146 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



RpLiik 



THE FRUIT POSSIBILITIES OF ONTARIO. 



N the year 1864, 1 dropped into an orchard in Central New 

 Ydtk State to witness some apple packers barrelling fruit 

 for export, A number of the neighboring farmers had 

 turned in to assist in the operations, and, being but an 

 on-looker myself, I made some casual observations about 

 the quality of the fruit, as compared with similar varieties 

 produced in Upper Canada. The operators looked at me with evident 

 surprise, one farmer remarking "I did not know that you could grow 

 apples over there, at all. I thought the chief products of Canada were 

 peas, barley and turnips." This may seem an exaggerated case, yet 

 it serves to show with tolerable correctness the prevailing opinion 

 among our near neighbors at that time, with regard to the possibilities 

 of fruit production in this country. However, that idea has largely 

 passed away with the lapse of years, and with the more general dis- 

 semination of Continental information our cousins across the border have 

 come to regard the Canadian apple as a product not to be despised, nor 

 its native soil a land to be estimated alone by its peculiar adaptation for 

 turnip culture. 



But much as has been learned in connection with horticulture during the 

 past twenty-five years, and great as has been the progress made in the now 

 important industry of fruit growing, Canadians have not yet fully appreci- 

 ated the possibilities of their own country as a fruit producing section. This 

 is a great country, take it as a whole, and I have no hesitation in saying 

 that there is not another section of equal extent on the North American 

 Continent to compare with this western peninsula of Ontario, for the pro- 

 duction of the hardier fruits. You may fancy that I have suddenly become 

 an enthusiast in this line, but the fact is, I have been impressed with these 

 convictions for some years. My recent observations while attending the 

 farmers' Institutes in several counties north and south, did much to strengthen 

 my former convictions, and I have no doubt the observations of my fellow 

 directors of the Fruit Growers' Association, including the President and 

 Secretary, who were likewise attending these institute meetings in the 

 interests of fruit culture, led them to like conclusions. They should each 

 and all give us the benefit of their observations through the medium of the 

 Horticulturist, a publication which we are now justly proud of. 



I may on a future occasion deal less in generalities and give your readers 



