lyS The Canadian Horticulturist. 



FRUIT PROSPECTS. 



E hope, during the coming season, to post the readers of the 

 Canadian Horticulturist as fully as possible, both with regard 

 to the prospective fruit crops of Ontario, and also with regard to 

 the best markets for the disposal of the same. 



Although it is yet too early to judge with any certainty, yet 

 it is cheering to note that, for the most part, there is a promise 

 of a fairly good fruit harvest. 

 In Southern Ontario there is a good show of apple bloom upon such varieties 

 as the Red Astracan, Duchess of Oldenburg, Cranberry Pippin and the Green- 

 ing, but, curiously enough, the Baldwin still continues to be obstinate and shows 

 scarcely any bloom. The Ribston and the Russets also make a very scant show. 

 Cherries of every kind appear to be unprecedentedly full and are set well Even 

 the peach trees promise a heavy load of fruit, which is almost a surprise after so 

 many recent failures. 



The late frosts have done very little damage in the Niagara district except to 

 some early strawberry blossoms which have been blackened by them. We 

 doubt, however, if the fruits of the north have escaped so well. We will be 

 pleased to receive the fullest reports from correspondents in every direction as 

 the season advances. 



The following are a few reports from other sections of Ontario : 



Mr. T. H. Race, of Mitchell, writes : " Judging from the show of bloom, the fruit pros- 

 pects are not particularly promising in this locality. Pear blossoms are very scant ; phims, 

 on the contrary, very heavy. Apple blossoms are the lightest we have had for years All 

 the smaller fruits promise favorably except the strawberries, which are kept back by the 

 cold, dry weather." 



Mr. G. C. Caston, of the County of Simcoe, says : " The prospects here, so far, are 

 very good, but everything is very backward We have had frequent frosts, and early straw- 

 bjrries that were in bloom, have been cut off." 



Mr. Thos. Beal, of Lindsay, in the County of Victoria, writes: "Apple, pear and 

 plum trees look well. The frost has done no injury (May 20th). The small fruits all pro- 

 mise well except strawberries, of which the earlier varieties are badly injured by late 

 frosts. " 



Mr. W. C. Searle. of Clinton, says : "I am afraid that the fruit blossoms here have 

 suffered from late frosts. If any have escaped it is those which bloom late. " 



Mr. J. M. Waters, of Fernhill, writes: "Our winter here was very mild, and the 

 fruit buds were in excellent condition when the spring opened, but we are having a succes- 

 sion of heavy frosts which have injured peaches, pears, cherries, plums, currants and straw- 

 berries to a large extent, while our grape vines have been killed back to the old wood. 

 Very few interest themselves in fruit culture here, and were it not for the tree agent little 

 would be done in fruit culture in North Middlesex ' 



Mr. D. Nicol, of Cataraqui, of the County of Frontenac, writes : " On all kinds of 

 fruit trees the show of bloom is unprecedented. The late frosts may have injured some of 

 it, but I cannot say to what extent." 



Mr. W. H. Wylie, of Carleton Place, writes (May 28) : " Yesterday morning water 

 in exposed places was covered by nearly one quarter inch of ice, and one day last week by 

 nearly half an inch. Grapevines, leaves and Ijuds, were frozen crisp. Plums have been 

 injured and will be a smaller crop than at first anticipated. Currants and gooseberries 

 promise well. 



Mr. A. M. Smith, of St. Catharines : " Prospects of fruit : Apples light, only a few 

 varieties blossomed ; peaches, fair ; pears, Bartlett's, light, hurt by frost ; plums, ditto ; 

 berries and grapes uninjured on lake shore." 



