36 



The success of Mr. Johnson's work in this county, has caused a revival of 

 interest in many other apple sections of the province where similar conditions 

 were prevailing. It will be very hard to estimate how far this movement will 

 extend. There is no doubt whatever but the general standard of the average 

 product of Ontario's apple orchards will be materially raised as a direct result 

 of the efforts of this energetic, enthusiastic man. 



Westward along the north shore of Lake Erie, the counties of Elgin, Kent 

 and Essex range themselves in order. This entire district, where the elevation 

 is sufficient, is well adapted for fruit growing, and at one time it was thought 

 the deep sandy soils of some parts of Kent and Essex, would rival, if not excel, 

 the peach lands of the Niagara peninsula, in the production of fine fruit. 

 Extensive plantings of this fruit and also of grapes were made, but one or two 

 severe winters about ten years ago so decimated and destroyed the peach orchards 

 and grape vineyards, that the people have turned their attention more generally 

 to other lines of endeavor, notably the growth and production of early vegetables 

 and of corn and tobacco, for which the climate and soil seems particularly 

 suited. 



A number of resourceful men, however, among whom may be mentioned 

 the Hilborns, Mr. J. D. Fraser, Mr. E. Adams and others, still believe that 

 with careful methods of culture, these fruits can be successfully and profitably 

 grown in this district. 



The Season is Early. 



The fact that fruit and vegetables ripen from one week to ten days earlier 

 here, under ordinary conditions, than anywhere else in the province, is a very 

 valuable asset to the district. This fact added to the well known fertility of 

 the soil, makes this part of the province very attractive to anyone desirous of 

 engaging in the lines of work just mentioned. 



- - T Apples, pears, plums and small fruits succeed admirably and on account 

 of their early ripening, are quite profitable. 



Lambton. 



The County of Lambton is another section which is making a strong bid 

 for recognition as a fruit centre, not only for apples which grow here to perfection, 

 but also for many of the tender fruits which the more southern counties were 

 inclined to consider their special prerogative. In favoured localities a large 

 number of extensive peach orchards have been planted during recent years 

 and the residents of this county are very sanguine that they will be able to 

 produce not only apples and the hardier fruits successfully, and profitably, 

 but that the peach crop will be quite an item in their output in the near future. 



Mr. D. Johnson of Forest, President of the Ontario Fruitgrowers' Asso- 

 ciation, and a very extensive grower and handler ol apples and other fruits, 

 is the leading spirit in Lambton horticultural circles. A very strong and 

 successful co-operative association has been established here which has gained 

 a very excellent reputation for the quality of its shipments to the western 

 markets as well as abroad. 



San Jose Scale. 



Any description of fruitgrowing in Southern Ontario would be incomplete 

 without some reference to the introduction and spread throughout several 

 sections of this district of that once dreaded insect, the San Jose" Scale, which 

 for a time threatened the very existence of the fruit industry over a large ter- 

 ritory. 



