22 



have been made with a view to testing their adaptability for this section of the 

 country. A great deal of valuable information has been obtained and results 

 of the work done here will be found embodied in the regular reports of tha 

 Dominion Experimental Farms issued from year to year. 



Care of Orchards Generally Good. 



Before leaving the Province of Nova Scotia it might be said that the general 

 conditions under which orcharding is being carried on are quite in accordance 

 with good practice, and will compare favourably with other portions of Canada 

 or the United States. Many of the orchardists have become specialists, and 

 have devoted a good deal of thought and energy to establishing valuable orchards 

 which are a credit to themselves and to the Province. 



More Thorough Spraying Necessary. 



However, partly on account of the immense size of the trees, and partly 

 on account of lack of suitable appliances, spraying has not been carried on with 

 the energy and thoroughness necessary to produce the best results. Careful 

 and thorough spraying, followed up by a systematic thinning of the fruit in 

 seasons like the one just passed, will work wonders in equalizing and regulating 

 the crop of fruit and enabling Nova Scotia growers to be on the market every 

 year with a first class article. 



The season of 1911 has proved a record one for the apple growers and 

 shippers of this Province, taxing their ability to the utmost to harvest and handle 

 the immense crop produced. Early in the year a crop of one million barrels 

 was predicted, but as the season advanced, this estimate was frequently revised. 

 There is no doubt but that the shipments will equal, if they do not exceed, one 

 and one half million barrels of apples. 



For the first time Nova Scotia invaded the Northwest markets and over 

 one hundred thousand barrels were successfully distributed in Manitoba, Sas- 

 katchewan and Alberta, a few even finding their way into British Columbia. 

 These shipments in most instances gave good satisfaction, although some com- 

 plaints were made in regard to the size of the fruit. Systematic thinning in 

 the early part of the season, would no doubt have paid well and have worked 

 wonders in increasing the size of the apples, at the same time producing an 

 equal volume of a more satisfactory character with considerably less strain 

 upon the trees. 



Owing to the great advantages which this Province possesses on account 

 of its comparative nearness to the English markets, with frequent sailings of 

 the better class of steamers during the winter season, the production of apples 

 should continue to prove very attractive, and will no doubt greatly increase 

 from year to year. 



Prof. Shaw recommends for Northern Nova Scotia, the following list of 

 apples in the order of -ripening. — Astrachan, Transparent, Duchess, Wealthy, 

 Dudley, Alexander, Wolf River, Mcintosh Red, Baxter and Milwaukee. 



A commercial orchard has been planted at the Experimental Farm at 

 Nappan and contains the following varieties. — Astrachan, Duchess, Wealthy, 

 Wolf River, Mcintosh Red, Fameuse, Pecwaukee, Baxter, Blue Pearmaine, 

 Golden Russet. 



For general cultivation throughout the Annapolis Valley, a wide range 

 of apples succeed. The following are more generally planted and cover the 

 season very well: — 



Williams Favourite, Gravenstein, Wealthy, King, Wagener (as a filler), 

 Ribson, Blenheim, Baldwin, Northern Spy, Bishop Pippin, Golden Russet, 

 Nonpareil. 



