FRUIT REPORTS. 
207 
4. Cultivation— Nearly all orchards are cultivated and most of them 
thoroughly. The crops grown in young orchards are corn, potatoes, tobacco 
and other vegetables. 
5. Crimson clover and rye are the principal cover crops used. They are 
of much benefit to ripen up the new growth of wood in the autumn, and to 
cover the soil during the winter, thus protecting the roots of the trees from 
the sudden changes experienced during that season and to add fertility to 
the soil. 
6. Barnyard manure and wood ashes are the principal fertilizers used 
in this locality. Commercial fertilizers have been used to some extent, but 
have not given general satisfaction. 
7. Banner peach is one of the most valuable new fruits that have origin- 
ated in this locality. The fruit is large, round; skin yellow, partly covered 
with red; flesh yellow, fine grained and of best quality; pit small. It ripens 
the last of September, or first of October, with Smock, find is the best of its 
season. 
12. Usually most varieties of the peach are quite hardy in this locality 
Last winter, however, was an exception. During the month of February 
the weather was continuously cold for two or three weeks; about fourteen 
degrees below zero was the lowest point reached, but there was no snow on 
the ground and the long continued cold dried out the soil to such an extent 
that the air was admitted to the roots of the trees, and about ninety-five 
per cent of the peach trees were killed at the roots, as were from thirty to 
fifty per cent of the plums and some apple, pear and cheery trees. The 
blossom buds were not injured but came out in full bloom only to wither 
and die with the tree. 
Peaches have been planted very largely here. They have succeeded quite 
well in the past and usually give about three crops in four years. Several 
thousand acres have been devoted to this fruit in the county. Good peach 
land is worth from $100 to $300 per acre. 
Borers and leaf curl have been the chief enemies to the peach, as we have 
not yet had yellows in our trees. The cherry also succeeds well as we have 
practically no black knot. Green aphids and monilia, or fruit rot, are the 
greatest sources of trouble with these fruits. Small fruits succeed admirably 
here and larger quantities of strawberries and raspberries are grown and 
shipped to Detroit and nearly all parts of Ontario and to Montreal. All 
varieties of grapes do well, but the low price has deterred many from planting 
The Catawba will ripen perfectly in most seasons. 
OTTAWA VALLEY. 
BY W. T. MACOUN, HORTICULTURIST CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM, 
OTTAWA. 
1. Only the hardiest of the large fruits succeed well here but nearly all 
the varieties of currants, American gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries and 
a considerable number of grapes do well. 
2. Opinions differ much in regard to ;the soils for the different fruits. As 
a rule the heavier soils are preferred for all kinds,- but land which is liable 
to bake is not often chosen. The higher elevations are usually selected for 
large fruits, provided there is a sufficient amount of moisture in the soil. 
