16 



NOVA SCOTIA. 



High Class Fruit Always in Demand. 



Crossing from Charlottetown to Pictou, we entered the Province of Nova 

 Scotia on the morning of August 2. Our first interview was with Mr. Munro, 

 wholesale and retail dealer in fruits at Pictou. This gentleman emphasized 

 the point which has been brought up time and time again by the dealers in all 

 parts of the country as to the difficulty of securing a high class product, carefully 

 handled and offered for sale in good condition. He is confident that if fruit- 

 growers would pick and pack their crop more carefully they would realize much 

 more satisfactory returns for it. 



Hydraulic Ram. 



Not far from the city of Pictou, a few hours were spent looking over the farm 

 of Mr. C. R. B. Bryan at Durham. This gentleman has succeeded in establish- 

 ing a very promising orchard in a section of country not considered particularly 

 well adapted for fruitgrowing. This orchard, however, was very thrifty and 

 was carrying a heavy crop of fruit. An interesting feature here is the water 

 supply that has been developed from a spring by means of a small hydraulic 

 ram, which secures for the home and buildings of this place a constant supply 

 of pure running water at a comparatively small outlay. There are many loca- 

 tions throughout the country where similar methods might be put into effect, 

 adding greatly to the convenience and comfort of the farm home. 



A day was spent in Truro and the vicinity looking over the grounds of the 

 Provincial Agricultural College and some of the orchards in the immediate 

 neighbourhood in company with Professor Shaw, Horticulturist for the College. 



Shelter Belts Desirable. 



Climatic conditions here would indicate the necessity for shelter belts and 

 protection from the severity of the winters, together with the careful employment 

 of cover crops, in order to ensure success with even the more hardy varieties 

 of apples. The majority of the orchards here were, like others that have been 

 mentioned, laid down to sod, mowed annually and the crop of hay removed, 

 with the usual result. Professor Shaw expressed the view that it was more than 

 likely that the average man engaged in mixed farming, and venturing upon the 

 planting of a small portion of his farm in fruit trees, would not give that portion 

 the needed attention, owing to conflicting interests, and consequently in many 

 cases the venture would not prove satisfactory. It was his opinion that the 

 orchardist should be a specialist and that he must of necessity give first attention 

 to his trees if he would be successful. 



Windsor the Gateway to the Annapolis Valley. 



A short run from Truro brought us to Windsor. This town may properly 

 be called the gateway to the famous fruit section of Nova Scotia familiarly 

 known as the Annapolis Valley. Here we obtained our first view of fruit- 

 growing on an extensive scale in the Maritime Provinces. It is evident from 

 the large size of the trees and the thrifty appearance of the orchards that here 

 they have found their natural home. 



A drive through the country surrounding Windsor was particularly interest- 

 ing. Orchards lined the roadside on every hand, heavily loaded with an abun- 

 dant crop of fruit, the favourite varieties being the Northern Spy and 

 King of Tompkins. 



