82 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July 



Cranberry culture is being extended in the inland marsh 

 lands. The fruit is shipped to England. There is undoubtedly 

 a future for cherry, apple, plum, pear and small fruit 

 growing on the Island ; a few large orchards are already 

 established and are bearing satisfactorily. The fruit keeps par- 

 ticularly well. 



Nova Scotia. — The Dominion owes very much to this pro- 

 vince for the good pioneer work done in advertising the fruit- 

 growing capabilities of Canada in the European .markets. The 

 best advertisement that could be given by any country was 

 afforded by the magnificent display of fruit made by the Pro- 

 vince of Nova Scotia through its Fruit Growers' Association at 

 the Indian and Colonial Exhibition in London in 1886. 



As early as the middle of last century, the Acadian French, 

 who then peopled Kings and Annapolis counties, cultivated 

 apples and pears with great auccess. When these lands fell into 

 the hands of the Connecticut and English immigrants in i76o> 

 old pear and apple trees were found in many places, some of the 

 latter existing at the present day. It must not be supposed that 

 the apple growing of Nova Scotia is restricted to the Annapolis 

 Valley. The fertile valleys of the Cornwallis andGaspereaux rivers 

 are equally well adapted and equally productive. The protection 

 afforded by low parallel lines of hills, known as the North and 

 South Mountain ranges, sheds a beneficient influence much 

 appreciated by the fruit growers of these regions. The numerous 

 bays and inlets assist in equalizing temperatures and exercise a 

 marked influence upon the longevity — which is proverbial — of 

 the apple trees in this region. 



The soil consists of sand, sandy loam and clay, overlying a 

 sandstone formation. The enormous rise and fall of the tides, 

 from time immemorial have worn away soil and rocks and pro- 

 duce those rich and extensive deposits constituting the present 

 marsh and dyked lands. These marsh lands serve the purpose 



