138 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



orchards : orchards need cultivation and manure, and when brought into a 

 vigorous condition by attention in these respects, it will be much more able to 

 overcome fungi and insects. He noticed that Mr. Wade stated in his paper 

 that he put his name on No. 2 but not on No. 3. Mr. Allan thought the time 

 coming when he will not put his name on No. 2 unless in exceptional seasons like 

 the present. It is only the best that pays, and it only pays to grow the best. 

 To-day first class apples will sell in Toronto, without any trouble, at $5.00 per 

 barrel ; while the poor article is a drug even in this scarce season. Deep plow- 

 ing must of course be avoided, yet it is necessary to keep the soil in such a 

 condition that it can take in the manure and be open to the action of the sun- 

 light. The whole ground of an orchard should be devoted to the fruit crop^ 

 and no second crop be attempted, unless the trees are very young. 



The Ben Davis apple appears to be very popular with growers in the vicinity 

 of Peterboro' and was very highly commended by some of them who were 

 present at the meeting. 



Mr. Stenson commended it very highly as a shipping apple. His custom 

 was to keep it in a cool cellar until about the 20th of May, at which time it 

 was at its best in quality. He had shipped it at that season into the English 

 market where it brought the very top price, frequently netting him as high as 

 $3.50 per barrel. Of course this was due to the fact that other apples were out 

 of the market at that season. The Ben Davis, he said, was a very fine bearer 

 and the trees very hardy ; and, therefore, if it only possessed the requisite qual- 

 lity of fruit it would surpass any other variety for this section of the country. 



Mr. Allan feared that the Ben Davis would not hold its place. There was a 

 time when the Greening was unsaleable in the English market, but of late it has 

 been speedily rising in value because of its excellent quality. 



The Ontario was mentioned by some member present as being an excel 

 lent bearer, the apple was of first quality and very saleable on account of its fine 

 appearance. Mr. Allan said he believed that this apple would in time take the 

 place of the Spy and the Wagener, the objects of the originator being to secure 

 an apple possessing the high flavor of the Spy, and the early bearing of the Wage- 

 ner. This has been largely accomplished, for the Ontario is as good a keeper 

 as the Spy which it resembles in flesh and flavor, and it comes into bearing as 

 early as the Wagener ; it also possesses the tartness of the latter and even sur- 

 passes the former in shipping qualities. 



The Russet apples were adversely criticised by several apple growers. Mr. 

 Allan stated that they were no longer in demand as formerly. They were not 

 asked for in the market so long as other varieties of better color could be had. 

 He could not, therefore, advise extensive planting of either the Roxbury or the 

 Golden Russet. 



The varieties of pears grown about Peterboro' with success were also brought 

 under discussion. Mr. Stenson has tried the Flemish Beauty with success, and 

 off one tree, 14 years of age, he has harvested nine bushels of fruit. There 



