56 



the pears are quite as hardy as the Duchess apple, and will make good stock to 

 cross with other and better varieties. 



The Bessemianka pear, which is thought by Mr. Gibb to be one of the best, 

 fruited with me last season ; it was ripe in August. Small in size, coarse in texture, 

 and very perishable; not desirable for a market fruit. 



The plums have not fruited with us yet, and I fear we have not yet received 

 the best of these; while the cherries are more promising. The Vladimir is, 

 without doubt, one of the best and, I think, will prove valuable in this country. 



Before closing this short paper, Mr. Chairman, I feel it will not be amiss to 

 refer to the noble work done by our friend, Mr. Charles Gibb, in his efforts to benefit 

 the fruit interests of the Dominion. He has twice visited Eussia, at a considerable 

 sacrifice of time and means, in search of suitable fruits ; and it is through his efforts 

 that we are now in possession of many promising and new varieties. Ever ready 

 with pen and counsel in all work pertaining to horticulture, his absence at this, our 

 first Dominion Convention, is to be regretted by all who know him. " Honor to 

 whom honor is due." 



Mr. WooLVERTON. — I am glad to make the statement here that the Ontario 

 fruit-grower is doing something in reference to Eussian fruits. We have had some 

 correspondence with an eminent Eussian authority, and we are expecting to 

 receive from him a large box of some fifty varieties of specially valuable Eussian 

 apples, and these are to be carefully tested, both by our members and at the Experi- 

 mental Farm here at Ottawa, and we are very hopeful that some excellent results 

 will come from these experiments. As soon as we have sufficient varieties we will 

 distribute them among our members, and of those that we have not a sufficient 

 quantity to go round they will be tested at the Experimental Farm. We are 

 pending a consignment of our hardier fruit trees in return. 



Mr. Frankland. — From what part of Eussia are these coming, and are they 

 most suitable for the severe parts of the Dominion ? 



Ml-. WooLVERTON. — They are being collected from all parts of Eussia. They 

 are being collected by a Government officer, so that we shall have them from all 

 parts. 



Mr. Allan. — The consignment will include not only apples, but pears and cher- 

 ries as well ? , 



Mr. WooLVERTON. — Yes; and Eussian apricots, too. 



Mr. Shepherd. — The question i-aised is a very important one. To meet the 

 wants of Manitoba and the North-West we must look to the Eussian varieties. We 

 must get the best of apples from northern Eussia. My experience with the Eussian 

 varieties is that the quality is not what they ought to be and what we expect. I do 

 not think that they can compare with our Canadian apples in quality. Mr. Fisk 

 has not mentioned the Switzer, which is the only apple, I think, of good quality. 

 It is not the best, but it is a good apple, and corresponds with the St. Lawrence, and 

 looks something like the Fameuse. It bears heavily, and is very hardy. The Yellow 

 Transparent I do not think will pay us to grow. 



Mr. Allan. — Eeferring to that point, my belief is this: That the value of the 

 Eussian varieties is going to be only in the colder sections. To many of us, who 

 live in the most favoured sections of Canada, the Eussian varieties will be of little or 

 no value, because of their poor quality, generally. In the colder sections they will 

 flo better, and it is for this reason that the test is being made. I believe, oven in 

 the colder sections, although some of the fruit-growers think they are going to 

 supply their own market, I do. not think it is possible. The time may come when 

 they will supply their own markets with early apples, but the real test of these 

 varieties will not be reliable until you bring them right into bearing. It may be a 

 hardy tree up to bearing, and then may not be hardy, because there is a drain on 

 the tree in the bearing. No time- is allowed for the tree to recuperate from the 

 strain of bearing before the cold weather comes right in. 



Mr. Brodie. — My experience with the Yellow Transparent is difterent from Mr. 

 Shepherd's. I have marketed them two years in succession, and averaged $5 a 

 barrel. 



