147 



was almost useless. It is the universal result of my inquiry that bad attention to 

 the fruit has caused this, because the barrels were injured and shaken about and ill 

 used by the employees of these vessels. Now I hold it to be of the very first conse- 

 quence to the shippers of fruit, not only from Ontario, but from Quebec, New Bi-uns- 

 •vyiok and Nova Scotia, that it be put upon the English market without being 

 injured. Now, there can be no possible difficulty in placing our fruit upon the 

 English market in good condition, if the ship is arranged with proper ventilation, 

 80 that the fruit will not be heated in transit. Now, I know a proposition has been 

 made to protect our fruit, by which it may be kept cool and thoroughly protected 

 from the heating process ; bat there is one difficulty, and there is where the mischief 

 arises, and it is from that fact that our losses occur. Our barrels are handled 

 too roughly, and I entirely agree with any proposition whereby a judicious means 

 of moving the fruit in transit can be procured, so as to get it in good condition on 

 the market. 



The resolution was carried. 



A committee was then appointed to wait upon the transportation companies. 



Mr. L. "WooLVEETON, Secretary of the Ontario Fruit G-rowers' Association, read 

 his paper on 



Apple G-rowing in Southern Ontario. 



The apples of southern Ontario are gradually gaining a world-wide reputation. 

 In its favoured climate and fertile soil the apple is found in greater perfection of 

 growth than in any other country in the world. So well known have Ontario 

 apples become in foreign markets that the barrels so branded command a higher 

 price in the British market than those of other countries. This superiority consists 

 in the highest combination of points with regard to size, colour and quality. In 

 some places apples grow to an abnormal size at a sacrifice of quality; in others 

 they are firmer, and consequently longer keepers; but we claim that here these 

 qualities are combined in a high degree of excellence. The numerous medals 

 awarded to the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association for excellency of display and for 

 best society collections of fruits, by the American Pomological Society, the 

 Centennial Commission, of Philadelphia, and at the late Intercolonial Exhibition in 

 England bear witness to the excellence of the fruits of southern Ontario, and all 

 have served to draw the attention of intending settlers to our fertile country. 



It is well known that the farther north an apple can be successfully grown the 

 better for its colour and its keeping qualities; and for this reason. a few varieties 

 succeed better still further north. For instance, the Fameuse, that prince of dessert 

 apples succeeds far better in the neighbourhood of Montreal, both in size and colour, 

 than in the Niagara district, and the "Wealthy apple can be grown much larger and 

 finer in the vicinity of Ottawa than on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. But for 

 a lone list of our very finest winter apples, the latitude of Montreal or Ottawa is too 

 hio-h and would prove destructive to their very life. 



Briefly we will here mention a tew oi the varieties which are most highly 

 valued for export as grown in southern Ontario and which are here in their most 

 northern limit of' successful culture. First, there is the King, a beautiful large red 

 ancle of the most excellent quality. The writer has an orchard of this variety, now 

 twentv-five years planted, and has found it to bring, invariably, the highest price of 



annle sent forward to either the Canadian or British markets, sometimes selling 

 ^'^"'covent Garden as high as $6 per barrel. This last season this apple has been 

 ^° t d at from $5 to $6 per barrel in the British markets, and even in Canada I have 

 *^'^H '^'t at the rate of $i per barrel, f.o.b. When well grown it attains a fine size, 

 ^° A ^ one occasion, by actual count, I have filled a barrel with one hundred and 

 ^^^ ht'^four apples. But like other precious articles, the King apple is hard to get 

 eignty- ^^^^|^ rjjjg tree is a scant bearer at best. 



^^ '^'^The Gravenstein, a fall apple, beautifully striped and splashed with red, of fair 

 ■ e and of excellent quality also, is another prime apple for export, brings almost 

 10* 



