11^ I N D FA LLS. 



245 



Apples in Nova Scotia. — It is often asked if apple 

 growing pays. From a Nova Scotia standpoint, I say 

 Yes ! Take for example, the net sales for the last four 

 seasons of the following growers, who regularly ship 

 their own apples to London : 













Av'ge total 





Crop of 1SS7, 



iSSS. 



/&V9, 



i8go. 



shipments . 



Mr. A. averaged 



■ . ■ .$3-76 



$2.43 



$4-25 



$4.20 



$3.83 



Mr. B. 





2.49 



3.06 



3.62 



3-43 



Mr. C. 



■ • • • 3-44 



1-63 



3-31 



3-70 



3-21 



Mr. D. 



.... 3->3 



1.72 



3.20 



3-21 



2.S5 



Many others, showing equally good averages, could be 

 cited, and infinitely more added, if other growers would 

 exercise the same care and honesty in packing. It is 

 generally conceded that it pays in this country to grow 

 apples at |i per barrel. Admitting this, the above aver- 

 ages are, I think, sufficient to warrant my reply. — C. R. 

 H. Starr, Nova Scotia. 



Apple Tr-E in Maine at 250 Years of age. 



Tomato Experiences. — I find it very difficult to 

 shorten the time of securing fruit from this plant. It 

 seems it requires nearly four months from the time the 

 seed is sown before we can expect ripened fruit. Extra 

 -soil or cultivation may increase the size of the fruit or 

 increase the productiveness of the vines, but give them 

 the very best of soil and cultivation and the fruit will 

 ripen but a short time earlier than if planted on thinner 

 soil. Some varieties, of course, ripen some days earlier 

 th an others. But taken as a whole, I find that onehun- 

 dred and twenty days is the average. I have had 

 Perfection ripened perfectly for the table within one 

 hundred and ten days from the time of sowing the seed. 

 Last year I had a variety of plants, and gave them as 

 nearly as possible an equal chance. I manured part 

 with one kind of fertilizer and others with something 

 different. The principal result obtained was more fruit 

 and a better quality with some than with others. 



Of the different manures used, the best results were 

 obtained by using a complete fertilizer. I used poul- 

 try manure, liquid manure, night soil, ashes and lime 

 each separately, and Fuller's complete manure. The 

 soil was light prairie loam plowed up in the fall and a 

 good dressing of stable manure applied soon after. A 

 good plowing was again given in the spring, and before 

 sowing the seed care was taken to thoroughly prepare 

 the land in the best condition possible. With these 

 plants I sowed the seed where the plants were to grow, 

 as more firmness is given to each plant than when they are 

 transplanted. Each kind of manure was applied in the 

 hill around the plants after they had made a good start 

 to grow. A number of plants were treated with each 

 kind of fertilizer and the same cultivation was given. 

 Of Perfection the first ripened fruit was one hundred 

 and ten days from planting ; the seeds and the plants 

 were manured with Fuller's complete fertilizer. Next 

 to this, two days later, were those manured with poultry 

 manure ; then those with night soil and liquid manure 

 ripened at about the same time, followed by those to 

 which ashes were applied, and then lime last, in about 

 one hundred and twenty days. The principal gain, 

 however, was in the size and quantity of the fruit on 

 each vine. The result was in the order given and was 

 sufficient to convince me that it paid to use the fertilizer. 



I find that when the seed is sown in the open ground 

 it is best to sow in hills the proper distance apart, 

 give them good cultivation, and let them grow where the 

 seed was planted, thinning out to one plant in each hill 

 after they have made a good start. And espec- 

 ially is this the case when testing the different varieties 

 with different kinds of fertilizers. — N. J. Shepherd, Mo. 



Potato Queries. — How do Mr. Terry and others keep 

 down the bugs on large potato fields ? In planting po- 

 tatoes on clover sod, can the clover be left to grow un- 

 til time to plant ? If so, what is the best width and 

 depth to plow, on sandy loam ? — W. H. C, Ontario. 



Latitude and Potatoes. — All my potatoes are north- 

 ern grown. From years of experience I have found 

 that northern stock is far superior to southern in vigor 

 and -yielding qualities. This is more apparent in the 

 early varieties than in the late ones, because of the fact 

 that the early dug tubers pass the line of maturity and 

 are on the down grade to decay before the planting time 

 comes in spring. — T. C. Davenport, Phila . 



Liquid Manure. — I have considerable faith in 

 liquid manure, especially with that class of plants which 

 require considerable moisture, such as tomatoes, cucum- 

 bers and melons. It is often the case with these plants 

 that in order to maintain a thrifty, \ igorous growth it is 

 necessary to supply more or less water, and by using 

 liquid manure a thriftier, stronger growth can readily 

 be secured. I prefer to use weaker solutions and use 

 them every time it is necessary to water, rather than to 

 have stronger, and apply less frequently. During the 

 early part of the season last year we had a drouth that 

 damaged the earlier gardens considerably ; and toma- 

 toes and cabbages, kale, cucumbers, and melons were 



