The Canadian Horticulturist. 



GROWING AND KEEPING APPLES. 



8iK, — My method of handling apples is as follows : — (1) Hand pick in September. I 

 handle them like eggs, and never pack fallen apples, or dent with the tinger the apples 

 intended for sale. Then sell them as early as possible. (2) I never keep my apples in a 

 damp cellar. I find it better to build a cellar purposely for fruit. I keep them airy until 

 freezing weather, in piles, not too deep, eight inches is enough. I never put apples in 

 barrel-; or boxes before shipping time ; they do not succeed as well as if kept open to the 

 air, and they are apt to sweat and draw dampness, then " good-bye Mr Apple," for it will 

 lose flavor and rot. If propeily handled and kept in a suitable place, winter apples should 

 last until the first of June. I consider it careless and shiftless for any man to neglect close 

 attention to his fruit in which there is so much money. (3) The orchard should receive 

 special care. I have learned by experience the benefits of pruning. Prune one tree as it 

 should be and leave another unpruned ; gather the fruit carefully, and keep them separate, 

 giving the same attention to each, and the result will be that the apples from the well 

 cared-for tree will last two months longer than that from the unpruned one. It astonishes 

 one to travel through the country and see how the orchards are neglected. Some trees, 

 thirty or forty years old, have never been pruned, and sometimes you will see several hun- 

 dred shoots springing out from their roots, and yet the owners complain that thej' cannot 

 raise apples. (4) I leave no limbs on my trees that I think ought to come off, and I prune 

 in October only. This I find is the best time for pruning. I always keep the groi;nd rich, 

 using unleached ashes, two quarts annually around each tree. I am careful to keep the 

 bark of my trees smooth and clean, allowing no worms to make webs and destroy the 

 foliage. 



J. H. SH.4VER, South Finch, Out. 



A CANADIAN IN CALIFORNIA. 



Sir, — The Mills grape vine came to hand and was planted yesterday. It is a little 

 singular that the first vine that I have planted in this country was a native of Canada, and 

 I sincerely hope it niay do well in memory of the " auld sod." By the way, the receipt of 

 this vine " recollects me " (as the German says), that I ought to renew my subscription to 

 The Canadian HoRTiCLLTCRibT, which please find enclosed. In this valley, from 15 to 

 300 feet above tide-water, four miles east of the centre of coast line of ^lonterey liay, 

 grape vines do not do well at all. Anj' quantity of roses and other most lovely flowers, 

 the year round, but "nary a vine" in the whole town. But, up on the mountains, Santa 

 Cruz coast range, at an elevation of 1500 to 2000 feet, twelve miles inland, grapes do 

 splendidly. Down here in the valley we raise the very finest of apples, which command 

 good prices Apricots and cherries are at home here. Large crops of prunes too are 

 raised, but they do not have the same sweetness and rich flavor of the same fruit, raised 

 where fogs are less prevalent. Our climate is very enjoyable, equable, mild and salubrious. 

 •James Stimsox, M.D., Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co. Cat. 



THE STRAWBERRIES GROWN IN THE COUNTY OF BRANT. 



Sir, — Strawberries are looking well in this county, as a whole. The winter was favor 

 able for them. There are not so many plants being set this spring as usual. A large 

 number of varieties are being planted, but probably the Crescent is still the leading one. 

 The new Williams is quite largely set, and is quite a favorite in this county. I have for a 

 few years been trying to improve the old Wilson. I put out seven acres this spring, and 

 set three fourths Crescents and one fourth Improved Wilson, New Williams, Manchester, 

 Cloud, Sharpless, May King, and Lovett's Early, so you see what my preference is. We 

 are making great count on the meeting of the Fruit (Growers' Association of Ontario, in 

 Brantford, next December. 



D M. Lee, Paris, Out. 



