THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
said that last year was the banner year, the yield being very 
large and the^berry of a very superior quality and flavor. 
The amount of money statedJound its way into the pockets 
of the poor people who shipped in small quantities. 
fruit and plant |Votes 
GRAPES OF THE CANADIAN REGION 
Among the varieties which have been originated in Canada, some 
of them the results of special effort by expert plant breeders, are 
Brant, Canada, Moyer, Kensington, Burnet, Jessica and Northern 
Light. Of all these, perhaps Kensington is the finest in quality. It 
is a white grape, the result of a cross between Clinton and Buckland’s 
Sweetwater by Dr. William Saunders, made at London, Ontario, 
twenty-five or thirty years ago. The vine is vigorous, fairly produc¬ 
tive, bunch large, berry medium size, of excellent quality. The sea¬ 
son is somewhat later than Niagara and therefore of value only where 
that variety can be ripened with certainty.. Seedlings of Kensing¬ 
ton ought to be worth growing. 
STORING LOW GRADE APPLES 
The following from the Canadian Horticulturist refers to an inci¬ 
dent in the apple trade of Ontario of 1907-8. This thing is not 
likely to occur again in that region but not at all unlikely to reappear 
in other sections. 
“Last season’s experience showed dealers that the shipping of 
‘No. 3’ grade apples or ‘Culls’ with the hope of making a profit is 
little short of madness. There were stored in Colborne, Brighton 
and Trenton last year for the purpose of re-packing, 100,000 barrels 
of absolute trash. It has been shown that if this large amount had 
been given to the dealers free of cost they would even then have lost 
money by handling it. And this was not the only effect. The plac¬ 
ing of this large quantity of disreputable stuff on the market had the 
tendency of reducing the price of the ‘No. 2’ grade, perhaps half a 
dollar a barrel. 
“There are two ways in which the grower can meet the‘cull’ prop¬ 
osition. First, reduce the proportion of ‘culls’ in his apple crop by 
taking proper care of his orchard; and secondly, take those that he 
may have to the evaporator, the canning factory, or the cider mill, 
where they belong.’’ 
* 
ENSEE APPLE 
Pomologist W. A. Taylor describes this variety in his article on 
Promising New Plants in the 1907 Year Book. He says that it 
originated as a chance seedling “near a place where cider had been 
made in earlier years on the farm of the late Nelson Cox, Windsor 
Township, Lawrence County, Ohio.’’ The tree is said to be upright 
in growth and characterized by pale colojed bark. The following 
description is given of this variety by Mr. Taylor. 
“Form roundish, oblate; size large; surface rather smooth, 
undulating; color pale yellow washed with mixed red, splashed and 
brokenly striped with bright crimson, frequently overspread with 
gray; dots variable, some russeted and aureole, many of those near 
the apex being indented; cavity irregular, large, deep, abrupt, rus¬ 
seted, and sometimes lipped; stem short moderately stout; basin 
deep, abrupt, furrowed, downy, calyx segments small, converging, 
reflexed at tip; eye small, nearly closed; skin thick, tenacious; core 
of medium^ size, roundish, clasping, open; seeds numerous, of 
medium size, plump; flavor subacid, rich; quality very good. 
Season late autumn and early winter in Lawrence County, Ohio, 
keeping well in cold storage. This variety is apparently deserving 
of test throughout the Middle States and the irrigated valleys of the 
West, as it is an apple of large size and fine quality, adapted to home 
use and special markets.” 
NATIVE PERSIMMONS 
Each year sees notable advancement in the improvement of 
native fruits. In Missouri and Indiana, we find every now and then 
18 1 
a variety of the native persimmon which appears to be a great 
improvement on anything we have. The Ruby Persimmon is an 
example of this type. The division of pomology of the Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture at Washington has investigated this variety and 
presents a history and description in its 1907 report. Inasmueh as 
the Japanese Persimmons have a limited range of adaptability in 
this country the improvement of the native persimmon is a work of 
great importance. Among the enthusiasts in persimmon culture was 
the late Judge Samuel Miller of Bluffton, Mo. Col. Evans of the 
same state for many years prominent in horticultural circles has also 
been a persimmon specialist. But one of the most desirable varie¬ 
ties seems to have been disseminated by the late James E. Little of 
Cartersburg, Ind., under the name of the Ruby Persimmon. It has 
been reported as succeeding in Hendricks County, Ind., at Farming- 
dale, Ill., and at other points. There is unquestionably a field for 
improved native persimmons and we shall undoubtedly have them 
in the near future. 
SPRAYING FOR CURCULIO IN CANADA 
The standard means of combating curculio injury in Canada is 
spraying with some form of arsenic. Ontario plum growers are us¬ 
ing aresenate of lead. Maritime Province growers are using Paris 
Green and arsenate of lead generally while a few are spraying. 
Occasionally the dilute Bordeaux mixture is used with some form of 
arsenite but when this is done it is always desirable to be sure that 
the formula is right. The following recommendations for treatment 
for curculio on plums are made by the Entomologist for the Domin¬ 
ion Experimental Farms at Ottawa, Canada. 
“The above are a very few quotations from many decided letters 
on this subject; and, although a few of my correspondents still 
adhere to the old-fashioned remedy of jarring, spraying is so effective 
that these are becoming fewer every year. The remedies recom¬ 
mended by this Division are: (1). Spraying the trees with the 
4—4—40 poisoned Bordeaux mixture very early in the season, 
directly the fruit is set. This destroys the beetles, which for some 
time feed upon the buds and opening leaves of plum trees. The 
second spraying, with poisoned Bordeaux mixture, should be made 
when the plums are about as large as peas. This will coat the young 
fruit so that the beetles are destroyed when they feed on the fruit or 
cut the crescents for egg-laying. (2). The destruction of all wind¬ 
falls or injured fruit that drops, so as to clear away all fruit before 
the larva? emerge and enter the ground to pupate. Poultry, pigs 
and sheep help well in this work. (3). The ploughing up and culti¬ 
vation of orchards so as to remove grass and other vegetation which, 
besides weakening the trees, gives places for the insects to hide in. 
The depth at which the larvae pupate, is about an inch beneath the 
surface, and the pupation in this part of Canada takes place during 
July: therefore, cultivation during that month will destroy many 
of the pupa?, and this has been found the remedy which has given the 
best results in old orchards which had been in sod for many years 
and in which the fruit had been seriously injured year after year. 
The jarring of plum trees, which is much written about and 
highly recommended, will certainly destroy many of the beetles, but 
costs too much for labour when compared with spraying with 
insecticides, which give more certain results in my experience.” 
LEAF BLISTER MITE 
Quite a variety of experiences wereoffered at a late meeting of the 
New York State Fruit Growers on the best means of controlling the 
leaf blister mite, an insect which has recently invaded the apple 
orchards of western New York to a considerable extent. Some 
fruit growers were strongly in favor of using kerosene emulsion, 
while others pinned their faith to the lime-sulphur wash. The 
whole thing simmered down finally to the conclusion that either of 
the mixtures was effective, but only in proportion as the time for 
applying them was appropriate, and as the work was done with 
thoroughness. The best time for spraying with kerosene emulsion 
appeared to be just as the buds were swelling; if lime and sulphur 
is used, it is desirable to apply it a little earlier. 
