334 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



our trees are literally breaking down with their load of magnificently colored 

 apples. They are free from those blemishes w^hich sometimes disfigure them, 

 here are no worm holes, and, indeed, scarcely any second-class fruit. Out of 

 fifty barrels just packed, there are scarcely two barrels of second-class apples, 

 a notable contrast to some years preceding when we had one-third to cull out 

 for that grade. The evaporator this year is not of much use, for nearly all the 

 fruit is fitted to pack in a fresh state and bring the top price. As far as quality 

 is concerned, the same remarks may be made of most varieties, but, unfortu- 

 nately, there are scarcely any Baldwins or Spys in bearing this year. Surely 

 such apples as Ontario is producing this season will gain for her a name that 

 will long be remembered in the foreign market ; and if fruit of such quality 

 does not bring us remunerative prices this year, how can we expect that it ever 

 will? 



The Yield. — Although only a few varieties are bearing a crop this season, 

 and perhaps three-quarters of the trees in most orchards are entirely bare of 

 fruit, yet the yield, from those trees which are in bearing, is astonishing. 

 One tree of Greenings, that did not appear to be unusually loaded, turned out 

 sixteen barrels of beautiful apples. This is nothing extraordinary for this variety : 

 some years ago we picked twenty barrels off a tree that adjoined this one. Of 

 late, however, owing to the feeble state of the trees, such a yield has been 

 scarcely known. This year, the trees, are comparatively free from that 

 fungus, and seem to be recovering their old vigor and consequent productiveness. 

 The Cranberry Pippin, above mentioned, in an orchard about twelve years 

 planted, is yielding about four barrels to the tree. The picking was inspiring ; 

 our men tried a picking race and two of them succeeded in filling a barrel each in 

 four minutes, and another man in five minutes. Soinetimes it is difficult to 

 average a barrel an hour, where the fruit is scattered. 



Harris' Step Ladder. — We always feel inclined to encourage every new 

 appliance which is invented for the benefit of the fruit grower. Anything new 

 in the way of packages, ladders, packing benches, etc., is always welcome to a 

 notice in these columns, whether the result is pecuniarily beneficial to the 

 inventor or not. Mr. Thomas Harris, of Meaford, has recently invented a 

 folding fruit ladder ; a cut of which is here given. It is strongly built 

 and very ingeniously arranged, so that it can be folded into a portable 

 condition and easily set up. The price seems rather high, but when the 

 amount of work upon it is considered, it is, no doubt, worth all that is asked for it. 

 It is well adapted to the home garden, and particularly suitable for use in an 

 orchard on rolling ground, because its three props can be so adjusted as to be 

 perfectly safe upon any surface. This, in our opinion, is its great commenda- 

 tion ; and the iron hook, for pulling down aU limbs until they are within reach of 

 the hand and the support for the basket, are all great conveniences for the home 

 garden. 



