Xhe National Nursery 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK. 
Copyright, 1893, by The National Nurseryman Publishing Co. 
VOL. I. 
ROCHESTER, N. Y., JANUARY, 1894. 
No. 12. 
ONTARIO FRUIT GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The annual meeting of the Ontario Fruit Growers’ Asso¬ 
ciation, held at Peterborough during the first week in 
December, while not characterized by a large attendance, 
was marked by the enthusiasm of the members present and 
the unbounded faith with which they viewed the future of 
fruit growing in the province. The address of the retiring 
president, A. H. Petit, was full of practical suggestions of 
great value to the fruit grower, and contained many inter¬ 
esting facts gathered while in Chicago in his capacity as 
Superintendent of Horticulture for Ontario. 
Ontario succeeded in capturing thirty-eight out of a total 
number of sixty-five awards given to the Dominion for fruit. 
These awards covered the fruit products of 1892 and 1893. 
Among the subjects which brought out a large amount 
of discussion and upon which much information was de¬ 
sired, was that of spraying for the prevention of fungous 
diseases and insect attacks. A satisfactory amount of evi¬ 
dence was given by practical fruit growers with regard to the 
efficacy of spraying practices in general. Some conflicting 
statements, however, were also made by- fruit growers who 
claimed that success did not always attend their efforts. In 
most of these cases it was found that some of the minor 
details had been neglected in the operation of spraying, 
which had a vital effect upon the results obtained. It is a 
curious fact that while in the region of Rochester the prac¬ 
tice of spraying for the prevention of curculio has been 
largely supplanted • by the “jarring” method, yet, in the 
plum districts of Ontario spraying has given satisfactory 
results for a number of years and fruit growers now entirely 
depend on this remedy for saving their plums from curculio 
attacks. 
Reports were received both proving and contradicting 
the statement that Bordeaux mixture would prevent the 
“ cracking ” and “ spotting ” of the Flemish Beauty pear, 
and so important a phase did this question assume that a 
resolution was adopted by the association asking for a series 
of experiments to be conducted by the horticultural division 
of the Dominion Experimental Earms for the purpose of 
demonstrating the possibility of treating this disease with 
financial success on a commercial scale. 
The value of the fruit interests of Ontario were forcibly 
brought before the meeting by C. C. James, deputy minister 
of agriculture, who gave some figures with regard to the 
number of bearing and non-bearing trees of the different 
classes of fruits now planted in the province. The figures. 
which were unexpectedly high, represent such an amount of 
capital that it was a surprise to even the oldest fruit growers. 
They are as follows : 
1893. 1892. 
OF OF NON- OF OF NON¬ 
BEARING BEARING BEARING BEARING 
AGE. AGE. AGE. AGE. 
Apples. $(1,933,363 $2,144,681 $6,637,980 $2,200,944 
Plums. 682,561 680,094 659,454 683,415 
Cherries. 518,064 229,658 573,175 220,046 
Pears. 521,752 515,165 485,276 499,512 
Peaches. 521,873 386,3.30 443,100 4.34,554 
Grapes. 2,223,282 783,430 2,174.133 9.)0,6.59 
One of the features touching the trend of fruit growing at 
present brought out by discussion was the fact that fruit 
growers are now studying much more closely than in the 
past the capabilities of their soil and local surroundings and 
endeavoring to grow such fruits only as are best adapted to 
the conditions prevailing in their locality. In Southern 
and Western Ontario where grapes and peaches are success¬ 
fully grown, the area under apples is decreasing, while 
Eastern and Central Ontario, where apples and pears are 
noted for their fine appearance and excellent flavor, these 
fruits are being largely planted and thus it is seen a greater 
adjustment of classes and varieties of fruits to local sur¬ 
roundings and environments is taking place. 
The display of fruits included some very interesting 
hybrids by the late P. C. Dempsey, of Trenton, Out., 
between Northern Spy and Golden Russet apples, and also 
between Sheldon and Duchess pears. Of the varieties of 
apples discussed, Ontario and Blenheim Orange received a 
large share of the praises accorded to the commercial sorts. 
It seemed, however, to be the experience of most of those 
who.had grown the Ontario, that, while it is an apple of good 
flavor and good keeping qualities, yet, on account of its early 
and heavy bearing propensities it will need high cultivation 
and good care in order to extend its health and vigor long 
enough to carry it through a profitable life time. Many 
favorable reports were received of the Blenheim Orange, 
both in regard to the vigor of the tree, its productiveness 
and value as an exporting variety. Specimens of the Law¬ 
yer, or Delaware Red Winter, of the crop of 1892 were 
exhibited. 
On the matter of pears most of the discussion was along 
the line of winter varieties, and on account of the liability of 
the E'lemish Beauty to “ crack ” and “ spot,” in the opinion 
of many, it was an unprofitable variety. Good words were 
spoken in favor of Buerre d’Anjou, Josephine de Malines 
and Lawrence. 
A subject which occupied considerable attention and 
time of the association was the feasibility of establishing a 
