. The object 

 of thk amputating process it is difficult for us to understand fully; but 

 the obvious remedy for these singular insects, when they attack fruit 

 or other valuable trees, is to gather up the fallen limbs and burn them 

 before the grub has time to complete his transformation into the 

 perfect state." 



The Glut in the Apple Market. — ^The year 1878 has not been a 

 prosperous year for the fruit grower in many ways. Cherries failed 

 completely; strawberries fell to a price that scarcely paid for picking 

 and marketing ; and now, (Sept, 1st,) fall apples have followed suite. 

 From S6 per barrel apples have fallen to $1.50 in Montreal market, 

 and one shipment of ordinary quality was sold as low as $1.25 per 

 barrel, which, after deducting cost of barrel and expenses, left about 

 fifty cents for tlie fruit. 



Our commission agent in explanation wrote : " We are sorry to 

 have to make such a poor show for apples, but the fact is, our market 

 is so loaded with American fruit, which is selling at from $1 to $1.50, 

 and fine apples they are too, that we cannot do better than fallow 

 suite. We think that when good Canadian, hard keeping apples begin 

 to come in, they will command better prices." 



The natural lesson from this is that it will not pay to trust largely 

 to fall apples for market. Good keepers are the only ones with which 

 Ave are not liable to be overstocked. Still there are two or three 

 varieties of fall apples that have kept up to fancy prices notwithstanding 

 the demoralized state of the markets. The Gravenstein, the Duchess 

 of Oldenburg, and the Cranberry Pippin, coming along in succession 

 with a profusion of beautiful fruit never fail of attracting buyers at 

 high prices. The Fall Pippin has completely lost favor in many 

 sections as a market variety, on account of its spots, which start decay 

 in the apple as soon as it is placed in heaps, or in the barrel. 



The commission system we think a good one so long as the 

 connection be made with an honorable house. The waiter has shipped 

 in this way for the past five years, with, on tlie whole, satisfactory 

 results. As a rule however it seems best to choose such houses for 

 consignments as do not mix matters. A commissioner should confine 

 himself to that branch in order to gain confidence, otherwise he may 

 be. suspected of putting his own goods to the front, and sacrificing 

 those he has on commission to attract custom ; or in a full market he 



