The Canalhan Horticulturist. 



375 



in what Mr. .\llan says. First, as to cultivating, fertilizing antl caring for the 

 orchard in order to produce the very best (quality. Then the e.vercise of good 

 judgment and care in picking, packing and shi[)ping, culling carefully, putting 

 up best quality, and at the proper time. I feel certain that if Mr. Allan's 

 advice were acted upon (for he just hits the nail on the head), it would be the 

 •'open sesame" to success in the fruit business, and too much cannot be said on 

 the subject. 



I shall have something to say on this suijjcct myself in a future number ; 

 having intruded sufficiently upon your space for this time, for which, Mr. 

 Editor, you will please excuse me; and I will close by express. ng my gratifica- 

 tion at the increased size, efficient conduct and spicy appearance of our reliable 

 little journal. 



Craighurst. (i. C. Caston. 



Shipper.s ok Drikd Fruits. — Apples should be carefully peeled and 

 cored, then sliced or quartered, placed upon frames and dried in a gentle heat, 

 (inarly or wormy apples should be thrown aside, or such places carefully cut 

 out. Peaches may be dried either peeled or unpeeled. They sell best if cut 

 in halves. Apples and peaches, to bring best prices, must be bright and light 

 colored ; to secure this, they must be dried in a dry air. The atmosphere is 

 often so charged with moisture, even in sunshine, that it absorbs more moisture 

 very slowly. Such an atmosphere is very unfavorable to the drying of fruit, the 

 juice evaporating so slowly that it decays and darkens the color. Those who 

 cannot construct drying houses should prepare and dry their fruit upon days 

 when the air is very dry only, out of doors, or else indoors in a gentle fire heat 

 and current of air. Apples on strings are objectionable. If dried on strings 

 these should be removed before the apples are packed.— M. Kiely's Shipper's 

 Guide. 



Top-Dressing Orchards. — The published reports of the proceedings of 

 the Illinois Horticultural Society give the statement of H. Dunlap of his success 

 in top-dressing bearing fruit trees. He top-dressed two rows of cherry trees, and 

 at the same time left some that were not treated. On the top-dressed trees the 

 shoots grew from 12 to 18 inches, while on those not top-dressed the growth was 

 only 3 to 6 inches. The superior bearing of the top-dressed trees continued for 

 two years. These results are similar to those we have witnessed for many years 

 past, where young and newly transplanted and mulched cherry trees in one lot 

 all lived and grew through a hot and dry summer, while a number of the un 

 mulched ones either made little or no growth, or positively perished. The cherry 

 is more sensitive to the heat of a hot and dry soil than other fruit trees, and 

 mulching is more important. — Country Gentleman 



