The Canadian Horticulturist. 169 



Rrait^ 



THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACHES, PEARS, CHERRIES 

 AND STRAWBERRIES. 



JUDGING from the show of fruit blossoms up to the date of writing, 

 (p\ the 23rd of May, this will be one of the most abundant fruit seasons 

 ever known in Ontario. Every variety is as full of bloom as it can 

 possibly be. Fruit growers in the Niagara district are hopefully expecting 

 a heavy crop of peaches, the bloom having shown itself very freely about the 

 first of May ; but the peach is a most tender fruit and there are many 

 chances for disappointment between now and harvest time. Already they 

 have met with a set-back on account of a sharp frost which occured about 

 the beginning of the second week in May, and as a result a large number of 

 the fruit blossoms have dropped, especially from the old trees, leaving a very 

 small proportion to develop into fruit. On the young and vigorous growing 

 trees, however, there will be an abundance of fruit unless some other mishap 

 occurs. The pear trees are perfectly white with bloom, but of course it is 

 too soon to say what proportion of these will set. Some growers predict 

 that an over abundant bloom is often followed by a small crop, and this 

 season will certainly test the truth of that statement. Cherry trees have 

 shed their petals and are setting a heavy crop. The only fruit crop that 

 seems likely to be short is the strawberry. This is owing to the unusually 

 mild winter and the lack of snow as protection from the evil effects of freez- 

 ing and thawing. ' Those who were careful enough to mulch their straw- 

 berry plantations with straw in the Autumn, are now rejoicing in the 

 prospect of an abundant crop, but only a few have done this, and where it 

 has been neglected, the plants have been badly heaved out by the winter, 

 and the plantations almost wholly ruined. This is true not only of the 

 Niagara district but of a large part of southern Ontario. We have received 

 a few reports of the presetit prospects from various sections, some of which 

 we will quote here, hoping in another month to be able to give still more 

 reliable estimates. 



Mr. A. McD. Allan, of Goderich, in the County of Huron, writes : 

 " We never had a finer promise of a large fruit harvest in all kinds than 

 there is at present. The trees are in a splendid condition to produce a 

 large crop, and if Jack Frost keeps away, this district will easily have 

 150,000 barrels of apples alone, for export. The pear, plum and cherry crop 

 promises just as well in proportion, and the peach trees are ready to burst 

 forth in a perfect cover of bloom. In some few instances where growers 

 were ignorant enough to plant on low or undrained land, I hear of damage 

 to strawberry vines, but generally speaking, the crop is safe." 



