90 



Mr. Peters. — That is what we consider the standard barrel. We take the 'Nova 

 Scotia barrel as a standard. 



Mr. E. W. Starr. — The size is 26 inches over 19 inches bulge, and 17 inches 

 head, inside measurement. It is the standard flour barrel size, holding two and a 

 half bushels. 



Mr. WooLVERTON. — It holds nearly three bushels. 



Mr. Starr. — It would hold more than three bushels of grain, but two and a half 

 of apples. 



Mr. C. R. H. Starr. — The same barrel in New York will hold 180 lbs. of potatoes. 



Mr. BoRTHWicK, Ottawa. — I had some apples from Nova Scotia last season, and 

 the size of the barrel is two and a half bushels. 



Mr. Allan. — The intention of the Government in framing the Act by which the 

 size of the barrel is regulated was that it should contain three bushels. The size is 

 80 given by the Dominion Act. I do not think it is quite a three bushel barrel, but 

 that was the supposition in framing the Act. 



Mr. E. W. Starr. — The standard bushel of the Dominion is the Imperial bushel 

 level filled. Under the Dominion statute there are no heaped bushels. The standard 

 ajDple barrel will hold three of these Iniperial bushels. 



Mr. Peters. — We do not measure in that way. We are compelled to give full 

 measure. 



Mr. Kew. — i was glad to hear the remarks to-night in reference to planting. The 

 first orchard I planted was sixteen or seventeen years ago, and the piece of land figured 

 out conveniently at 28 feet one way and 38 the other to get the lows. I thought at the 

 time the rows were pretty wide apart, but the trees were small. We did not put any- 

 thing between them; still, we had plenty of room to cultivate. We cultivated the land 

 thoroughly for ten j-ears, and then seeded it down after that time. It has never been 

 ploughed since. Those trees planted sixteen or seventeen years ago — Greenings and 

 Bald wing — now have their limbs interlaced 2 or 3 feet, i quite agree with Mr. Peters in 

 his system, of growing trees. I believe in a tree of medium height, growing the limbs 

 near to the gi'ound, but not too near that yoiJ cannot get round conveniently for pick- 

 ing. When loaded with fruit the lower limbs will be near the ground. I have lost 

 faith in severe pruning. It was thought in our neighborhood that we could not grow 

 apples unless we cut and slashed the tree every year. I believe, and my belief is 

 based on my own experience and that of other growers, that the tree should be 

 thoroughly trained duiing the first five or six years. There is no trouble, if the 

 orchard is properly tended to, in forming that tree for its lifetime. I think I never 

 had occasion to out a limb off of any of my tiees after they had been planted six j'ears 

 except there may have been a case now and then when the limb would meet with 

 some damage — either the wind or ice would break it — and then I would cut it off for 

 appearance sake, but I always made it a practice to bind the wound, and that wound 

 had never taken any water. Binding will always prevent water getting in and decay- 

 ing the limb. So far as regards the distance and trimming, I believe we cannot grow 

 fruit without the wood, and the more wood you cut away the less blussoms you will 

 have; and suppose the tree does over blossom, the fruit of itself will naturally thin 

 out. Last yeai', I took out of that orchard planted sixteen or seventeen years ago, an 

 average of 100 barrels to the acre. In regard to the cultivation I let a large number of 

 hogs run in the orchard. I raised considerable coarse grain, and buy a good deal. I be- 

 lieve that letting the hogs run in the orchard is the most convenient, thorough and profi- 

 table way of cultivating the orchard, and there will be no necessity for manuring. 

 I think the system of keeping large grown hogs in the orchard eveiy year is a good 

 one. I take them out when I am picking, and when I pack I draw the apples under 

 cover. I pick into barrels, and a man can draw as many barrels in a day as eight 

 men can pick. It is then possible for me to pack in any kind of weather. As soon 

 as the apples are out of the orchard the hogs eat up the refuse, and when winter 

 comes on my orchard is clean. In regard to plums, I do not think much of the one 

 that Mr. Peters recommended. I do think, however ikhat he recommended it as an 



