212 The Canadian HoRncuLTURisx. 



Insecticides and Fungicides are not so highly valued by Dr. Hoskins, of 

 \'erniont, as by some of us. While it may be well to use them in years of light 

 crops, when it is important to save every apple possible, he thinks that in years 

 of abundance, thinning of the crop done by the various insects is not detrimen- 

 tal to the success of the orchardist. The spotting and cracking of many fruits, 

 he considers a sign of a weak constitution and of varieties unsuited to our 

 climate. These should be done away with and varieties chosen which are more 

 suitable. For instance, in place of the Fameuse, he recommends Shiawassee 

 Beauty ; and nearly all Russian apples are perfectly able to resist the spot. 

 This advice is very good for those who are planting orchards, but to us who have 

 large orchards, already planted with staple varieties, it means a great loss of 

 time and very considerable expense, to dig them out and replace them with such 

 varieties as he mentions. No doubt the best ultimate solution of the difficulty 

 is in the line the Doctor indicates. 



The Inspection of Apples. — -The following article is going the rounds of 

 the press : 



"Hon. John Costigan, on Tuesday, informed a deputation consisting of Messrs. Pettit 

 and Awrey, accompanied by Messrs. Mackay, Carpenter, Henderson, Boyle and .Montague, 

 M P's, that the Government had decided to amend the Inspection Act to provide fur the 

 inspection of a|)ples for export. The deputation were highly gratiried to hear the news. 

 The bill which was introduced in the Senate Tuesday night makes it optional with an 

 apple exporter to have his stock inspected at tiie place of shipment, tlie maximum fee being 

 pU'jed at 10 cents per barrel. A large number of shippers will avail themselves of the 

 inspection, as it will guarantee them higher prices for first graile apples in the English 

 market." 



We have, as yet, no official information, further than this, that the chairman 

 of the committee, appointed by our Association on fruit inspection, has reported 

 to us that they have received the promise from the Government at Ottawa, that 

 provision will be made for a proper inspection and branding of Ontario apples. 

 The inspector is not to be a salaried official, but his income will be dependent 

 upon the amount of work done. For the work of inspection the maximum charge 

 is to be ten cents per barrel. This, we consider, is rather high, for, while we as 

 growers, very much value the benefits that will be derived from the inspectors 

 brand, especially when making contracts for our apples in foreign markets, yet 

 we shall be loath to pay $15 a car load to have the work done, unless there is a 

 very well-defined advantage to be gained. Two or three cents a barrel, or $5 

 per car load, seems enough to pay, and, in our opinion, the (lovernment should 

 have made provision for a portion of the inspector's salary, at least for a year or 

 two, until the financial benefits were plainly evident to all. Still, if we can 

 succeed in making high contracts with luiropeaii buyers on the strength of liie 

 confidence which will be established by the inspector's brand, we need not be- 

 grudge the ten Cents per barrel, or, i)ossibly, even two or three times that sum* 



