^, A IMAGE EVAI UAT30N TEST TARGET (MT-3) y :/. ^# 1.0 I.I 1.25 Jffia IIIIIM ^ i^ 12.0 lllllAi LA. ii.6 7j ^ / e c^^ 0% "^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. M580 (716) 872-4303 v^ ^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for IHistorical Microreproductions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be biBliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D Coloured coversA Couvertura da couiaur r~~\ Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagda Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurda et/ou pelliculda Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes g6ographiques en couiaur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que biaua ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Ralii avac d'autres documants D D D Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serree paut causer de I'ombra ou da la distorsion le long de la marge intdrieure Bl&nk leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es lors dune rastauration apparaissent dans le taxta, mais, lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont pas M film^as. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplementaires; L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a eti possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vua bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier una image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^thode normale de filmage sont indiqu^s ci-dessous. |~n Coloured pages/ Pages da couiaur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculdes Pages discoloured, stained or foxad/ Pages d6color6es, tachet^es ou piquees I I Pages detached/ Pages ddtachees Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Quality in^gate de ('impression Includes supplementary materia Comprand du materiel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seuie Edition disponible r~~l Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ I I Only edition available/ D Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partieilement obscurcies par un feuillet ci'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6ti film^es d nouveau de facon i obtenir la meilleura image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X J 12X 16X 20X 26X 30X 24X 28X D 32X e stalls s du lodlfier r une Image rrata oeiure, 1 d H 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Seminary of Quebec Library The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each micrcfiche shall contain the symbnJ —^(meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Vlaps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and lop to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: 1 2 3 L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grdce d la gdndrosit^ de: S^minalre de Quebec Bibiioth^que Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de l'exemplaire filmd, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimde sont film6s en commen^ant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film^s en commenqant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ^slgnifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film^s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est filmd d partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 CANADIAffSiMING; AN Encyclopedia of Agriculture BEING THE liEI^OI^T OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMLSSION OF THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. ^ustritied. . . .,, - s 'I... ■., , .-r ■ \ TORONTO : WILLL^MSON & COMPANY Publishers and Booksellers. 1889. PRINTED AT THB OFFICE CF " THK RCRAL CANADIAN," 5 JORDAN aTBEKT, TORONTO. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Origin and Procbepinob of thk CoMMisaioN PAdF. »- 14 CHAPTER II. FEUIT CULTORB ,......,. 14-79 Fruit Growing in Ontario ...'!!.."/....'.".*.!!.!!.'!!!'.'..'* ""■■■"■ ■^^_ jg Progress of Fruit Industry ,.,,, '....'.'.'. 18- 2n Cultivation of the Apple 20-47 " Pear..... .;:"": 47I54 " Poach ..,.;;...::;:::::::::: 55-59 " " Apricot and Nectarine. . , 59 " Plum . 59_64 ;: :; Cherry............... ' ...::::[ .w::::::::::: g-?J Cjuince 65_ gg Nameless Seedlings ...."...* * 66-67 Cultivation of the Raspberry , < . . . . i !!!!..!*.!!!!!!.'!.!!!.!. 67- 71 " " Strawberry 71-75 " Blackberry " .::;■.";; 76 " Currant W. [.[[[[ .":\\[: 76 Gooseberry 77 _, , , Melon *...... ......'. 77-78 Conoludmg Remarks "* 78-79 « CHAPTER III. •G bapbCclturr AND Native Wine Making .. 79-89 Cultivation of the Grape... ..'........".*, 79- 86 M»iiufacture of Wine , .' ,* .', . . '.'..., '..'..'.'..',',.',"" 86- 89 CHAPTER IV. FOBESTRT AND ArBOBIODLTUBX ......; '. . 90-114 CHAPTER V. Insbots, Injurious and BBNKPioiAt........ 114-171 CHAPTER VI. Insbotivorous Birds 171-180 CHAPTER VII. BbB FARKINa >••••••••••■ • • ■ > • • • « 181-188 4 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. CHAPTER VIII. FAOB. GiNiRAL Farmino 188-^10' Improved Stock 189-198 CJostof Thoroughbred Bulls 198-200 Various Breeds of Cattle 200 The Durham or Shorthorn 200-203 The Hereford 203 206 TheDevons , , 206-209 The Galloways 209-211 The Polled Angus 211-215 The Ayrshires 215-220 TheJerseys , ., 220-221 TheHolsteins , 221-224 Conclusions 225-226 Feeding for Market 226-229 Feeding Thoroughbreds 229-230 Dairy Feeding 231 Grazing for Afarket . 231-233 Permanent Pastures , , 233 Top Dressing 233-234 Distillery Feeding , 234-236 Treatment of Calves 235-237 Oil Cake as Cattle Feed , 237-239 Profits of Cattle Feeding 239-241 Cattle Shipping Trade 241-242 Sheep Farming 242-243 Foreign Demand , 243 Foreign Trade in Lambs , , 244 Trade with Great Britain 244-246 Early Maturity 24t)-247 Preference for Down Mutton 247-250 Wools , 250-263 Cotswolds \', 1 250-253 Leicesters , , 253-256 The Lincolns . .. 256 The Southdowns' Wool '.■ 256-257 Oxfords, Shropshires and Hampshires 258 Merinos .. 258 TheNatives ' . .'" 262 Treatmentof Wool , ".!*..!!!!*. !. 262-263 Feeding and Management of Sheep !.'...!".! 263-266 Profits of Sheep Farming 266-267 HogRaising 268-275 The Hog that is wanted 270-274 Feeding Hogs 274 Live versus Dead Hogs , . " i ^ ,*!!!!. ! 274-275 Grain Crops . , , , , , 275-302 Fall Wheat '.' .*!...!!!! 275-278 Spring Wheat !!!!!!!.!*!! 278-279 Cost of Growing Wheat *.!!!!.....'..*! 279-283 Wheat Cultivation 283-293 Professor Brown's Estimates ! '.!. 293-296 Barley 296-297 Oats 297-298 Peas 298-299 IndianCom , 299-302 Rye 302 RootCrops 302-305 Weeds 305-307 tlse and Treatment of Manure ...i........ 307 Management of Manure 308-311 Effects of Liberal Manuring 311 Under-draining 312-318 Sub-soiling , 318-319 CHAPTER IX. Daibtino ..... 320-338 Cheese 320 327 Butter....... 327-338 INDEX TO REPORT. 5 188-31(^ .... 189-198 198-200 200 , 200-203 , 203 206 206-209 , 209-211 211-215 215-220 220-221 221-224 225-226 226-229 .... 229-230 , 231 231-233 • • • • • ^w 233-234 234-236 235-237 •.... 237-239 239-241 241-242 242-243 243 244 244-246 24r)-247 247-250 250-263 250-253 253-256 256 256-257 258 258 262 262-263 . . . 263-266 266-267 268-275 270-274 274 274-275 275-302 275-278 278-279 279-283 283-293 293-296 296-297 297-298 298-299 299-302 302 302-305 305-307 307 .... 308-311 311 312-318 318-319 320-338 327-338 CHAPTER X. HoRflB Brkbding 3^* 375 Foreign Demand '.'.'.*.'.'.'. ..'.!'.'."...'.*.'.*,'.*.'.'.'.'.'." ;W9 Horses of the Province '..i ..'.*.'!'. .'.*..'.'.'!. !.*.*.'.'.*..'.'! 339-340 Selection for Breeding , !!!.!.'*.. !.i !..!!!.'.!!! !."!!* 340 The General Purpose Horse .'.....*.'.'.'.*.'.'.'.'.*.'.'.*.'.*.".".'.,*.'.' 340-341 Market for Draught Horses '.!!*.*.'.", 341-342 The Thoroughbred , ...'.'..'.'.'" 344 The Pacers. 'ILllW^yi^'^iy]]]].]". 344-346 The Pi ot-Pacers 34g The Columbus- Pacers 34g The Bullock Horse !.!!!!!!!'.'.!!'.'.'.',!" 346-348 The St. Lawrence 348 The Royal Georges I ....\]'.'.'.]\[['l[[[[ 348-351 The Clear Grits ^ 361-352 The Hambletonians !i!!.!!.!...!..'.!i,', !!.'.' 352-359 The Cleveland Bays !!.."!.*.! ' " ' 360-361 The Suffolk Punch '.........','........,. 361-362 The Clydesdales 362-363 The Percherons i.'!.'!*.'!!.'!. !.'"'.*..'!!'.!'. "!!.". 363-365 The Roadster 366 The Park or Coach Horse .!..'.*.".!..."!!.*.'!!!! 366-370 A Ride and Drive Horse •! i i !.!!!!!'.!!.!!.!"!!!!! ! 370 371 A Race of Ponies !..!!!!!,'!!'!"! 371 Cost of Raising a Colt '.".'..'.','.'.'.....'.'.','.',',','.'....' ,'.'.'.', 372 Afre of Breeding Mares ,*.'.'...... .*.'.'.'.'.'.* ,"..'. 373 Treatment of Colts .'!'..!!!!!!!.*!!!!'.!!..'.*!,!! 373-374 Racks and Stalls 374 Services ^lllllllllll.l[['.'.[[[[[[[]y][[] 374-375 CHAPTER XI. Poultry AND Eggs 37g_384 1 he Dorkings 375-377 The Light and Dark Brahmas i ..!!!.!!*.!!!'.'.!'.!.".!!!.!!!! ' 377-378 The Houdans—Polands— Spanish . ^7«-'n.f.Arni1la>. r'nUl,™™^ ui-.r-. /~i , •' pTllar°^ .'"!!'!" ^.*.^.k. ;»"««' Tent caterpillar, Forest Teni cater Larva of Tussock moth," Canker w'oms' ". |?? Cecropia Emperor moth ^"'^ Cecropia Emperor caterwllar, Cocoon of'Cecropia Codling worm " " 1 ^q Pear troe slug, Plum SpLinx and Chrysalis, S'SphSS ! \ \ \ Hi I:' //^ DB '.\-^ V . 8 ONTARIO AOHICULTURAL COMMUmON Inaoctii ln\\.\T\o\u~ Continued. f rolypheiniiH caterpillar, Polyphemun moth, Cocoon of Pol pheniu' *' moth, hye-Kimtted J)u Phylloxera , j5j Green grape-vine Sphinx, Woo J Nymph«VGrap^-vlne LeaYiiol'lw.',; 1«3 Gra|)e-vino ijlum moth, Spotted Pelldnota, Grape-vine Flea beetle ... IBS The Thri|)H, Tree Trioket 167 llueotB, Beneficial— Tiger beetles, i7a/o*onia .ScTutato-, Water beetles . , , 161 Common Scavenger beetle, A Curculio descroyer, An Icbneumon.' A ,, Tacji'nusfly '.183 ' . Dragon flies Igj Lady birds, Lace-wlnged flies, Syrphus flies," Soldier bujf,' Enemies of Coll rado beetle I87 \_ ,, _ _ Syrphus fly, Grape-vine Sphinx parasite! 169 Poultry— Brown Leghorns ..., ggl Dorkings ,.......,,,'.'.'.'.'. "..'. 376 Dark Br:ihma8 ...'..'...'...'.'..'.'.'...'.'.'.'.".".""," 379 Game Bantams ....*!!..!!*!! '^79 Light Brahmus ,........,,'...,..,... 373 Plymouth Hooks qon Sheep— CotHwolds ".'.'...'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'".','.'. 2S1 IlampBhire Downs '...................',.','.'...'.....".,"" 259 I^eicenters . . . , ','.'.'.......'.','.'.,'.""' 265 Merino Ram '..'.',... .....'.'.'.'..,','.', 28' Oxford Downs .....•!.!......'.*.'! 259 Shropshires '......".'.'.'....,.. ', ' 261 Soutodowns i , ' ,.'.'.'......'.',,., 267 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS. To the Honourable John Bkvbrlby Robinson, LicHtenunt- Governor of Ontario. Sir,— The anderBigned CommisBioners, appointed undnr tha an*^,/^^+„ « OKIGIN CHAPTER L AND PBOCEEDINGS COMMISSION. OF THE of theVrEceTo?/al^i^^^ " to inquire into the A^icultural rBBources Itt^B^l^rd^SetTth"^^^^^^^ , The views expressed in the Commissioner's Report wore subseauentlv flmhn,H«^ r isrd";TaJrtd; ll^:r'' ^^ ^^^^^ -omlndation throSnT^tl gest^d ^tlSSjl^: a^sThirr/hX^ irem*bts^TteTr?p^"^d Commission should be more particularly invited tS addrerThrselveB ?' ^^'"^ 1. The sou, climate, topographical features, cultivable area, and products, of the several sections of tlie Province. 2. The progress and condition of husbandry in Ontario. 3. Grain-growing in its several agricultural and economical aspects. 10 ! i 4. 6. 6. 7. vS. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. ONTARIO AQRIGULTURAL OOMMISSION. Stock raising in its several agricultural and economical asnects. , Dairying do. do. Fruit-growing do. do. Beo-keeping. Forestry. Cultivation of special crops, such as flax, etc. Drainage. Manures— natural and artificial. Insects and insectivorous birds. Employment of labour, and labour-saving appliances. The ownership system as compared \fUh renting. Sto^k laws. Fencing. Agricultural book-keeping. Agricultural education. Agricultural Societies ; Grants and Shows. Agricultural statisuos. Functions of the Bureau of Agriculture. do. do. The first meeting of the Commissioners, for the transaction of business, took place at Toronto, on the 14th day of April, 1880. In order to systematize the work to be performed, and to secure a due division of lab, .r. It was resolved to classify the subjects of inquiry under the following heads, seven in number, and to charge certain of the Commissioners, speciallv with the duty of inquinng thereinto. ^ j, "^i-" I. The Soil, Climate, Topographical I'eatures, Cultivable Area and Products of the several sections of the Province, and the Progress and Condition of Husbandry in Ontario. II. Grain Growing in : ' s several Agricultural and Economical aspects ; Drainage and Manures, and the Recuperation of Impoverished Lands. III. Stock Raising, Dairying, Stock Laws and Fencing. • IV. Fruit Growing, Forestry, Insects and Insectivorous Di. a. and Bee-keeping. V. Cultivation of Special Crops, such as Flax, etc. VL Labour and Labour-saving Appliances, Ownership ot land as compared with Renting, Agricultural Book-Keeping and Agricultural Education. VII. Agricultural Associations, Grants and Shows, and Functions of the Bureau of Agriculture. At the same time it was determined to prepare lists of questions under the several heads, either to be forwarded to persons or corporations, or for the guidance of the Oommjssioners in the oral examination of witnesses. This plan was found to be a most advantageous one ; it not only assisted the l^-onamssionets to obtain a large amount of information which would otherwise hf.ve been beyond their reach, but it enabled them to advise witnesses, in advance of the hne of inquiry to be followed. It had also the effect of classifying tha evidence, oral and documentary, of reducing it to a convenient form, and con- sequently of rendering it more intelligible and more easiJy accessible to the public Meetings for the transaction of business were siib«equently held on the 15th April, 9th June, 22nd June, and 27th Occober, 1880, respl)ctively. The first action taken under the arrangements above described was, the issuing the issuing I'ROCEEDINQS OF TEE COMMISSIONERS. n to every township in the Province, addressed to the respective Reeves and Townshin Clerks, a series of questions relating to matters soeciallv entriX,! ?^ fV,T^ ^ rnhsioners of Section One, the persoL addressed E" fviLd to call a mLtiS^^ the Council at which the attendance of the township officers and othS feaduS ratepayers should be requested, for the purpose of considering the cXtions and preparing answers. Th s course was very generally adopted, and whileltk evident n^.«l Vr r'f '''" ""^^^'"'^^ ^" *^^« ^"f«™^^ manner, cannot be so accumte in a pi-ely statistical sense, o- returns compiled by officers 'paid for devoting thSrtSie to . c 0S9 inquiry into every detail, the Commissioners believe that it k as a whSa reliable, .-ind as accurate as its nature would ^ ^rmit Although the duties assigned to the township officers and others above .mentioned have entailed no small sacrifice of time and labour, without pecunia?rrImun?raS at a season of the year when agriculturists are mJst busy, the CoSSneS have the groat satisfaction of reporting, that out of the whole Township AlaScjSias of the Province, only two are unrepresented in the published returns ^^'iiS*?**^ ^^ Concurrently with the action of the Commissioners of Sectioi/! ir^sub-ectT^-l °*^^'' branches of the inquiry, which em^ Fruit Growing, Forestry and Arboriculture. Grape Culture, and the Manufacture of Wine from the Nati Insects and Insectivorous Birds. Bee Farming. General Farming, including the Management of Crops and Stock Manuring. ' The comparative merits of the several varieties of Cattle, Sheep, and Hogs demand for Native Wool ; Hog-raising and Pork-packing. Dairying including Cheese and Butter making, and the establishment of r actories and Creameries. The Feeding and Grazing of Cattle, and the Cattle Shipping trade. Horse-breeding. Poultry and Eggs. Salt in relation to Agriculture and cognate industries. Gypsum, Phosphates, and other special Fertilizers. Cultivation of Flax, and other special crops. Agricultural Education ; and Meteorology in relation to Agriculture. The information on the foregoing topics was partially obtained by circulars addressed to leading representatives of the agricultural and f ruit-grLhfg ^nteresJs m various parts of the Province, but principally by the oral examinatbn f t Toronl and elsewhere of competent witnesses. «i*minaiion at loronto In a few instances these investigations were conducted by the Commissioners of the respective sections, but, more frequently, by two or three CommLs oners only, se ected with a view to personal convenience and economy, and thSrspeckl acquaintance with the subject in hand. special +i,'at^u^^''T/i,^''''^^"* at a very early period of the Commissioners' proceedings that It would be most satisfactory, and at the same time save a lar..e expenditSe ll'.« il'^T'".^' ? ** ^^'''^^ P°'"*« "^ *J^« P^«^i'^<=«. instead of summon nga large number of witnesses to Toronto. This course was accordingly adootedlnd visits were ^aid to the following places-Guelph. London OWwf ^^nr/~ L 1 fciandwicli, VValkerviile, Seaforth, Teeswater, Fergus." GaYt Perth" AlmiitrY.J^ prior, Ottawa, Prescott, Belleville, Cobourg, and Bov^^n; lie 7t some of' tt Te places no formal sitting was held, but much interesting information wTs o^bt^ned I 12 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. by a persona! inspection of cheese factories, stock farms, horse-breeding establish- ments and vineyards. The total number of witnesses examined in the course of these visits, and in Toronto f^ 155. It was evident that, in an inquiry into the agriculture of Ontario, the condition and pi\^gres8 of agriculture in the more newly settled districts could not be over- looked, and for reasons which commended themselves to the judgment of the Com- missioners, it »7as decided that three of their number should visit the Electoral District of Muskoka and Parry Sound, for the purpose of personal observation, and the examination of such witnesses as they might deem it advisable to call before them. During the summer, Mr. Richard Gibson, a member of the Commission, hav- ing informed his colleagues of an intended visit to Great Britain, was requested by resolution, to report, on his return, upon any subjects bearing upon the interests of the Province, and cognate to the purposes of the Commission. Mr. Saunders, another member of the Commission having occasion to spend some time in the Island of Manitoulin, was also invited to report the result of his observations on the agricultural resources of the island, and adjacent mainland settlements. During a visit of some of the Commissioners to the Counties of Essex and Kent, Mr. Wm. McGregor, ex-M.P. for the latter county, gave evidence as to its resources generally. More recently, Mr. E. H. Hilborn, a member of the Commission, having visited Washington and inspected the operations of the Agricultural Bureau of the United States, and also obtained information regarding the introduction of agricultural education into the Public Schools of the State of Tennessee, has contributed a valuable report. In addition to the large fund of materials thus collected, the Commission have received a valuable letter on Forestry and Arboriculture, from the Honourable Senator Allan ; a paper on Practical Dairy Farming, from Mr. Francis Malcolm, one of their number ; additional evidence from Mr. Wiser, M.P., another Commis- sioner, on Distillery Cattle Feeding ; statements obtained by Mr. Edward Byrne, another Commissioner, respecting Private Cheese Factories in the -County of Leeds, and several other items, of which not the least interesting are letters, statements, and printed matter relating to the Holstein and Polled Angus breeds of cattle, contributed by persons in the United States, and a paper on the Various Breeds of Sheep, by Prof. Brown, also a member of the Commission. Inquiries have been instituted by circulars, addressed to qualified Veterinary Surgeons throughout the Province, as to the diseases, or freedom from diseases, of farm stock in Ontario. The operation of Stock or Herd Laws in Ontario and several States of the Union, for restraining cattle and farm stock generally from running at large, has been the subject of inquiry and correspondence. Reports on botn the last above-named matters have been prepared, and will be noticed in due course. It will be sufficiently clear from the above, that the Commissioners have kept closely in -. lew the importance of confining their attention to matters of a strictly practical nature. Many important questions— more or less closely relating to the interests of agriculture and the agriculturist— have presented themselves in the course of the inquiry, but, desiring to give effect to the view expressed by the Commissioner of Agriculture, in his recommendation to Council, of April last, that their labours should be brought to an end in time to allow of a report being laid before the Legislative Assembly during the forthcoming Session, the Commissioners have resisted the inducements to travel over a wider field of investigation than was outlined in the original programme. They have, in fact, been compelled, with great reluctance, to leave untouched some matters which they had hoped to have found an opportunity to deal with as they deserved. PEOCEF raS OF THE COMMISSIONERS. 13 I establish- e mentioned, the employment of labour and labour- and the comparative merits of the system of land in this Province with that of leasing or renting farms, 3 of small capitalists, and the holders of encumbered Among the latter m saving appliances on f ownership generally exih more particularly in the farm properties. The subjects of Agricultural Associations and Shows, and the Grants made annually by the Legislature in support thereof, were remitted for consideration to one of the Sections, but the Commissioners of that Section have been constrained to report to their colleagues— who fully endorse the opinion expressed— that, while there is, undoubtedly, at the present time a very considerable feeling in the public mind in favour of some alterations and modifications of the present system, no radical change should be made without the most careful inquiry and the utmost deliberation. Recognizing fully, however, all that time and altered circumstances have effected m this regard, the Commissioners respectfully recommend that this matter should be considered by the Government at no distant day. They believe that full information respecting the work done, and the method of conducting many of the present Associations and Shows, would indicate some re-arrangement to be called for in the public interest. And such information, it is submitted, might be obtained either under the powers of the Agriculture and Arts Act or by other agency, with little difficulty and at small cost. It is with much regret the Commissioners find, that other claims upon their time and attention have prevented them from even attempting to do justice to this important subject. In his recommendation to Council, before mentioned, the Commissioner of Agriculture gave considerable prominence to the suggestion that the Commissioners should report upon the functions of the Bureau of Agriculture, with a view to its re-organization. In this connection the" subject of Agricultural Statistics would have held a foremost place. It can hardly be doubted but that an enlargement of the powers and functions ^l *^|j Bureau would be very desirable, in order that a more active supervision should be exercised over the applications of the public money voted for the encour- agement and advancement of agriculture, and that the Department of Agriculture ahould be more closely identified with the great agricnltural interests of the Prov- mce ' i;in, with its present limited machinery, is possible. But, for reasons already set forth, the Commissioners feel unable to do more at the present time than advise that the subject should receive the early attention of the Government and Legisla- ture, and to state that, in the event of such a re-organization of the Bureau as is sug- gested, the Commissioners would view with much pleasure any well-considered scheme for utilizing the experience and information of practical agiiculturists, in an advisory sense, m connection with the operations of the Bureau. The Commissioners are desirous of expressing their high appreciation of the prompt and ready responses they have received Trom the different persons and cor- porations to whom requests for information and assistance have been, from time to time, forwarded. They have also to acknowledge the courtsey shown them by re- presentatives of the Government of the United States, and of the State Govern- ments as well as by many private citizens of that country, to whom applications on their behalf for documentary and other information have been made ; and they may here take the opportunity of remarking that, in their opinion, great advantage would result from a more frequent interchange of correspondence between the Untario Bureau of Agriculture, and tho American Bureaux and State Boards of Agriculture, the operations of which arc evidently carried on, in manv instances, with great intelligence, energy and success. In the event of the Ontario Bureau being reorganized, the experience of such or similar institutions in the United states wouxd be found to be most useful. In collecting, compiling and arranging the evidence, as well as in prebaring their present report, the leading m.otive of the Commissioners lias been to rnako the whole as useful as possible to those for whom the contents of the Report and Its appendices are chiefly designed, and thus to produce a volume of practical infor- mation for the farmers of Ontario. 14 ONTARIO AORICULTURAL COMMISSION. The report that the CommisBioners have the honour to present has been written n such a manner as to reproduce in a convenient shape the salient points of the Ini^'hnr/"**'"*'' collected together and published in the form of\ppendices ; fil in Vr'r ' considerably from the usual form of official documents, its use- fulness will, the Commissioners hope, by that means be increased. Ihey have adopted in their report a narrative, in preference to a didactic style ?air"fL" '" """? *° ^''' ""^™1^^ *° *^^^^ "^-^ «Pi"i«"« -« *o commun Late them experience of those whose statements they have had before AH the proceedings of th . Commissioners, whether at meetings for deliberation ZJf\y examination of witnesses, have been open, and usually attended by re- Sx«nt« f ir' "^ *^' P'^T'.iT^^ ^*^^ *.^^" ^"^ ^''''' *" '^»y documents and state- ments in the possession of the Commissioners. To this, the Commissioners believe, ^largely due the public interest in the Commission, and the friendly spSt S which Its labours have from t me to time been noticed. The examfnaSon of witnesses have been conducted in as informal and conversational a manner as was consistent with good order, and the despatch of business. ..,,- /?i!'^ observations the Commissioners will now address themselves to a to demand ^'''^^''*'^' "^^^'^S, as they proceed, such comments as the facts seem. jl I CHAPTER II. FBUIT CULTUEE. FRUIT GROWING CAPACITY OF ONTARIO. ;. X ^^ * Province, I should say that we are able to grow any fruits that are grown m the temperate zone." That short sentence, extracted from the evidence Sm. V. W. Beadle, one of the most eminent pomologists of this continent, briefly, but comprehensively, describes the fruit grooving capacity of the Province of Ontario One district or section may be more favourable to fruit production than another- m some, certain descriptions of fruits cannot be so profitably cultivated as elsewhere ' m others the intelligent culturist makes his selection between different varieties but —these distinctions admitted-it can be broadly and confidently asserted that in the area comprised withm the scope of the Commissioners' investigations there i^ no fruit known to temperate climes that may not, somewhere or other, find sure and prohtable cultivation. ' ^ THE AREA EMBRACED IN THE EVIDENCE. tT^-A*^""*!"^ ^'''''" *;^e .Ni'^'gara River, the testimony, oral and documentaiy, under this head, represents the Niagara District, the Lake Erie counties of Norfolk and Elgin , the peninsula lying between Lakes Erie and St. Clair; the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay region; the inland counties of the south-western peninsula- the district of which Toronto maybe regarded as the centre; the range of counties lymg Jetween Toronto and the eastera boundary line ; the inland nolthern district around Lindsay and Peterborough; the Ottawa valley from Arnprior to the cTty of Ottawa; and the new outlying regions of Muskoka and Manitoulin. Jf. will h» desirable, in the first instance, to recapitulate briefly the statements in which tha fruit growing capacity of the several sections above named are referred to bv witnesses, or in reports forwarded to the Commissioners ^ FEUIT i:^ROWING IN ONTARIO. 16 THE FRUITS OF THK NIAGARA DISTRICT. Mr. Beadle says : — " I represeat here to-day what is known as the Niagara District. I suppose it embraces the peninsula between the twc ikes, from Hamilton to the river, but more particularly the area lying below the mountain. I have had opportunities of familiarizing myself with the fruit growing capabilities of that district, and the character of the fruits grown in it. . . " The class of fruits that has particularly claimed my attention is t.hat embracing those which are readily cultivated in our district, such as apples, plums, pears, cherries, peaches, — in fact all those that are cultivated in our climate, or all those that flourish in the temperate zone. In addition to those named I may mention grapes, strawberries, currants, raspberries, etc." THE FRTTILS OF THE COUNTIES OF NORFOLK AND ELGIN. Travelling westward along the Lake Erie cost line, we have from the County of Norfolk : — "The fruits cultivated in this courtyare : apples, pears, peaches, cherries, plums, grapes, currants, strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, quinces, and blackberries. " And from Elgin : - "Apples, pears, peaches, cherries, strawberries, grapes, raspberries, blackberries, goose- berries, and a few plums and currants are the fru'ts cultivated in this district." THE FRUITS OF KENT, ESSEX AND lAMBTON. The Counties of Essex and Kent in many parts present the appearance of a vast fruit garden. Mr, Mackenzie Ross, whose fruit and nursery grounds are situated in the Township of Harwich (Kent), just beyond the municipal limits of the Town of Chatham, says, in his evidence ; — " The soil and temperature of the County of Kent cannot be surpassed for fruit growing." And Mr. Westland, from Ridgetown, Township of Howard — also in Kent — says : — "We can grow in our township all the fruits that can be grown in a temperate climate." Mr. Dougall, for twenty-eight years a nurseryman at Windsor, in Essex, says of the portion of that county skirting the shores of Lake Erie and the Detroit River: — "That region is adapted to the growth of every kind of fruit that can be grown in the temperate zone." Turning northward, the report from Lambton is : — "Apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes, currants and melons, are cultivated in this district. " THE FRUITS OF THE HURON DISTRICT. Striking next the coast line of Lake Huron, and turning to the evidence of Mr. McD. Allan, of Goderich, we find him saying : — ■'In our district we cultivate apples, ))ears, plums, peaches, cherries, grapes, nectarines, apricots, quinces, currants, raspberries, strawberries and gooseberries. By our district I mean the County of Huron, though a good deal of what I have to say will apply to parts of Perth and Bruce. There are about 6,540 acres under orchard ajid garden in the county. In apples, 4,870 ; plums, 330 ; pears, nearly 90 ; peaches, about 52. We have about 50 acres of strawberries, nearly 100 of grapes, and about 80 acres of other fsmall fruits The estimated quantity of apples produced in our county in 1879, was 435,000 barrels." THE FRUITS OF THE OWEN SOUND DISTRICT. Then calling on Mr. Roy, the witness from Owt^n Sound, we read : — "Almost every description of fruit succeeds well in our district. I regard it as the very best fruit growing secticn. I refer to the district from Sarnia to CoUingwood, along the shore of Lake Huron and f '.«. •'^-■'•orgian Bay." THE FRUiaS OF PERTH, MIDDLESEX AND OXFORD COUNTIES. Coming next to tho western inland counties, we have from Perth : — " Apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes, currrr.ts, gooseberries, peaches (a few), straw- berries and raspberries, are the fruits cultivated in this district. About 75 per cent, are apples, 10 per cent, plums, and about 3 percent, peaches." 16 ONTAMIO AORICULTURAL COMMISSION. \ From Middlesex : — ^uk'iT^^ varieties of fruit grown in the above county include all kinda Krown in Ontario mth the exception of peaches, apricots, nectarines, and quinces TKEbe^n^orof the most favoured in the Province, the yield is very abundant." ais^^ci Deing one of From Oxford :— =^*n ^^''l^l'-P^^^^!'i.Pl"™.*' P?*"' quinces, cherries, small fruits of all kinds and cranes in amftU quantities, are the fruits that are grown in this locality." ^ ^ THE FBOITS OF THE BRANT DISTRICT. From the Canty of Brant the testimony of Mr. Charles Arnold, of Paris, is-- THE FRUITS OF THE TORONTO DISTRICT— FAVOURED SECTIONS Owen Sound, for instance, where the water is on the north sidrthWave L verv ZoT f A ff^^iV Ti^"-^^.® employed by Mr. Leslie is used of course in a comparative sense He probably intends to imply, that in the most favourable sections, all fruits oi nearly all, can be profitably grown, while some other.-ToroSo fV nstanc'e- a 1 buTfhe ml' I^"^% T% ''%F--^'^^ districts, must be content to cuSate Prnv^ni L M''^*^ ^^"'*'- -. ^'' ^"ggestion of an imaginary line dividing the Tb« 1^^ f% ^f "''*' however quite correctly describe the actual geographical facts The best fruit growing cections have water, not on the north side alone but a'; distinctly peninsular in their character. A glance at the map will show that the Niagara district is a peninsula washed on its shores by the waters rTpTctivelv of Lakes Ontario and Erie. The chief fruit lands of south-western Ontarrare found in a peninsula jutting out between the waters of Lakes Huron and St. Clair and Lake Erie while the Saugeen peninsula is the popular designation of the famed o^-it^rrcoSs^^ THE FRUITS OF DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND. havrS M^' ChaTn ^'? V Tor«"*«'.*I«?g the north shore of Lake Ontario, we nave, trom Mr Chaplin, of Newcastle, m the County of Durham, and Mr Hinman X^TX Mr'tSr'^ °' Nor.h„n>berUnd. evidence in erfeo. vi^r staZT,; THE FRUITS OF THE BAY OF QUINTE DISTRICT. The Bay of Quinte district-extending from the County of Northumberland to the eastern extremity of Lake Ontario, and including Prince Ed3 Countv another peninsula, all but surrounded by' the waters of^hrba' 3 Take and^a choice ruit growing county-is represented in the evidence by Mr Demnse. who ha^s W growing farms both in Prince Edward and NorthumberW Mn Dempse^ tJia^ra^^'^ill^oSS^^^ tion. I have been engaged in fruit culture about forty years. Jj^ as aCrnesVforthe l^t FRUIT ROWING IN ONTARIO. 17 twenty-five years. During that time I have had opportunitiea of becoming tolerably conversant with the fruits of the districts which I represent. We grow nearly all the small fruits, apples, pears and plums. W e grow very few cherries, and though there are few peach trees I would recommend peach ci'Uure there. Apples are the most important fruit crop we have. Prob- ably about seventy-five per cent, of the whole area under fruit is devoted to apples, perhaps more, ^ot more than one-third of the apple trees in our district are in full bearing, probably about one-fourth. Fruit culture is extending rapidly throughout our district. There are a great many acres devoted to small fruits at the present time, principally strawberries." THE FRUITS OF BUNDAS, STORMONT, AND GXENQARRY. Passing eastward from the Bay of Quinte along the north shore of the St. Law- rence, and away from the mellowing influence of the great lakes, we might expect to find a very material change in the fruit arrowing capabilities of the country. But from the United Counties of Dundas, Storniont, and Glengarry, lying within the angle formed by the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers, in a very full report of their products we read : — " The fruits that are cultivated in this district £\re, apples, plums, cherries, grapes, straw- berries, currants, gooseberries, cranberries, tomatoes, raspberries, blackberries, brambleberries, andmeloHH." ' The only fruits missed from this very comprehensive list are the peach and the pear. The former, except perhaps in Prince Edward County, can hardly be said to be cultivated anywhere, in marketable quantities, on fhe northern side of Lake Ontario's waters. And of the pear we read further on : — "Pears can be successfully cultivated to a limited extent. They have been cultivated as far east as Montreal ; can be grown in sheltered situations on a dry subsoil, of excellent quality, but on a limited scale." THE FRUIT8 OP THE OTTAWA DISTRICT. Following the course of the Ottawa River, wo have from Mr. Bucke, at the City of Ottawa, the following evidence : — '' We cultivate a few varieties of apples, raspberries, strawberries, and gooseberries, and small fruits generally, including grapes, are also cultivated." But the strength and weakness, in relation to fruit growing, of this particular district, will be more apparent when the cultivation of the several fruits come to be discussed. * THE FRUITS OF RENFREW COUNTY. At Amprior— still on the Ottawa, and where the most northerly point in eastern Ontario, from which evidence has been taken, is reached— the Renfrew Fruit and Floral Company are engaged in a gallant, and so far encouraging, enterprise. The measure of their success can only be properly appreciated by following up their operations in detail. But Mr. Usborne, their manager, is able to mention as free from all danger from climatic vicissitudes, some four or five varieties of apples, and to speak favourably of his progress with two or three descriptions of pears, with grapes, and with small fruits. THE FRUITS OF THE LINDSAY DISTRICT. Once more striking west we complete the circuit at the inland Town of Lindsay in Victoria, " where," says Mr. Bcall : — "The fruits cultivated are : apples, pears, plums, strawberries, raspberries, red, white, and black currants, gooseberries, and grapes. " THE FRUITS OF MUSKOKA AND MANITOULIN. Finally we have reports from Commissioners visiting the new districts of Mus- koka and the Island of Manitoulin. With re.°.poct to Muskoka the three visiting Commissioners say :— '_' With the exception of the grape the smaller fruits are indigenous to the District, all the berries abound in the woods, and the wild plum is also very plentiful, being cultivated by the settlers, and yielding a large crop of fruit valuable for economical purposes. In face of the 18 ONTARIO AOETCULTURAL COMMISSION. i yS"?a"trrv rid Sa the cultivation of berries is small ; but the strawberry where planted, alourable.' "' *'*''^^ ^^"™' '' °''"''°' ^« '1°"''*«'» that the conditions are appb^To firnmnL*" *^^«"f f^^^^^ Kf^^t^ *"d fruiting of some hardy varieties of apple, to t,lie prolific yield of the crab, and to the successful efforts to s^row and ripen grapes of the cultivated varieties. ^ ^ nof.^iS'' ^'•"it,«'-«^"ig capacity of the Island of Manitoulin. Mr. Saunders, after well-X^SX^S: :;£i^a: and nu.n:?^S- --= iS^H KAPID PHOGRESS Oi' FRUIT INDUSTRY. braTJb^fTn f *^ "^ ■*'' ^hi'=J\\We. measure of success has been achieved in this as a fnnf , vnd ^ ^^ '" ^ powerful testimony to the natural advantages of the Province suiJs o? th« in '"^ """"*'^- ^^'"^^ cultivation is necessarily among the later pur? suits of the settler in a new region. Where every foot of ground has to be cle-ired li e S'itTiuxuH 7 ""' ""'''7 '^"-^^"l^ '^^^ '^'^^ ^"' ''"^ the fitt iLe s ^ro me, not its luxuries, or quasi-luxuries, that have to be thou-'ht of Manv vearn and an orchard, when planted, does not give fruit in a day. The Province of Menare iTvit' wEr"*'*"' '.' ^PPi^"" ^^"'^^ ^« ^^^^ ""^ -* niiety years old milf *1 F ]l^° '''^'^ remember, when, with the exception of a scattered settle- ment here and there, nearly the whole Province was an unbroken forest and " is FRUIT growers' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. The Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario was organized in 1859, for the purpose a SaServT*^^^^^^^^ fruit culture in the Province, and bringing togeC f.L« .f • / I ^^ ■ *^?f^ engaged in this important branch of industry for the pur- he firt'erortTtfi SoH r^' -d profiting by each other's experieLe In S f!!lr f ^r A ^^ Society was published, containing statistics on fruit culture to succeed Tn b^ r/''7'"'J*^'^'' '^'"'^"^^ ^^ ^ ^^'' °^ ^^'"^^ which hac b en Sund to succeed m the different sections reported on. No further effort in thi* dirPpHnn undertt ActT* °' '"/'^ "'^^^ \'''' "^^^" '''' Association became incorp^^^^^^^^ S of SsIS frn Jfr'' K,^ .-,'riculture, and was then entitled to receive aVeariy grant of ^350 from the public funds. From this date the activity and usefulness of aU ntToT b "r' F'^^tlyj'^^reased. and its membership largely augment from Sir f A ^-^ Province, and it has ever since made a yearly report to the Commit on fr,n? if •'"^*"'^'- f '^' work embodying much useful and jLctical infornSon report^' fn Iddllion 'f ' .?P°'*' have formed a part of the Commissioner's annua" report. In addition to the compilation of this most valuable ivnnual document n BosJon^Tnf/^''l ^''*^"'^^« competitive international exhibit of fruits took place in f«flTi ^ .1-' "^^^"^ ^H^ Association made an exhibit of fruits from Ontario which meda nib' P^^I'l*^ l^f^'^ United States, and Ontario was awarded four S^er medals, one bronze medal, and one hundred and twenty-five dollars in money whUe «ilpt . T f^^ f^»'* ^'•^^"'g resources of the Province were wideband exten! iSS^t Tb«'f -^'"^ ""J \l *^'" ^''''^ throughout the North American conthient In 1876, at the time of the great Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia the Fruit Growers' Association again rendered good s«rvin« ta th« ProXrc Bv fhlinf " f Madeinht'? ''^".'b -^---l^-' ^ -"tinuous fruit^e'xhS was miin':inad in Philadelphia during the entire season, giving the visitors from all parts of the world FRUIT CULTURE— PROGBESS OF FRUIT INDUSTRY. 19 an opportunity of examining our fruit products. On this o«;ca8ion fiftoen medals and awards were given to Ontario fruit, and these evidences o*' Cio favoOrable character of our climate were commented on the world over, greatly to the advan- tage of our Province. The Association having, within the past vear, taken up the department of forestry also, a still wider si)here of usefulness is open to it. To its officers, and especially to its efficient Secretary, Mr. D. W. Beadle, who has held that office for eighteen years, great credit is due, and to their zeal in the interests of fruit growing we are largely indebted for the present advanced condition of fruit culture in Ontario. THE SOIL— THE CLIMATE— INDIGENOUS FRUITS. Yet this useful and most meritorious body of fruit culturists have only been assisting and giving effect to the inherent fruit producing vigour and sympathy of the 88tic8, wliich would of course earne^ly express their llrof'Svl^Kr*^ '" ^°'"''"'' ""^ cannS t o brancH of .dustr, the, are now rj:^^^:^ - --ction with the THE CULTIVATION OF THE APPLE '^f^^^^'ot^:^^::^ ^y/ar the most largely grown lat.ng to the cultivation TZ^rZu The annl''' 1*'"*^ *° '^^ «-iden?e S? nesses whose oral or written statements hav«^h "^^^''^d *« by the several wit- class^fied under the general heads'^ sri'^Fallrnd^Ter ^Si^ /l"^^-^"«' Red Astrachan. White Astrachan. ;Ciarly Harvest. Tetofsky. Keswick Codlin. Duchess of Oldenburg, trravenstein. Cco^uga Red Streak, Twenty-Ounce, ot. Lawrence, ^all Pippin. Holland Pipji Alexander. Colvert or I>m. Northern Spy. iialdwin, • Rhode Island Greening, golden Russet. Swayzie Pomme Grise. Montreal Pomme Grise. :^8opu8 Spitzenberg. Koxbury Russet. Fameuse (or Snow Apple). Kmg of Tomkins County. Newtown Pippin. -Kibston Pippin, Peck's Pleasant. Grimes' Golden. SUMMER APPLES. Early Joe. Gokfen Sweet Sweet Bough. Benoni. Summer Rose. Fourteen in all, FALL APPLES. Hawley. Seek-no-Further. Cox's Orange Pippin. Maiden'i Blush. Fall Orange. Black Detroit. Taylor Filh. Porter. Autumn Strawberry. Twenty-six in all. WINTER APPLES. Peach Apple. Cranberry Pippin. iiady Apple. Norton's Melon. American Pippin. Dominie. Belmont. Talman's Sweet. Rambo. Yellow Bellflower. Wealthy. Jonathan. Ontario. Dora. Ella. Forty-four in all. Early Strawberry. Pomme Royal. Indian Rare Ripe. Summer Pearmain. Maitland. Fall Jenneting. Blenheim Orange. Sherwood's Favourite, oops of Wine, Kentish Fillbasket. Gatineau Belle. Hawthorn den. Ohio Nonpareil. Arnold's Beauty. Red Canada. Red Detroit. Wallbridge. Blenheim Orange. Ben Davis. Swaar. Bourassa. Peewaukee. Mann Apple. Freckled Mollie. Prenyea. Bachelor (or King of Ap- pies). *^ Brockville Beauty. A8«*fce U«f «f ^/°^^^\<^^^^^0«UE-EIGHTY-FOUR VARIETIES. fall, and fort;;o;r':inteirari Svtut'"' V'^'^'T ^ -' t-nty- pretty dearly defining the public estSonoTTb'^'' -^^^ difference in number the several classes. It is qS l/siSi I the value, in an economical sense of the Commissioners to inst,rte anfoS j'"'""^^''' *¥*' ^^^« ^* ^^thin the power of mentioned, they might be found to ho^iP'''"i'°'? ^^*^^«" «0"^« few of the apples or accidentally^attaSed to them but this'ZS"'*'' T^'f ^^'''''' names locaUy least known sorts. On the other Lnd Exhaust! ve^a^^tb"-^ '" ""' ?' '^"^ "^ *^« Commissioners are aware of the exiSorofTot a fS^ i-^Tes^'^'^^' ^'' ''''"' *^« Tctcixcd to hy any of the witnesses. '-Pr^es tnat nave not been CULTIVATION OF THE APPLE. 31 DISORKPANCIBS IN CLAHHIFICATION. Occasional difflcultios occur in the clasaiKcation, the torins summer and fall, or fall and winter, being applied by different persons to the same apples. This arises probably, in some instances, from a disagreement as to the precise meaning of the terms used, but also from the wide difference of climate in the large territory covered, affecting both the maturity and the constitution and, consequently, the keeping properties of the same fruits, either favourably or otherwise. In one or two instances, the Duchess of Oldenburg, almost universally termed a fall apple, is mentioned as a summer »fuit. The Fameuse (or Snow apple) occupies a more debatable position, for it is spoken of by some excellent authorities— including Mr. Leslie of Toronto — as a fall apple, and so appears in his catalogue. But Mr. Beadle says ; " Taking the Province as a whole, I class the Snow apple as a winter apple." And, in the district where the Fameuse attains the highest excellence — the St. Lawrence counties — it is regarded as a winter apple, and alluded to in the reports from that section as one of the best winter keeping varieties. The few other differences in classiiication are not of sufticient importance to require par- ticular reference. COMPARATIVE HARDINESS OF VARIETIES. The first (luestion that presents itself naturally is, — What is the comparative hardinedH of the different applos constituting either class, or in what parts of the Province are particular apples found to be most successful ? We shall endeavour, from the evidence before us, to supply an answer to this inquiry. APPLE CULTURE IN THE OTTAWA VALLEY. It is evident that the least favourable situations from which information has been collected — leaving out for the moment the new regions of Muskoka and Mani- toulin — are Ottawa and Arnprior, the latter, as regards apple culture, being rather the more favoured of the two. Mr. Bucke, of Ottawa, gives the Red Astrachan as the one summer apple in the cultivation of which some success has been attained, the Alexander and Duchess of Oldenburg as fall sorts, and Talman's Sweet, as a winter apple grown in the district. Of the three first named he says : — "The Red Astrachan, the Duchess of Oldenburg and the Alexander appear to bo the hardiest ; but I do not think you could raise an orchard of them. . . , The Hon. R. W. Scott has tried apple growing. He grows the Red Astrachan and the Duchess of Oldenburg on his farm about three miles out of the city. He plants evergreens along with the trees, and I think they protect them. The land is on a iniestone bed, and his experience has been measurably successful. Both Mr. Haycock and Mr. Keefer have been unsuccessful." Mr. Bucke also mentions a local seedling known as the Gatineau Belle as "not a first-class fruit but very hardy, and ripening in September." At Arnprior, on the Ottawa River, Mr. Usbourne of the Waba Nurseries, the property of the Renfrew Fruit and Floral Company, already mentioned, has pro- ceeded in a very systematic manner to test the apple growing capacity of that region. He says : — "Five years ago I imported ten of each of several different varieties of apple tree, and put them out in nursery rows to see how they would stand the winter. They were put out in the spring. The following spring, some varieties were all alive, and all the rest died. Thir- teen varieties out of fifty lived. These were the Red Astrachan, White Astrachan, Tetofsky, Sops of Wine, Duchess of Oldenburg, Fameuse, Keswick Codlin, Twenty-Ounce, English Russet, Pomme Grise, Peach Apple, Talman's Sweet, and the Wallbridge. We propagated these pretty largely. I have since discarded the Keswick Codlin, Sops of Wine, and Tahnan, as apples subject to be winter killed. They don't die, but are killed back. Out of all the sorts, the only varieties never injured are the White Astrachan, Tetofsky, the Duchess of Olden- burg, and the Peach Apple. We have thus established the fact that these are the sorts that will stand this climate. These four sorts have never suffered. These will in future be pro- pagated largely. Crabs all do well. We have fruited the Tetofsky, a sweet summer apple of a small size. The Duchess, with us, ripens early in September. The White Astrachan we rirt-v6 not fruitect n'ttnci^ntiy to s^y einyuhing Cft. lus j. ^&•» trial; they have not yet APFIB OirtTURB IN VICTORIA AND PETERBOEOUOH. At Lindsay, again, where the conditions of northern inland cultivation am ,nnr^ «„f 1'^® l"*^® ,*^®r ^^^'^ Astrachan, the Summer Rose and the Tetofskv Th« !«.«* n^mo^ i. >,;» ?.^ r^' """u*^ "^/°'''? ^^''^ *^'« ^*- Lawrence and Alexander do very well his preference being for the St. Lawrence, while he mentions the Fa 1 PiLrli largely and profitably grown in the neighbourhood of Peterboro' Ho add^ -^I " part of the agriculturist who contemplates apple culture. The SerTs the exis tence of a very large number of excellent seedlings which Mr. Beal thinks ''would compare with many of the grafted kinds " "unKs wouia Mr. Beall especially draws attention to these, because, he says, "some of the standard varieties are too tender for our district " T?!,^"^ he instances, in this connection, the" Early Harvest (summer) and the Rhode Island Greening and the Spitzenberg (winter) apples. NrnotSg Ts more it"n"his evidence .- ^^'^^^"^^*^-*^«- -"«* ^e froni tSseed. As £ LeS puts treerXTu^"^ ^e tS^rS^l^S^I^)^ :::r^ 7j^\.-^«.ard to apple will not thrive. Mere grafting or grow1ng?n any^S locaHtfl ^ , t'^lsi^'^ hL^^^^^^ at all. If you want to raise trees for a northern climate wh« L u ^"y.^H^I^ growth at all, it must be done through the3 If the Te'elu '^nwn'Vv, '^^''yM'^ m^ ^^^" through and livo, and the more tender ones willgive way." " '°''°' *^' ^^'"^'^'"^ ^'" «=°°^« The seedlings alluded to by Mr. Beall are not named. Like those other seed Imgs n.entioned in the report from the United Counties of StormonrDuudas and Glengarry, they may, by some exceptionally severe weather be swep ou of 'ex?s tence Ui),e.. -altiplied and distributed, whereas, if carefully cultivated it 2 nS«' po8«,b|c tn-, '.suR .aight be of great public benefit. The CommTs Lners caTno? ^?^J::':'^\.''^^^^^%^^ intelligent a fruit grower as Mr fiLfl^n! cSi^ceia.-.; oi.u,rgu lumseii with the destinies of this hopefiil crop of new varieties gh to what The Rod itor-killinx. in the ovi- Oldonburg -Oimco (or immo Grise wan an autumn apple of the size of the Golden KuMset (American), and a perfect ajjple in Mhape, textiire, colour of tledh and skin, arouia, etc. Fifty per cent, or up- wanlH of the no-called standard varieties have proved too tender for our district, but a good deal depends upon location, soil, etc. It is important to get young trees from northern nurse- ries. A variety from a Montreal nursery will tlirive here when the same variety from Koohes- ter would not." The calamity referred to was evidently one of very exceptional severity, for the seedlings had not only weathered many winters and matured their growth, but had fruited and attained a high place in public estimation, llieir history indicates an apple growing cainicity in the district in advance of that already attained. Of sunnuer apples, the three niost profitable and, in that aunse, it may bo assumed, hardy varieties, are the Red Astiachan, Early Harvest, and Tetofsky. Of fall apples, the most profitable to the growers aro the St. Lawrence, Duchess of Oldenburg, and Alexander, classed as follows :- ... .the Alexander ' very hardy ; ' th«' St. Lawrnnce "The Duchess ' very hardy and productive ; ' the Alexander ' very hardy ; ' T"""^""'* ' less hardy but does well.'" Of winter apples, the list is a long one, and includes the Fameuse, Swayzie Pommo Grise, Talman's Sweet, American Golden Russet, Red Canada, Spitzen- berg, Northern Spy, and Yellow Pippin. The most successful are the Fameuse, Tahnan's Sweet, Swayzie Pomme Oriso, and American Golden Russet, while to the latter, as one of the most profitable apples, is added the Brockville Beauty, an apple that appears in evidence at this point only. If we regard the region east and north of the Bay of Quinte district as being the least favourable portion of the Province for fruit culture, we have enough evidence already to show not merely what apples may be successfully cultivated there, but that the industry is capable in those sections of considerable development. The eflforts making at Arnprior and Ottawa, and the remark in the report from the United counties that "not one-fourth of the fruit trees are in full bearing "—show- ing as it does a very large amount of recent attention to fruit culture— prove that the peoplf of these districts are intelligently alive to the opportunities open to them. THE HARDIEST APPLES. It may be interesting now to turn to some of the evidence bearing on the subject of apple hardiness generally, in order to show what more may be done, in tliis directir)n, in places where the careful selection of hardy varieties is the first essen- tial to success. Mr. Beadle says : — "We are gradually getting hold of the apples which can be grown at the north with suc- ce?9- The Duchess of Oldenburg will grow where any ajjple will grow, and as far north as this Province extends. It is one of the varieties which I would recommend settlers in the northern part of the Province to try. Ben Davis will not grow as far north as the Duchess of Oldenburg, but will thrive a good way north, but in the coldest sections of the Province I would recommend the Duchess of Oldenburg, the Wealthy, the Peewaukee, and, possibly, the Mann Apple. The Duchess of Oldenburg is a fall apple ; the Wealthy is a winter apple and 80 is the Peewaukee. So far as we have got the varieties it would be chiefly the fali apples which I would recommend for the climate. The lied Astrachan will grow well up towards the limit we have been speaking of. The Tetofsky is a tart apple, a long way behind the Duchess of Oldenburg, and in no way more hardy. If I were going to plant trees for cider I would plant the Tetofsky, as it abounds in juice." We have here several apples of which no mention is made by the witnesses pre- viously quoted in eoruiuctiuii with the northern and most easterly districts. The first of these is the Ben Davis, only second apparently in Mr. Beadle's estimation 24 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. to the hardy Duchess of Oldenburg, which " will stow wIiapa an,r o^„i -n and as far north as the Province extends." ^ ^ ^^^^^ "^'^ ^row, "The Ben Davi«,'' says Mr. Beadle, " will thrive a good way north " Mr. D mpsey, m his evidence, also refers to the Ben Davis.^ He says •- Belleville it brings IhlTA'pTe oranv'rrr„'^!l'°"«.^.'!li«"- ?or retailing.in JNorthern Spy as a counter apple." .>... .»r„u.«,ui« iiuauons ana soil. For retailinir. in any apple we have. Grocers prefer them to the The Ben Davis would, from these joint testimonials, appear to deservA fn !,« more extensively cult vated, where the soil and locality is coErativ^^^^ especially where hardiness is an essential to success Excent iV. f hi ™S7 .1 ' very extensively in Minnesota, in fact the people have gone almost wild ovpI Sf ^1^^^^ think it would be a valuable aoole for exnortfitinn Tf ,.r^;,i^ u- 2 V ". °^^^ '*• ^ hardly settlers, on account c' " .rbeaS so soonS beTne sJ hardi °W/ ^' •'^^^^nt^KlouB to new of Oldenburg would be the best IppleTforThe courts ofthe countr?"'*^ ""'^ '^' ^""'^^^^ , .^''•^^%^^^!^*h^o"ly witness who, in his evidence, alludes to the Peewaukee • but m Mr. Leslie's catalogue it is described as— eewauKee , " A seedling of the Duchess of Oldenburg, from the North.Wp«t wV,<>^„ a- • as good in quality and a good keeper. Tree^Wod^ctiveSlSy!*' Berembe'r to nTrT'' '"^ The Mann apple IS mentioned by Mr. Morris as one of the most esteempd of winter varieties in his district. esteemed of THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE ONTARIO. Leaving behind us the regions where something like a critical selection is neces sary to protect the apple grower from loss, we may glance for a momen at wha; may be regarded perhaps as the medium or averagl section of t^ Provrnce in relation to apple culture, unless indeed Prince Edward County should beTxcented as a district scarcely second to the most favoured. The north shore of J ak^ On W from Toronto to the eastern end of the Bay of Quinte, has been well rent sented before the Commissioners. And it may be pretty safely assumed that such eminent professional culturists as Mr. Leslie of Toronto, Mr. ChaplinTNewca^Ue Mr. Hmman of Grafton, and Mr. Dempsey of Prince EdUd, have not been waS in any efforts to attain m apple cultivation the largest possible measure of ruccess It IS evident at the same time that, to achieve absolute success in this part of the Province, considerable care m the choice of sites may be necessary. A comparativelv hardy apple may lose its reputation by injudicious placing, and, a second rate fruit in this sense, be exalted to undeserved honour by the ^ood iudcment of it« nltnl Mr. Dempsey after naming the Red Astrachan and Ea'-rlyXvSas thVpr^^^^^^^^^^ summer varieties, and paying the invariable tribute of respect to the Duchess of Oldenburg as a hardy fall apple, goes on to say :— -^ucness or "The St. Lawrence (fall apple) is alsrt prnfif.ab'A H'ith «" fhn--r-'- • 't -i SL-' '°°' °"^''^^'^ *'° «ravenstein(fa'll apple) v:i?J'much?^°t"e trerisTncfined^b: esteemed of CULTIVATION OF THE APPLE. He then refers to the winter sorts as follows :— 25 we can grow any variety of winter aoole ZaJn L/k ^ of so Is that in a favourable locality the BalTlwin and the ^reenTnrwhHe perhaoT t'hev m^vV'"'* ^''''''^'' ^^" ^"'^ "«* P>*»« orchard a mile away. Judging brmv ^ownTxci^L^.L^K^''""'''" ""'f^^lfuJly i" another with the Ben Davis as a market a^PleTf/rXn™' 7^ ^"''^r can compare retailing in Belleville, it brings the Sek nrice o^ anv ^.^^r'""*^'" ^'"'^*>"« *"^ ««"• ^O' to the Northern Spy as a counter aD.^eTLvnHLt^ ifP?^ t "^^ ''*^^- ^'""''^''^ P'-^'fer them and even frr markS they are the be t if JroLX iTowJ'' Vhfv f." • ''* '' *^^ Red Canada, course we have some localities which are nTfavonrphl^f" ,^-^ ^'^"u''^ * 7'^""' »"''' an^ «' liable to vary in size, and to spot The SlSn KuW l^''^/"'^'*'' f'^ '" *^««« ^l^^^ *™ and we don't find it profitable^ In fa vouraUe localif L h!1 r"i/"''^^'^. ^^''^ ^«" ^'^h us, well. The Col vert, if properly handler^sLnrotitaSn^^^^ ^ Greening succeed winter varieties. It *.hould be nicked earl v ,W™ ^^^' *^""^^ '* .^°.«« °"* belong to the . picked, it is one of the most profitable apX or shinrnT/ Z^^ ^^'" '^ '? "^"'^^ ^'•««» = '^ «« prices We grow a cc.nsideraWe nun^ber^of Snorapff^^^^^ commands fancy localities, and perhaps forty rods away it is a failnr^ t".«,,m j* flourishing in some this peculiarity. We have'no t.e thJt iV^rX^rdy, b'uTthe f"ruiris"uabTeno"spo*f.^. ""^^ ^* NORTHUMBRIAN SEEDLINGS. It would be a source of much gratification if these tnntrb nU r.o+^' u the;;il?a" fafrtLr^t^V^ai^lt (S - I have not given hairiest varieties in the older <.rchar.ls though we havpbp'L.a'^^^-^ ^T^ P''"^^'^ t° be the of Tomkins County and the Holkni Pip in The North rns'n'''-^ ""^^^f' '"",'^ *" ^^^ ^ing for general j.urposes. The fruit of the Baldwin is good bS thp t?Z. H ''"^ "! *;"'' ^/'^ ^^"^^'-^^ very well. It and the Northern Spy are most inTindVor shii^^^^^^^^^^ ^'""'^ *^^ """"^'^ T 1 * ;^'' ''^^■"'V^=°' in this particular .section the preference is thus siven +n +l,o -Ri j early°4;L'"° '^'^ '^"™*''"' ■"" ''''-" " '» P'"'»Wy ">. hardiest „f the ver, Of the fall varieties he commends especially for hardinps.. f1,« n„„i r /^i , por;;.;:^:rtt"pri:Se?;.?fl1o^?at ^^^ -o^* favoured the Rambo may also 'be clatsed wS tt"^ v^rLt^^^^^ Tomkins Cunty are hardier. The bWzirPonlme Owt Am •^"'■'J?^'■? ^^P7 *"^' ^inj? of low Bellflower are very hardy. The'Sto^^Tn tTsiTrTrrmSm." ""^^ ^"' ^^^- With stil! greater precision he says :— the'S:^S^*o;rrS you mUt"adJi°?o"tt'S theT*' .^'^^ fl^'^'^ ^."-"^ «"-• and well at an^l about Montreal." ^ ^ '"* ^^'^ Montreal Pomme Grise, which doe« 8 I 26 ONTAhlO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. The Montreal Pomme Gme is, it will be recollected, in the list of thirteen sur- vivors out of fifty tested at Arnprior and referred to by Mr. U«bome, as having, in consequence been propagated largely. The Swayzie Pomme Grise, although an apple of Canadian origin, comes from the warm region of Niagara. But while a most delicious fruit, the best dessert apple in the world," as Mr. Leslie calls it. a most prohfac bearer and the "highest priced apple ever shipped," it is also " one of the v.vry hardiest. ' Mr. Leslie says of it :— which'wP S? nVrnlnvf ^^'•y hardiest, and in view of the demand for the fruit, it is one to Which we might turn with a good prospect of success. It is not largely cultivated at present • iSkf cLadilrtr/eTn f ' ^""^f 1'"'.!^ ^'' ""f. »'?* '"*'• general cultivation for someTa^oS; It 18 a Canadian tree, a native of the Niagara district, and is cultivated to some extent there." THE WESTERN COUNTIES. Westward from Toronto we are generally free from the unfavourable conditions, using the term in a comparative sense, that may affect the fruit grower to the east of the capital of the Province. It may be laid down as a broad general rule that, whatever apple will grow at the east or north of Toronto, will grow in the westeni or southwestern counties, although in the latter there are occasional situations where prudence in the selection of trees must be exercised. We shall now speak there- fore of the relative hardiness of the several varieties, on the supposition that they meet in the western half of the Province on a common level, and without reference to their adaptability for successful cultivation or otherwise in the north or east. SUMMER VARIETIES. * Of the summer varieties, the Red Astrachan, the Early Harvest, the Tetofsky, and the Keswick Oodlin are, with the exception of the White Astrachan, which is but once mentioned, the only apples the hardiness of which is specially referred to and that in connection with the colder sections of the Province only. There is no evidence to show, however, that, under ordinary circumstances, the eicrht or nine other summer sorts would not be equally safe from misadventure. FALL VARIETIES. In regard to the fall apples, the choice is a little more marked. From Bruce the report 18 most favourable t.. the Duchess of Oldenburg, the Gravenstein, Alex- ander, Maiden s Blush and Col vert. In the Niagara district Mr. Beadle can " make no distinction in regard to hardiness. " In Elgin, for hardiness and productiveness combined, the award is given to the Ohio Nonpareil, Gravenstein, Bellflower, and Pippins. In Kent, Mr. Westland classes as equally hardy the Cayuga Redstreak, the St. Lawrence, the Seek-no- Further, and the Fall Pippm. In the same county Mr. Cady "does not think there IS much difference, but gives the preference, on the whole, to the Rambo and the tet. Lawrence, the first named, however, being classed in this report as a Winter ftpplG, c fl^A^^Z ''^P^f^ from Norfolk, the preference for hardiness is given to the Duchess of Oldenburg, the Maiden s Blush and Gravenstein. It is probable that in western Ontario the test of hardiness is hardly severe enough to affect seriously the credit of any of the fall varieties. WINTER VARIETIES. In winter apples, the fruit-growers appear to be more critical ;. and the question of hardiness comes more conspicuously to the front. Of the forty-four varieties on tlie list, allusion has already been made to the Swayzie Pomme Grise, the Montreal Pomme Giise, the Fameusc, Grimes' G.-lden, the Wallbridtre, the Brockville Beauty the Peach apple tlie Ben Davis, the Peewaukee, and the Mann, in terms which render further reference to their hardiness quite unnecessary. To the hardiness of the Jonathan, Badielor, American Pippin, Blenham Orange, Red Detroit, Peck's Pleasant, Newtown^Pippin, Cranberry Pippin, Lady Apple, and the five or six new ^??L 'xT^*\u^'^' J^"''^"^';"''''' '^ '"^'^® ^" *^^^ evidence. To the hardiness or otherwise of the Northern Spy, the Baldwin, the Golden Russet, the Rhode Island Greening CULTIVATION OF THE APPm, ^ the Roxbury Russet, the Wagener, the Talman's Sweet, Yellow Bellflower Belnonf reliaSe^'^H; ^^ys ^' ' "The^v fr^^^ f'^^T '""^ f^^'l^hode Island Greening not m! P A f^ '~ur .y. ^^^ *®"^^'' ""l'^88 worked on other trees." Mr. Hagaman, at Oakville, reports :— woZ'nd S^oSillfird ?n*the7op:.'''' " *'^ ""^'^ ' '""^ ^^''^'^ -* - I'^'^thy in the Tw tJ • 1 U ^'Z •„ ^"^ Rhode Island Green ng never winter-kills with ii« " .iJtL"::^:?'""""' "- *'«- County, a„^d who. orSaTi^l^riugh i. .i,7&ftl.nd G,e?„f„l. ■?•' """■ "■ '* "" ''•""""• ^"y- The next best apple a. a*d?ilYatTaf J?£.f Jrar^Sr-" ""' '^"»' '''• °"--" --- In regard to hardines„, Mr. Roy of Owen Sound, says •— We"tiouTht StVti^LTh^el&S^^atti^^^^^^ LT ^slU *°%*?"^^^ ^^^ "'^^ ^'^*-*- or eight years old, I find it to be very h^rdy and to^^^^^^^^ S fJt" ^'""^ "^ "'"' ^^^«° Tn ?3,t" J^ ?*7/^^d varieties are reported as succeeding well. In pS while th^'S"-' •"""^*' ^^" '■"'^'^^ *^"'i'^'' f^-* *his district." variety we rel5 - "^ '' mentioned as a very valuable and highly esteemed sl^o^I%^7t:ilr^:'.r^^^^ *"^ ^^"^« I«^-^ Careening have son^etimes son.l"se''vet'We?s:^'""" " *'^ only variety that appears to be too tender for While in the year 1875 a very severe frost destroyed some trPPs nf ^hc ^i.^A ■ Wagener, and Colvert varieties, at Houghton in Norfolk tLn!L u ^^7^"' an extraordinaxy one, and in no' other yelS TsiSa^l'^t ere oTcu^r d^''^" 1^" ^eslie speaks of the Yellow Bellflower as " very hardy "wWle from' FUin s^rt^ral^i^teTb^r "'^ *° ^*' ^'^^^-"-^^' ^ ''U^'^^St^nf Si^ From Norfolk, comes a word of commendation for the Belmont and DommJo .^J^"• u^'' M ^'7?f *" *^^ ^"^g °f Tomkins County the LedTof Lin. Tarr but although in Norfolk it is reported as one of the most successful in Perth it isWd to show " some signs of tenderness in severe winters " ^ does'^^KThTm^; stter^^^o^ti;^^^^'^^*'"'^ "' " '"^'^^""^'" ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^PP^^ The Ribston Pippin, although classed by Mr. Leslie as •' medium " in resnprf nf ,„ Jhl'l^'i"/"" """^f "<"? ."bove given, the whole of the leading standard varieties Sario The CtherX '".f'p'lf ""'»-'""«l>lo «l™atic influenoes in we tern COMPARATIVK ECONOMICAT. MERITS. ■,.aS^^'a^ ?"^' ""* f ™'' ^^"=*^' considered the conditions of apple culture and indicated where apples may be grown, and what varieties mayTt,r respect'^ r ,'i 28 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. districts, be cultivated with safery and probability of success, the next point to be discussed will be the merits, in an economical sense, of the different apples. in the hrst place, we may. inquire. What are the special characteristics of the various sorts, other than the one of hardiness, which has been already disposed of? MERITS OF SUMMER APPLKS. "The Red Astrachan rnd Early Harvest are the most profitable of early summer apples, is the testimony of Mr. Beadle. They both carry well, and the Ked Astrachan has the further advantage of being an early bearer. "The Red Astrachan .and the Keswick Codlin will bear in three years." " The Red Astrachan and the Early Harvest . . both carry well." Mr. Beadle further says :- — T? aT^^ Keswick Codlin la valuable chiefly as a cooking apple. The Early Harvest and Red Astrachan are valuable for dessert. b.U are Kood for cooking also. The Benoni is a vane y which is much esteemed for dessert, hut is not worth much for cookin^ The Sweet SpTe "'' " '"""'' *P^'^''' ^"'^ '* '' ^"°^ ^""^ ^^''''^ to those who like a sweet '' Of summer apples for profit I prefer the Early Harvest and Red Astrachan," IB the verdict of Mr. Dempsey. ' Mr. Beall speaks of the demand for summer apples, in his district, beins; in ^fr'^«9 * «9'^r^l' P'^^t'^^i^^ly ^r ^^^ ^'^^ Astrachan, which brings as much as from $2 to $2.50 a barrel The other varieties he names are the Summer Rose and the lotofsky. Of the latter he says :— used oTit i^^ors^L'fiZl mfrr/' -''P'' ''" "^^'^'"^^ = '^^"•"'^ *« '' ^« -^-* "P« •<= --* ^e Mr. Arnold's opinion is summed up as follows : StJwwt" Till R ''"*• ''PP^^ ^ would take the Summer Rose, and next to it the Early Strawberry Ihe Benoni would come third, and then Pomme Royal, which is a verv fine dessert apple For an early cooking apple, T would take the Red Astrachan. There are very few of these that come to market as sucfi, except the Red Astrachan. I have frequently sent the Early Strawberry and Benon, to Hamilton at .$2.50, ami have got a telegram saying ' 4 "d on all of those httle re, app es that you have got.' The Red Astrachan brh^gs ■sometimes $1 a bushel. It generally sells from that downwards." unugs Humeumes In the Ottawa valley counties, the question is limited pretty much to the enduring capacity of the fruit, and the choice is consequently limited. In the United Counties the Early Harvest and Red Astrachan are mentioned simply as the most profatable Also as the most profitable, Mr. Leslie recommends of summer apples, the Early Harvest, Red Astrachan and Keswick Codlin Mr. Hinman speaks of the Early Harvest, the Red Astrachan, the Sweet Boush, j.nd the Golden Sweet as the best summer varieties. The two first named in the group are the favourites of Mr. Chaplin. In the report from Bruce, the fav(,urable notice of *,he Early Harvest and Red Astrachan is extended to the Summer Pearmain. Mr. Allan, of Goderich, says :— "The summer apples most profitable are : Red Astrachan, which we use for both cookintr and market; Keswick Codlm for cooking ; the Early Joe and the Ind an Rare Ripe for dessert. Ihe Tetofsky is being cultivated and is much thought of by some growers ^Tpon some soils it is about as early as the Astrachan." giowers. upon ,, In some dozen other reports, the Red Astrachan is alluded to favourably in all cases ; the Early Harvest in nine, the Tetofsky in three, the Keswick Codlin in two, and the Sweet Bough in one. Reviewing the several statements, the first place inust be given to the Red Astrachan, with the Early Harvest in close attend- ance if not quite on an equality. The Keswick Codlin has many friends, but the Tetofsky, described by Mr Beadle as, "a tart apple a long way behind the Duchess of Oldenburg," while freely cultivated has, in some quarters but a third class reputation. The other summer varieties are. as will be observed, the subjects flS M m. , the next point to he different apples, laracteristics of the ilready disposed of ? profitable of early carry well, and the )earer. "The Red years." "The Red VIr. Beadle further le Early Harvest and 10. The Bennni is a cooking. The Sweet hose who like a sweet d Red Astrachan," s district, being in ell brings as much ! the Summer Rose about ripe it must be next to it the Early which is a very fine ;han. There are very have frequently sent elegram saying ' send lan brings sometimes retty much to the Y limited. In the entioned simply as nmends of summer , the Sweet Bough, first named in the ' Harvest and Red I use for both cooking idian Rare Ripe for ome growers. Upon i to favourably in Keswick Codlin in itements, the first est in close atteud- ly friends, but the £; way behind the arters but a third- Brved, the subjects preference, rather CULTIVATION OF THE APPLE. 39 '^^^^'=^- J^t^-r;.';- isr:^ z^ tsr than are those of the wmter, or even fall varieties Tho a.m,,u„.. exacting, MERITS OF FALL APPLES. The Hawley is the subject of conflicting opinion Mr Bao^u cr^^oi « -l Porter, the Maittacl, the Kentish KUbasket! aTihr^Zb^JA l'^\f^ neting, Sop, otW.ne, Sherwood'. Favourite the Ohio XnwreU and S P.^? Orange, are each insnlioned once, but once only "onp«reil, and the Pall Cou:;y'LSfp"roliL\;7reg"uLarbP;:^^^^^^ '^^ ^^^ "^^ '""^ ^'"^ "^ Tomkina An English apple named tL Slor ^Msh i. v^rliZX Z^"""^' T-^'i^Tr^' ^""^ P'^^«'"ff- best fall cooking apple we have, and wLnnerfectWrffiM^'^ S'"''""'^ ^ *''«^^'''«'' '<= "^e s a rapid grower, bears early and rejularirheavy crous Win,?''^'*"* *u" ^^^'u '^*>« *"■«« form of the Kentish Fillba.skei. » *> •'^ "^^^^ ^"^^I^^- ^ "e apple is much of the size and to tl^KriThiritx't i^oSfiSeril ''^^^i- r"'- ?.- -'--- Th! ^il??^'"' ?''''"^'' ^' ?"^ "^^ *^^ ^'■^" ^'^"^ties recommended bv Mr Be-dla P..0. a, snbjeet to bein, winter-Wlled, and Z mtL^-'i.ltof'^tvTnelnt"; in tS:„?^,;?r£in" r^^;^^^^'r"' r 't" *" "" "'o"'""" '«" ""pil- ing varieties to be"fireatter -^ntlS^ LttZ^'^^^i """""^ *"• ""? ""'=»<'■ Allan as a profitable fruit, and hi „' ^n ot" °e"3o'^ Sty'Xr^''''''''^' " ""-• I so ONTARIO AGRIOULTURAL COMMISSION. iudS^al^Mrrf V^T '^T^ u^ ^^% ^*" ^PP^^" " '"°«* esteemed " by bo good a judge as Mr. Charles Arnold, who, referring to it a second time, says •- bng;;^xt^ruftzx «-«-• -^^ ^^^^^^ >* - -t quite fou^vr^sS'Jrrt-iyHn;;''"'^^' ^^\ '"P*"'* ^'■""^ ^r^*°"' "''«*™ '^bout three or tour years atter grafting ; a very strong recommendation to new beginners in aoole crlture In a further reference to the Hawthorn5«n from the Se 8our"« U is stated to be one of the two apples mentioned " n.ost profitable to the grower!" PKINCIPAL FALL VARIETIES. ^Taking into account its combined qualities, of hardiness (already referrTtoV of the early maturity of the tree, and its productiveness as a fruit bJarer the first place m this list must unhesitatingly be conceded to the Duchess of oidenbure In one mstance only is it relegated to an inferior position whenX Arnold says - "The Duchess of Oldenburg is not in favour with us because there are so many better." The Gravenstein is classed by Mr. Beadle as "head and shoulders above all other apples or dessert ;'' but he ranks it second to the Duchess on general gro^^^^^^^ Mr ti n^l '"''•w'^^'lr ^\H "^ ^'' "^^'^ ''^^'"^'^ ^^"«t'es of fall apples Mr. Leslie places It fourth on the list of the "most profitable," but notices it as being next to the Duchess in early ripening notices it Mr. Beadle declares the St. Lawrence to be an apple which " it is not profitable to grow in our (Niagara) section of the country " prontaoie rpn^""" ^^'"P'fy ^^'rl.^^* <^^n^"r with Mr. Beadle in his estimate of the St Law- rence. Possibly a difference of situation may have an influence on the fruit S on the divergent judgments of these experts. After remarking that " ?he St D^pTy^rlntrst^f^ ""' "^' *'""^' '' °^"^^^°"^"^ spofsfl^ttle^^M^i: If a portion of the crop is shaken off theLe when iJL'ro'healT it wiU ta;\nnu:ii; ''^'''■ unsllf:ft'::y:o^t:l%t^^^^^^^^ varieties wouM be altogether m§mmsmmB The St. Lawrence is also mentioned in favourable terms, and without anv Hi,- On the other hand Mr. Beall tells us :— able'I^pt'"''''"*'''""'''""^ "^ ^'*''"'^™' '^' ^"" ^^PP>" '« ''^'Se\y grown, and is a very profit- 'N. CULTIVATION OF THE APPLE. 31 ned " by 8o good a , says :— though it ia not quite lars about three or bej^inners in apple B same source it is o the grower. " loticed in order : — Pippin, Colvert, Further, Maiden's ready referred to), it bearer, the first ess of Oldenburg. Ir. Arnold says : — are so many better." loulders above all n general grounds, sties of fall apples, e," but notices it it is not profitable te of the St. Law- on the fruit and ig that "the St. >ts a little," Mr. iburg, but I cannot ily one tree of that inly bears alternate ty of apples, which of Oldenburg is not lit is liable to split, bear annually." uld be altogether e regarded as a pro- nearly supply the of them are sold at lias been employed without any dis- bnt its popularity loke with regard to vhich I would not rs bruises badly by md is a very profit- ,.J^ """"* ^ recollected, however, that apple culture is carried on under very different conditions in the two districts, and that the standard of criticism in fruit- abounding Niagara IS very different from that which is likely to prevail in Peter- frvouSbl ^'m^ri, Messrs. Allan, Oady, Westland, and others, speak The Colvert is alluded to in very favourable terms by Mr. Dempsey. He says : — " There is a gentleman near me who has an orchard of 100 Colverts, with which I am just as familiar as my own. Phe trees have been planted about fourteen years, and have attained a size of about seven inches in diameter. Last year they took about 175 barrels from it. but that was not an average crop Taking one year with another, we could safely calculate upon ^nnir;?;^! r? f '°^ ^v!■?''• J .L • . • ^^^ <^°^^'"-t' 'f P'-"P«'-ly handle.1, is a profitable apple, though It does not belong to the winter varieties. It sbould be picked early in the sea- son, even when it m quite green ; if so picked it is ona of the most profitable apples for ship- ment to Europe, as it commands fancy prices. " ^ Mr. Leslie also reports that the Colvert has been exported profitably. He says :— 5,r.,!.'»'ib!??/''^''f ^f '^^f'V'hipped to the old country, picked a little on the green side and imme.hately sent ofif. It has arrived on the other side in splendid condition. The Fall Pip- succesXT/sMpped!" ' ^^'■^'*"'^'''' *"^' ^'^m^u^e, treated in the same way, have also been The Cayuga Red Streak (or Twenty-Ounce) is mentioned by Mr. Leslie in conjunction with the Colvert as a shipping apple. It is classed by Mr. Beadle as one of the four highest priced fall varieties, its merits as a cooking apple beincr also noticed by the same witness. Mr. Allan, of Goderich, speaks of it favourably and Mr. Pettit, of Grimsby, is al^o shipping it to Europe. The Alexander is mentioned in the character of a profitable fall variety bv Mr Allan and Mr. Leslie, and as doing well in his district, by Mr Beall Of the Seek-no-Purther Mr. D. Caldwell, of Waterloo, says :- fi„ '"^^^ ^^^„^-^0:f "•■^er apple which belongs to the family of the Spitzenberg, is also a, fine apple, bo IS the ^sopus Spitzenberg ; but the tree is usually delicate, and the fruit Smt to be so subject to worms and insects that we find it unprofitable. It, however commanTls the highest price in the British or any other market. I see the Seek-no- Further anpkTabeUed ^FTT^t'^^ ' '^"'l they come so near the real ^,opus that, when they go iiMe Brit sb market, they are not questnmed. but command a good price." ^ntisn Mr McKenzie Ross speaks of the Seek-no-Further as " a very delicious anole " and others also testify in its favour. ^^ ' The Maiden's Blush is cUssed by Mr. Dougall among the varieties of fall apples most preferred by him, and m Bruce and Norfolk it is also apparently a favourUe Mr. Beadle says of the Holland Pippin : - ^ i<*vourite. "It is a cousin of the Fall Pippin, and used to be very popular, but it is founl that it in not valuable for slnpp.ng or market, compared with the others I have nameT It is men tioned, however, as a good tall apple by some other witnesses. " In dealing with the fall varieties of apples, we obtain the first glimpse of a mar- ket and demand beyond the confines of the Dominion. With the possibility of extending the trade in certain fall varieties abroad, and the supremacy of the apple as a fruit for domestic use after the supply of summer fruits incapable of preseJva tion m a green state has ceased, the cultivation of fall varieties cannot yet be said to be overuone, or even to have attained to its natural limits. MERITS OF WINTER APPLES. An inquiry into the economical merits of the winter apple covers a wider field than does that which has preceded it. We have already discussed very fully the question of hardiness and adaptability to climate of the respective members of each of the several varieties. The present examination includes such subjects as age of in "uSftier shipping qualities, home and foreign demand, and winter- v«l,?Ki "^ *-'^. forty-three varieties several are new, and, although none the less valuable or interesting on thrtt aeeouiit, have hardly yet established a reputation or become generally known. But they deserve very prominent notice nevertheless' I P r 8> ONTARIO AORWULTURAL COMMISSION. His new varieties are five in nu ber th«^ " ""■ ^ ' ' ' successful hybridists. Dom, and one not yet named The last onn-'l,'^™"'^" ^^'^^^J'' *''« Ella, the Mr. Arnold thus alludes lo them :- '^""''^'i"^"*^^ '« «"* mentioned in our list. *>nit Growers\A«Ho4Lrrtw^vrars :T\„Ji.':'i!.'^.,*5^ O''*'*"". w»nch waB nent out bythe of those I have ,. - J AsHociation two' y;;;raKr'ha« nosim^rf '^"*''""' r.''i«»' was sent out h have kept it as late as the first of J„Tv ft is a « ' , 1 ^ r T^. ""^'"^^ff "^ shipping appl the other four, the Z T ^„'L*'!?ll"Fu"^*^« Northern Spy crossed wi( Wapener Of the other four, the nV I have cal p! fh n* ^?'^^^'^ ^PY crossed with the beautifully marked. Another one which It ?hi rL»« , TJT ".l^'^ f '""' ''««««••* aPP'^ called Arnold's Beauty, is a yellow ,,,,,l«wifV, t^i t^ T*" "^^'■■ downing, of Newburg. I There is another, called the FSwhk^h'n SLr^n^^^^ *"'' '« * .«'-«*-«>laHs keeping apple rt u not pretty, i« a poor grower but it h a'Eo?,f ^^f^ '^n"''•^'''*« ^^e Black (iilliflower. never been nan.ed or sent out, tho JhMr Down n ' jf'^'''^" ?'^ '""'"*'' "^ "'^ seedlings has excellent dessert apple. By Mr D t„ing I „7an ChLt^^lT'* ""^ *"/l?'' '^ ""*• ''' ** «« "" .s consulered the best authority on apples and fr?dt«Lren!r?.i?J'^T^'' "/ ^ewburg, N. Y., who to h,m, and he wished me to send him scions I Si'o S l^'" '\'"fu""*» ^ «"hmitted them Kra^LlA-L: J.l'^ --hich th^e'X,it' ctrr^? ^^^^::y±!^^^^^v^ and St They for the best series of hybrids' Questioned further, Mr. Arnold went on to say th Jts ^^^^:^!z-^i^:^:i ..«»,,»„; shipper, >„. „„, a rival m Arnold's Beauty. The Ella 1 a?H v n'lfolT *^^ ^.''^**''' ''^^l'^'^*' '* has grounds, but is 'MelicioJs." ThfnameS^^ apple. The Dora is not particularVdSKd bu ^tt *"\'\"" ""'^l!^'?"* '^'''''' merits to be classed with the others irainnnJ^^t'i^u''^^ sufficiently high Priginator the first place among fe^ af Zc:L'eS^'^^^^^^ *° ^'^^^ ^e^e^T::S:;^s^'j::^;r^:z;:-^ ''''- -^^^^ --^'^ ^^p- *« noticXte au.r!rfrZ'Sl'n,rtS;e1s i Sv^ne^^tT"?." 't"!'''^ ^ -"^^^ ^ commanded a very high place there. It is described a\ liJ ^^! ^^""^^ ^V^^^' ^^'^^^ has havmg a large open calyx. We grow an ap L eTact W of^^-^^'- '^'I^I'I'^^'tT^H 'P^''^'' *"'» were rolled out on the first of July, and I foundTt w^I t.f '^^'°''P*"*"- I had some winch sent them to the market THpv hVnnl-v,/ ^ V* ?"*^ necessary to re-pack them and M,,llie, though! am S£fied that itlth^ P^l- We called them the Freckle England. The apple is liable\o get a lit lire sided ^ commands so high a price in cannot be cooked soft. The reason it rinnrr «!, V, ! ' • ^ "^''^ ^'^'"^ ''^^ in colour. It think.that quite recently it command d forty egS.hlSlt'rf- "^.^'^ ''T ^««P'"°"- ^ K{ra:^trirs:rrsr-'^^ re^l:llV:llTi^4\X:^ %^ '^""' ^^"^ T^^*^- >* - the sole ^syu^^^e^^^x™^^^^^^ t^=^o^^^i:K-t!^i5 .p^ s t^^^rSt S^Ld£ -s.^in;s:t :::irtar- ^-s 1* ould appear to as CULTIVATION OF THE APPLE. 33 grower. It originatod in Minnesota sixteen years ago. The tree fruited when onlv five years from he seed, and has borne a heavy crop%ver since. So stronuly has it conimended itself to the people of Minnesota that we are told by Mr. Morris :- wildol'eHt.''"'^^'''"''*^'"'^"'*""'''"^'^'" Minnesota, in fact the people have gone almost The Poewaukee the offspring of some chance cross upon the Duchess of Olden- The Dominie is commended from Norfolk for its keeping qualities. Mr. Dougall, of Windsor, says of the Jonathan :- Rreirbeat7r"""*''rt'hi;t- *'k *''\fT'.!'*"/^*''^^ *« the Spitzenberp, and is a Kn to'plani f^r LSkibttr''- '*' *'^ ''""'^'''*" """'^ ""' *^« ^-* winte7appL%or' S '^I'^r^n^.l?/'??"' ^'''"'.' ^^t^T' '=o'"n>e"d« the Bachelor (or King of Apples) +,-..°^!^° ^''"1^°' ^i"-- ^^''y- ^'■""^ K«n*' ^ho classes the Rambo amon^ fall varie ties, after speaking of it as productive, says :— ^ ®" are prJpSly'^cuTtl^airerSSLVd "tCr/t"'"'^"'''''^ '^? *" "'=^5' ^"* ^« ^"'^ '^-' '' '^^V apples. ' pruned, they grow to an even size, and are a very fair class of say^^S:i;r^^i-:sit^^i;sj^X~" ^^p-- ^- ^h. he is not'v"er7wen knowi' l^is^oTmSlirm i'.' lr\')t '""?* P^^«**^'^- I«^ '« -" ^PPl^ t^-t green, striped with Z 1 re 1 Ifc ^SZe^tlrtn/ n'''h-*"^ shape of a Baklwin, but valuable, it being considered the b^st to shnVh' 1 *' ?,^>PP'"fi^ qualities make it very five to fifty centP more than other vanvS?' TV. *PP^^ """ generalfy bring from twenty- from our pW iTeLyer" there S^^^^^^^^ ar« generally shipped to Montreal bears every yea - " ^ "" *" ''°* countries. It has an enormous crop, and r. '''^® Pomme Grise, or Montreal Pomme Grise, is referred to bv Mr Poo,ii TttelmonTif r'T'' ^*! ha^^'-- ^as aireadfbeen spok Jn^f" ^"'^^ '^^ Nuxllk. '^^ '' "^"''^'^ '^'"'^"^ '^-' '"«^* «"=°«-^^'^»' ^-i»ter sort? in the report from 84 ONTARIO AORICULTURAL COMMISSTON. Mr. Dougall recommends the Blenheim Orange aa a favourite for cooking pur- poies, and also adviaes its cultivation as a dessert apple. The Red Detroit, says Mr. Cady :— i. a i'* * fi®"^ ff*?'."' ^^^ '?*'* ""*. *'?•'" ^^^^^^ '" «"•■ neighbourhood . . .The Red Detroit Ic^ri^/TnchiTn^ri^Af^ri-' ^ "''*'"• "•'' " «"'' '''""'' "•""• •'"'' ^""''' ">«""" - As a dessert applo Mr. Cady classes Pock's Pleasant before the Northern Spy and other leading varieties, and also 8i)eak8 highly of its commercial value for export. Ihe same apple is noticed favourably in the report from Bruce. Of the economical merits of the Wallbridge, the evidence before the Commission •ays nothing. ^ The Bourassa is alluded to by Mr. Cady as being, in his experience, " the best The Swaar is noticed favourably in one or two instances in general terms. Of the Cranberry Pippin, Mr. Pettit of Grimsby, says :- ' It is a good cooking apple, and crops very well." It is also, he mentions, one of the varieties he is selecting for export to Europe. The Poach apple in the evidence receives an incidental notice for hardiness only. But, from the fact that its hardiness had been tested under severe conditions, and been, so far well sustained, it was thought desirable to make a little further inquiry respecting the Peach apple. It is an old variety, although for some reason it has never been popular here. An eminent Canadian pomologist, however, to whom a specimen, taken from a tree growing at Toronto, was submitted, says :— l« ti'J}^ specimen yon send correHponds with Downing's description of the fruit, excepting m the colour of the fleHh, which he describes as white, but which in your specimen is yellowish! J his, however, might have become changed somewhat by keeping. Downing speaks of it as fr^r ^|,^''«'\«:"'^ *'"^?' '*** '^'''"" *i (™™ December to April, thus placing it among winter fruits !< rom the specimpn you send I am favorably impressed with this apple, and think it its"flvour.'^ ^ " *' "' ^'^^ *'*^''"'' ^"'^ ""^P- ^""'"y ^''^ being 8t;ong points in Since the evidence now under review was in type, a communication has been received from Mr. R. N. Ball, of Holmhurst, Niagara, containing a great deal of extremely useful information, both as to the foreign market for apples and the mode ot shipment, subjects on which, as a very large exporter, Mr. Ball is able to speak with great authority. Referring to the Mann apple, Mr. Ball says :— r..^ f T-'^'"^ '!i!* c?fnparatively new apple-the Mann -which promises to establish a hiirh reputation in the English market, especially if shipped in the spring." ^ The Mann apple, suggested as a hardy apple by Mr. Beadle, is also classed among "the most esteemed varieties" by Mr. Morris. Of Norton's Melon Mr. Beadle says :— "For early winter Norton's Melon is a good dessert apple, but it is not very abundant." STANDARD WINTER VARIETIES. Up to this point we have discovered in the list thus rapidly glanced over abundant materials for apple growing on a large and profitable scale, but we have not yet touched the heart and foundation of this branch of industry, so far as winter apples are concerned. Under the head of established standard varietiiis ot winter apples, we class the following :— Northern Spy, Ribston Pippin, Baldwin, Red Canada, Rhode Isknd Greening, Ben Davis, Swayzie Pomme Grise, Fanieuse, Yellow Bellflower. ^.'•xv^uv, iOLUAlU V^lCClillJ ^sopus Spitzenberg, Golden Russett, Roxbury Russett, King of Tomkins (;ounty, Wagener, Newtown Pippin, Talman's Sweet, Grimes' Golden. We shall examine the claims to merit on economical grounds of these apples in the order in which they are above mentioned. Mr. Beadle says of the Northern Spy ; — CULTIVATION OF THE APFLE. ie for cooking pur- ft •e the Commigsion rience, "the best 3, is also classed t very abundant." these apples in "The Northern Spy in nuite late (an beam— about ten yearn I nhoul(l Hay,' bearer) apd attainn considerable eize before it Conceding its good Iteeping (jualities, Mr. Beadle says further :— "The Northen-n Spy i« a very fruitful tree, when it beKing to bear, but I don't know that it compenHateH by its fruitfulneBs for the time re(|uir«.l to briuK it to maturity, an.l the great care required in order that it may pro.luce perf«ct fruit. It in a very lonif- ivc.l tree not- withHtandmffthat tiHHoproHHc. • The Northern Hpy. fron? the C Lit ft^so late in coining to bear, and aim, that it require* ho much care after it doen bear, hw. not attained a very hitfh position amon« our orchardistn. I only know of one orchar.l de-oted to the Northern J?py and that « in the County of Halton. "^In it there are eeve a hundre trees of that variety When ,t hrnt came into beariuR I used to hear a k<.o<1 deal about it Mr Sprumer owue.l it then, and used to bring Hamj.les to our meeting^, but I have heard nothing of hm Buccess for the last few years. S,mkinK from recoUeciion of my last conver- Hat.on with him he was meetiuK with the difficulty 1 have spoken of-that there woh such a tendency towards bearing urge cn.pH, the labour <.f thinning out was very large ; and unless you can get well developed specimens they are useless." y - H" > Mr. Pempsey says of an orchard in his neighbourhood where the trees are of this variety : — "I don't know the age of the trees, but they have been negieoted. The orchard produces from three to SIX barrels per annum per tree." »•« i>i"oui-eN Mr. Dempsey also speaks highly of the Spy both as a shipper and keeper Mr Arnold pays a tribute to the qualities <.f the Spy as an apple in demand for both home and foreign markets, but places it lower than some others in commercial value for shying. He also testifies to its good keeping qualities. " If the skin is not bruised, he says, " it will keep till May." Mr. Allan, of Goderich, says : — "The Northern Spy is rated No. 1 with us. . . . Choice Northern Spy and Rhode Island Greening apples always command the highest price. . . . For the home market the Northern Spy the Rhode Island Greening,\nd the Baldwin, are the mosrasked for None of our storekeepers think of keeping any others than these and the Fameuse. For shipping, the N.,rthern Spy comes hrst again. They are a little tender-skinned, but when properly packed they carry well." ^ Mr. Allan, further states that a quantity of Northern Spy apples formed part of a shipment to England m 1879, and the purchaser asks for a larger shipment at advanced figures this year. Mr. Dougall, of Windsor, after speaking of the Northern Spy as a good dessert HrppiCj Sciys I — ' "-The Northern Spy is very long in coming into bearing except in warm, gravelly soil. When It does come in it is a very good bearing apple, although it is Tpt to have a great ma v small, worthless apples on the tree." of » c a gicai, mdny Its tardiness in maturing is referred to by Mr. Toll, from Kent, who says :— " We cultivate the Northern Spy and we find it to l,e a very good apple, but it is a long fifTcfer^eal^.dd.''''' '*'■'"' ^"^ "°* ^'«'° *° ^^^' paying crops until they are about Mr. Caldwell, of Waterloo, also refers to this unfavourable characteristic, but says : — ' "The apple that succeeds best with us is, I think, the Northern Spy, for a winter apple Those persons who go into fruit growing for shipment consider it the leading apple for their purpose The only objection to it, is that it is long in bearing ; but it is such a va uable tree and such a long and steady bearer, that it is preferred, and there is money in it." To its value for shipping, Messrs. Leslie, Roy, Hinman and Chaplin also testify, as well as others Summing up its merits, and demerits or drawbacks, they may be briefly stated as follows :— ' The Spy is an excellent fruit, keeping well, always in good demand at home, and bringing generally, if not invariably, the highest price of any apple, but a few exceptional varieties, in the foreign market. The tree is a most prolific, recmlar and enduring bearer. But it does not bear, as a rule, until ten years of affe an,i dues not come, until some four or five years subsequently, into full bearing ' Its very productiveness is a source of trouble, for, unless well thinned out, many'^of the Pf- se ONTARIO AOHWULTURAL dOMMISSWif. fi S: J::^;" ""' -^'»"-;"-l. f- i>.oki„g. tho ,kin i. tender, demanding Of tho Haldwin, Mr. Headlo say. :-_ 3S r'"^'^''^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ •"'^'^: T'^' -»-'<« •" our pl»nte(l than any other variety." '""^ ihouldern above all the rent, and in iii.,re mJ: w!r;it:'t"j'r;s'i,':;z'" '" ™'- - • ■'■' "" ».•."»■ Mr. Ihill writes respectiiij^ it : * 1 1 I • ^'* "" *^e '-^'f' "f Noveinher 4 250 wlr» n i ? • ** ""^"' * '"' "' '♦.WW barrels Hold recorded. "^ "^''"^ «^«»T other authority whose evi.lence is for IXt'toi""' '''■"""'^ '^I'^^^-" *^' »>« the closest con.petitor of the Baldwin wouid\^3tp'rtrE«rrpt"^u?ti^ti"ti.: : :•"- "^^p^^^- \p- ^-i-. -d says :— '^ ^*'' °"^' instituting a -omparison with other sorts, he appaK„r,^o;:Stt?;n"at^^^ *^« --try generally, the best cooking ^io^^M7rliZ::;yV.:'^'' '''"'' ^«^«" *^' >* - - «-d demand for expor^. kFT^^^^^^^^^ -.and the highest Green Newtown Pippin are readily ,,3^86^ .T^ hill •'^"'^.^> ^K"!''^ ^"•''"•l Greening and Rhode''l!:f'*^ f ower«'Bhipped an S.JfcS fpp leB Xear'wr ^'^T ^r- *" ^^"'^ <'"« Rhode Island G.eening. he could procure, in pXence tfot her sorts'' ""^ ^'""'^ ^"'" *" *h« is ^^^^^^^^C'l^^^^^^^^ apple lis. But it Mr. Caldwell, of Waterloo in w h '"'''^*.*" "^ his foreign market, winter apples, goes o^^o sty :- "^'"''" '^^^ ^'"^^^^ ^P^ '« fi"t of all It is both a fine dessert .ppuS:r>,?C.pS' "iS-i- SL°l-S";i?^i"^' '" ""-■ Beadlo. He .peak,, it S be rTcol eoteTi'^T".?'''"''.''' "'«> "'"•» "f Mr nurseryman rather than a„ orohardLt aSrom V'™f™'ly '"dependent critic, a> a :i:.tai^:^t^Hicai'rrc'£!SS*?i^^^^^^ FromTr%afZll^%t™f '' f ""',•'''''' '''-I--"- -tins quality ■• appreciated ap,Je fn the Bri "hTaklr ll?""'!:''' l'?!' ^'"P"' » elea-lf « "ell ne«,, Mr. Hinman place," hetiXh.Ki„'W' "?''' ?!"'"« " "<«"' '" ^rd ' P.pp.n a. a shipping apple. Mr" R*' ^^^ilr)?',.'^"^:'^''^^ " P '"? indor, doniftiiding (»»t esteemed In our i« rsMt, »nd Is more "The Baldwin apple. purposoa. ities. the best reiiulta to •l.ftOO harrelH, sold )ther lot of 4,259, to, the Baldwin (lose eviduncu is ' of the Baldwin oor keeper, and (Jther sorts, he the best cooking nd for exporta- mnd the highe»t id Greening and irm, to whom one sking for all the e list. But it is first of all th a fine desHert ng qualities of I those of Mr. jnt critic, as a t where choice t(v pack well , its demerits •at in the pre- :e, he admits, [uality. " learly a well iit for hardi- the Holland n the Perth CULTIVATION OF THK APPLE. 87 The Ainoncan (ioldori Jtusset is placed, by Mr. Headio, socon.l ,.nlv to the Balcw.n as a useful apple for either honu, use or export, but . s a „ atter of chcdco he classes ,t as a dessert apple, - the purpo.e for which it is chiefly su ted -a iX Hay behind both the .IJsopu, Spitzenbeix and the 8way/.io Pu.mne Gr ie H commende,! by Mr Den.psey both as a hardy apple and i «oodZeper Takinu U atrlomilllVen'se""^^ ""'''^'"'^- ''' '"^"^*'^'"" " ^ ^'j>'« "^ «-^ 'l-tes^;! The Uoxbury Uirnsot is a popular apj.lo. and is said to be the " l.muost keor^in./ nrobably stands hrst. Its modest exterior, occasionally, and on y where tltTsun has had full f,.rco, exh.bitmg a li.tle colour, may have something to do w h the want of ai>preciatu.n m its own c<.untry by which it has hitherto suH-.r«.l Llil Europe its merits are well known. Mr Leslie says of^t :- ' ^"* '" Garden market, 'fhe trVe Th a^exce len Sw^r a^^^ ^^"" '* '" ^'"^«"t fruit a year when in full LearhC S HwaS P™ C^h^ h TmaU tT ^^T ''.1"?'"/'^ deHHert purpone^. In my opinion it iH the be^ntdeSar.pleTn he world ThnnHH ?' V.'^' It 18 a i)erfect cinnamon nusset, and where exnoHHfl f,, til u.. , f ,1; ^"""- ' "« '.■^"'•^ ih pretty Thone HpecimenH grown on th^ aSt;aS:"of*th'e trThaverc'l.h,^ "^^'T^' is <.ne of the very hardiest, and in view of the demand for thr/r it if \. n. V u "u*""^® might turn w th good nroMnect of hiw<-phh t/ 1. .w.V 1 1 "^"f^ .""''• »t la one to which we h J been grown a longS it hi not g t int o'Xil 'flL'lIt .'n' S f r''""' ' *''"^'*<^ '' '''^"''•vbo:e'::irtr "'';'' the Ni ^ and ^c. iltilaS' o^ L^exrenTK ''' " ^ place ihtX^^Jli^lVmme'GHHl^"'^'^ "'""''''' '"' "^ ''««««'•' ^^^'<' -y- Mr'tadle. "I Beadle' '^'"''"''"^' '" ^"""^ ^^^'^^' " "''""'^ universally grown, and, says Mr. ^^^t:i?ZlTir^^^^^^^ but during the cannot get it to market." ^ ^ ' cannot do anything with it- It has been sometimes shipped as an early winter or late fall apple, but it is to reprtiot' "" " '"' ''"''"'' * '''' *'""^"^' '-^"'^ ''' ^^-'^i^-^. it diiefly owes its The Yellow Bellf.ower comes in for a less frequent share of notice than manv of Its c.ntemporancs, although well spoken of when mentioned. Mr Roy saT-^ " In the Georgian Bay district I think there must have been from S OOf) fn 4 nnn K 1 Of the King of Tomkins County, Mr. Beadle speaks with some reserve- but Mr. Hinman, of Grafton, ranks it ahead of the JE^ma Si.itzenber"anfl thJ Rb 1 Ishuul Greening as a good sliipping apple. It is onJ of the choi^^lHe ies setcted by Mr. Morns, of FonthiU, on which to establish a reputation in the Xit ish market In several reports it is mentioned as an apple that is successfully cultivatTand well appreciated by the home consumers. siuuy cuimatea and Of the Wagener, Mr. Beadle speaks as follows :~ half'lf^1.e"wlVtlT"t;f:rast";"hrv:tfoi^re'.^ '"Tf' ^"^' ™?* ^« ^^^ '" t^e first section of the country, f have conversed ^^ ^„ ""^ ^T ^'^''y l*r««Iy P'anted in our it ; but I find that aLr alAt%7in.t;"ke:;1o;^;\tur^^ mariti;!, apple, particularly for sentiintr lonTf f)i.,for,^.>.. " r* " "iT'i -^•t^nt, a:tri- as a market or otheL near by.C itToKi^t^rd'acroL^^ '^' '^^ ^«-« r 98 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. Mr. Cady saya of it :— ver;2ta^e%Srifhi?5;^^^^^^^^ woody-fibred frui, not an^^te. which see.s to conflict .ore diS^wTh'^. S^:"^. 'T. Canadian apple. When itTS and well £.?own ".^"/'^^^^ than any other Americau or The Newtown Pippin has been sent fr.,mth/Hr? .' °t* beautiful golden colour the owner of one of tL orcSs sen k hi< tv,!^^ " I" ^,"°'*"'i ^^^ "^^^Y years. Mr. Pell, greatest care, rolling ear3intLei,lLr\"T ^f?"^!*"^" .«« P^°k« them with th^ He has succeeded in°getti„gT^ a repSionrhiTapff '""^ '^'"^ '" '™"" ^'^^'^ ?*'='''«««• prob'bV^^Stta^ft&drw^^^^^^^^^ and shipping it in a tasteful manner has, has been assumed for other apoles and P^tW ?f= 7 ^/- A'^'^oj^' that its name identity lost. Mr. Arnold says^C-' ^'' '*' reputation diminished or its Eng'llIS'f,;?^:^ rei"."rnth™Tsrpfi;ot'^^^^^^^^^ ^°"« ""\"^ ^-h'- - which is the Newtown Pippin. Many a?e ^hTr.JfV^f^ f""^ i"^" ?"''" ^ho agree as to nothing but Greenings, an^d^ou wiKThelrtn^LlfaTaIl"ot^L^^^^^^^ ^^'^'^ ^'« Mr. Ball says of this apple :— we L^ve t:?f 'f^JlS&^Xi; h SKow*n':ut'^"*.rr 'V^« ^"^^^^'^ --ket, vet it worthy of cultivation for exportation/' ^^ sufficiently free from blemishes to render Arn'oM s!j^st it^.^£^" " '"^ ^'^ ^*^"'^'"°" ^--"*« -^^^ the English public. Mr. theZ'E?SrEnSiTmir aid most ShSe^n^'^.^ 1 ?.^ ^"?^'^^' e? '* ^'^ a favourite apple enjoys rather'a false p.^ukrhy in those coun Was i"t is Jof 'fi ""f)'"^ ^'^^ ^*- ^ ^^^'^k it of course be a profitable-apple here f we had a market i Fnl?,,..)''" "w' ^'''''''- /' ^^^^ Eibstons than they can in En-land owin "tn m,^?!^, • u ?. "'V ^® '''''" S^ow far better the Ribston Pippin is a shy blearer tSh no^hint.T * •'«"«•: ^'""'^te. In some localities half-dozen Ribs^'on Pippins'beS, buTfliVaSe yo'uShres.'' " '""""• ' "^^^^ ^"'"^ Mr. Allan, of Goderich, says of it :— T^^^^P^^'^i^lI^^t;^Vl^ Hibston Pippin, in England, and it goes along with others to that country." ^'^ ^'°'"'''''" ^PP^« He further remarks : — wen^TKo^famiryS'- "°'''^' ^'" ^^^'^ "^' '^'^'^ ^« *'""«''^- '* * I-^fit^ble variety. It is says^-^'"''"" ™''^'' some practical suggestions with respect to this apple.' He in E5a;i;f^rs^t"^,tTi?lSi;rref^1 IZlZT-'^'V''' ^'YT ^'^P'"" '* -"« Ribston Pippins to Engknd. That variety is not vln I ^'"'V'" '^""^ "^ shipp.ni? a barrel of lantic, Iam%otawar'ethatithaf.o;re':.*ftn^SS this side of the At- hav« It, sent there in season it mustbe shinnp^l W ufl tvT ' "'.^"y/ana- In onler to CULTIVATION OF THE APPLE. 39 oody-fibred fruit, not lish public. Mr. able variety. It is this apple. * He The Red Canada is spoken of by Mr. Dougall as " a fine apple, but slow in grow- ing. It IS as a dessert apple Mr. Dougall chiefly commends it. Mr. Cadv who says It IS known m Michigan as Steele's Red Winter, and in Massachusetts as the Old Non-Such, gives it credit for good keeping qualities. Mr. Dempsey confirms this and also mentions it as one of the apples most in demand for export Ihe same gentleman " knows no apple to compare with the Ben Davis as a profit- able market apple, if grown upon favourable localities and soil." For retailinff in Belleville, he says, it brings the highest price of any apple we have " Mr. Beaf^le says of it :— as lItfr£rJ^Zlts^^ ^i^ ;eil.'''""'^' *'"' *'^ ^^" ^^^'« '''' ^ '^'^^ ^ ^1-"*^ Talman's Sweet, or Sweeting, is mentioned in the reports from three counties, Ihrea'stSn dScTs ' '''"' '"^"^ '''''■ ''' ^^^""^ ^^^^^^ *° ^« g^^*-* - Greft^BriTali' ^KtdlTays oHt': - " ^" ''''' "'^^^ *^ ^^""^^"'^ ^^^«"^ ^ firsl'of i^^erbt'^^a^riSxrelle;^^^ '^^" "^"- '' ^^ '" '""^ ^^^^ ^-'^•"- ^''-^ 'he Apropos of the shipping trade in apples, Mr. Ball remarks :— ''The Spy, Spitzenberg King of Tomkins County, or any good, sound varietv will sell preference being given to high-coloured varieties, othe^ qualities being equal. The AmLican GoWen Russet and Pomme Grise do well, but the Rox llusset should be\ept for spri^ shTp DATES OF BEARING AND MATURING. The periods from the graft occupied by some of the leading varieties of apples before bearmgh-uit and in coming to maturity, are, approximately, as follow :- Name. ThaWagener TliH Fameuse TheBahiwin... . TheK. I. Greening Grimes' GoUlen American Golden Russet... Roxbury Itusset Swayzie Pomme Grise Years At full before Matuiity. bearins. Years. 3-5 10 5-7 12 6-7 12 6—7 12 6-7 11—12 6-7 12—13 6-7 12—13 6—7 12—13 Name. Newtown Pippin Red Canadii Yellow Bellflower '.]] Ben Davis Talman's Sweet King of Tomkins County ^sopus Siiitzenberg Northern Spy Years At Full before Matiwity. bearing. Years. 6-7 12-13 6-7 12-13 6-7 12-13 6-8 12-13 6-8 12-13 7-8 12-13 8-9 14 10-11 15-16 CRAB APPLES. l^vc?!^^*'^'"!^!'^*''" °^ Crabs grow in every part of the Province and yield very laige crops^ At Arnprior, and in Muskoka, as well as in the front counties the ^heTh^lV' 'r'"'^f*' T.^^""*^^^^^ Beauty were found to be equairprolific The Siberian begins to yield fruit in four years after its removal from the nurserv and bears a profiiable crop in six. The others are also early bearers. """^''y' CULTIVATION OF APPLES— THE SOIL. now rtn'Sng. *'' '"''""' -^^ *" *'" '^^* "^*^"^« «^ ^^^-^^-g -PPle^ -iH The tre. may be suffered to begin its orchard life at four, in some cases fivp and in others three years from the graft. Some will in four years fiZ transplant' ng yield a fair average crop. "Very much will depend," remarks Mi Beadle on the way they are treated after planting in the orchrad " ' f? 40 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. would go on incre^inlf in valuJ:" °" favourable soil, properly drained, Mr. Uempsey remarks on the same point •— ever the apple tree has been olanLrUhlr! if fl • u ' °" ™""ife' white oak ridges, and wher- v.ri.tiL The d°Ie;;Lr»™i,t,i^thX, thi° ''«'fP"'"L'"«'.;'«?"J' '<•«'»" 'h« tend.; iairu^„tu^r^„riUd,|f'»iHS"'Y sand-particularly some varieties^' ' *'^'' '^° ""* ^°""^^ ^° ^«" *« "P«» tl'e apple growLg.'Y[hT;rft iTflorC^thaf ?f •" T^% 'I'-- ^^?"^"'^' "- *j^« b««* -ij f- we?l drained." I thinktoUL^^y^Tct fs'Se^E^t tl thSd'" ^""^°'^"*'^ ^"^""^ *« ^« Natural or artificial under-draining must therefore be considered the first con dition of successful and profitable apple culture. "m«rea me nrst con- Mr. Arnold says on the same subject •— • HEIGHT AND FORM OP TREES. "The best kind of a tree," says Mr. Leslie with a low stem, say about three feet high." ' Mr. David Caldwell, of Waterloo, says •- ' is a half standard, that is a tree Mr. Morris, of Fonthill, says on this point •— lid be a half standard, that If Cranch „f o"^ l''^;. dlVifhu'l':! ^'.1^ a t^ree feet years old, and what would be called 'half stand7r,1«"'"Tr,TrT'' i"'*""fS irees aoout three would be a half standard, that t Lnch n ' o" t^ ata het"ht^of thrl' T'^t ^^TJ*"^^ ^^^^ It is against nature to grow a tree with a ba^e s/pm Pvn,! ! l V 1. ^^ ^^"^ ^^""K ^^^ «''"^»"'l- to tnake the tree diseased If the limbs are aSed tshl.ip fh' T ^"'1 ^'ther ; it tends healthy and free from borers, and itSten. theTark I wnnft' f "?'' • k^ *r^ '' ^^^^^^^ know a tree will grow in proportion toXTownlsl't the' s"em' t£ sI r'teV'the^Tem'thJ faster the tree will grow. I have demonstrated this. Another adv^ntfreUthi. ft? *^^ can step into the tree and gather the fruit; and at the same Hmp if fV,t fi "f r , ' *t*' ^V" up you can work with a team as well as among tall stem trees. " "' '""''' ^'' '"■°"*''^* ASPECT — WINDBREAKS. All the authorities agree that, for an apple orchard, a southerly asnect is desirable and that where no natural protection exists, the orchard sCld be beauty annually recurring danger, and add much to its IN. . Given an orchard lid be the result from nd Io98. Just for the it an orchard on unfa- loil, properly drained, 1 any other soil. My of the forest. There oak ridges, and wher- )n similar soil, though told would not bring ■ forty years, and had b oflF and cultivated it -dy varieties that will h early in the season, y to grow the tender wood ripens early in aries in spots. Some py is ilourishing, are slightly heavier soil, h so well as upon the ^ '_' is the best soil for iciently porous to be ered the first con- . clay nor too light a sd. As to the differ- y soil call everybody t will not bake like lard, that is a tree le with a high stem, BF the tree with your ; be able to do if the ig trees about three th a three feet stem it from the ground, d weather ; it tends the tree is always 'ith a low trunk. I lorter the stem the :,'e is this, that you 3t limbs are brought nther'ly aspect is rchard should be h will at one and i add much to its CULTIVATION OF THE APPLE. 41 Mr. Dougall says on this point :— tree^cL m^^rotf thervfryV'et In thT^iT^ 'Z' '''' P'"/-«- "^ "-hards. Deciduous a row of trees would be^eryLue use f Z iT'v,^"''*"'^ ?^ *he absence of leave.. I thh^^k and they should be planted LEhesX from'wh LhYhe'coldL^' ^'T' '''''''' -me lid ? gets cleared up trees are needed more and T^rTeverv vear T„7°''' '"'??*'• /' *he countr^ raise apples and pears well, before the couXy wis cfeared off h,,^ ."I"" ?''"'''1^ *hey used to of trees m such a shape a ons concession linp« fW fi • j ' °"* *hey have left wide strim It would through a large funnel? iriwereToinlU'' '^'^'^ TT^' ^^rough between them L trees the first thing ,m all sides except, perhfpsTeru'thri^^ I would plant a beU o .s md.spensable unless in parts of th^ co^untTwh^VtS-r pTe't^ol wS!'- ' ''^'"'^ ''''' PLANTING OUT. »ome ^teJ;rr';;.f£ti.X.^ ^ "'•"'»" """y fee. apart ; orc£l^ri„rer4?J'S;;;4\*l/ - fav„„„b,„, ^.„y earher in maturing, and much shorter E V^f Tu ^ f ^ ^^^^^' *'^« P^ach being should be planted. witnesses as to the distance apart at which apple trees CULTIVATION OF SOIL. the grass by grazing, it would require to be broken „n «nn! • ? ^' "."^ ^*'"« obtaine.t from know that i should attempt to 1 it I thiak I should ?.f ?r"^ and re-seeded, but I don" cultivating the ground before seeding it down I shnnl?) Iti *he grass take care of itself. In or hoed crops of any kind. I have grown San corn^^.*"* '* with potatoes, beans, beet.? have food enough for the trees and for the corn too TJL^°'■°^*'■'*•,'^"' ^ *"<'k good care to Mr. Dempsey, on the other hand, says :- being^seed^ldowr''^"^ """'^^^^ have observed have been cultivated constantlv witho . the roots of theTre'es are' not disturbeVft ''Virr"^^'"*-!^''"'"^^*^^' h'^^ to be encouraged to the surfac" S.<5iin. -'eertZ^^^^^^^ '"" *" ''l^ 'he small roots seem the growth of the tree, but this is rendefeSi^ tl^qurstt:^ stance's.^ He sa^s:- ^''^^^ ' discretionary" policy, varying somewhat with circum- Z^f^^^'^^^^^^^^^^^^^ — sense and i„dg- when It IS growing too slow I immediatelv di^ ,> nrf / ^ *'?'' ^rsias to grow around, and ft"' f, "T.°^'=^*^*^ without ke^ph f tfc grou J cultir^^^l '' T'"" ^ «'"'"Jd be sorry to After that the treatment would dino^ri ..if grouim cultivated for four or f^ve years at Ipaor ness of the soil, how soonTwould fett ^^^ '"""^ ^ ^epth, strenfth, and ^1 permanent gra«. for a dry season roies delth tomZT'?' . ^ ^""T '^^ '""^harc! remaining in n summer time when tliey shoud grow and when fflfi *''^?'' because they cease growin? too late in the fall for the Lod to riferand1he\^?este badly i^u^ *'^^ "^' '^ ^^'^ Mr. Allan, of Goderich, says:— ^^^a:i^^^:^^^^Z^,^ It!'^ ?"^-heat or other grain, and it is ■^^ u-orked arouad the trees and manure auDed In llh»V.V'.5'°'"^^- m^'*^" 'hen, the soil can * ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. 'f iM Mr. Roy saya : — "■ " I prefer to cultivate the ground of the orchard until the trees are seven or eight years of age, and then you may seed it down. After trees have reached that age I would not do much at cultivation. I don't see how you can cultivate after the trees are eight years old as they begin to grow close together. I planted my trees eighteen years ago thirty feet apart, and they are always meeting. It is almost impossible to cultivate when trees meet." Mr. Dempsey also adds the following item of information to his remarks, already quoted : — "A gentleman of my acquaintance, Mr. John V. Williams, has adopted a system of culti- vation, which I think is worthy of notice. He cii oivates in the spring until about this season (June), ploughs his land twice and sows it with oats ; when they are about four or five inches high he buys a lot of sheep, turns them on the land, they live on growing oats during the sum- mer, iiianuring the Imd, lyi"g under the shade of the trees, and devouring fallen fruit. The sheep do not do any injury, and his orchards are flourshing under that system. Young trees might be injured, perhaps, but this was an old orchard of rough bark trees." All the witnesses agree in advocating the careful cultivation of the orchard for some years, and most of them that nothing more exhausting or more closely grown than a hoed crop should be planted. " Common sense and judgment," as Mr. Ar- nold says, must be the guides of the orchardist after the trees have attainea a ma- ture growth. The use of orchard ground for sheep pasture, a green crop being sown annually, has the threefold value of being a source of cultivation, economy and recuperation. But it is obvious that only into an old orchard would the intro- duction of sheep be possible. The remark made conversatio Uy by one of the wit- nesses in this department of inquiry, to the eSect that he thought " one crop at a time was all anybody had a right to expect from his land " had a good deal of force in it. The object of the orchardist should be, before overything, to make the orchard a success in itself, and any other crop should be subsidiary to that grand object. Nig^ardlint- ;^s and a false economy are as fatal to really successful fruit growing as anything else. THE SHIPPING TRADE IN APPLES. The shipping trade in apples, particularly to Great Britain, has rapidly grown, in the last ten or eleven years, to dimensionF of considerable importance. The Trade and Navigation returns, unfortunately, < > not discriminate between varieties of fruits, the general heading "Green Fruits, in the tables of exports, covering green fruits of all classes. But it may be taken h>v granted that the terms " apples " and " green fruits " are in this case nearly identical, for the amount of green fruits, other than apples, exported is insignificant. A reference to the Trade and Naviga- tion returns shows what, in the period above mentioned, the progress in this direc- tion has been. In 1868-9 the total exports of gre en fruits from Canada to all countries, was but f 30, 150 in value. To that volume of exports, Ontario contributed $11,948 all to the States, and Quebec, nominally, $11,686, of which $3,654 went to Great Britain and $1,703 to the States, the baliince being shipped to other countries. The term " nominally" is used in connection with exports from the Province of Quebec, because it is too obvious a fact to be di&puted, that, while a large portion of all the products of Ontario are shipped from, and entered as shipped from, Montreal or Quebec, in the case of fruit, Ontario is practically the one fruit growing and export- ing Province of the Do.ninion. In 1879-80 the total exports of green fruits from Canada were in value $173,870, of which $140,231 went to Great Britain, and $22,202 to the States. In 1879-80 the exports of green fruits were in value no less than $364.,390, or just about iwelve times the amouat of the exports in 1868-9. Of the total volume in 1879-80, $303,313 went to Great Britain, and $50,404 to the States. The exports credited to Ontario and Quebec in 1879-80 amount to ^288, 733, but as the exportation of apples is proceeding late in the year, or even through the whole winter, a considerable amount finds its outlet by way of Halifax, some of which may be credited in the returns to Nova Scotia, although really from Ontario. Only by the aid of properly collected annual statistics can full justice be done to the Province of Ontario in this respect. 1 ^N. even or eight years of ! I would not (lo much ight years old as they thirty feet apart, and es meet." lis remarks, already )ted a system of culti- iitil about this season nut four or five inches ; oats during the sum- ing fallen fruit. The system. Young trees jes." 1 of the orchard for more closely grown gment," as Mr. Ar- lave attainea a ma- 1 green crop being iltivation, economy rd would the intro- y by one of the wit- ight "one crop at a a good deal of force hing, to make the iiary to that grand lly successful fruit has rapidly grown, I importance. The te between varieties f exports, covering the terms "apples" lunt of green fruits. Trade and Naviga- agress in this direc- ada to all countries, !ontributed $11,948 ,654 went to Great her countries. The Province of Quebec, e portion of all the from, Montreal or [rowing and export- f green fruits from Jritain, and $22,202 value no less than in 1868-9. Of the 0,404 to the States, to «288,733, but as through the whole "ax, some of which ally from Ontario, stice be done to the n I CULTIVATION OF THE APPLE. 43 .ri?/,«';Xwri '"""'• *• '^l' """» '«"»>- already been quoted from " The apple trade with the old country is fasf 9Bffi;«„ a years ago it was in its infancy. In 1870 onlv •' 000 ln!l ? ? .""^*, Pe^anent basis. Ten that year averaged $7.60 per barrel gross. Shj^Sat ti^l^T"* *" P^l^^r^, and a lot I sen" years each year has doufted the export^tionrof the nLTt 'L Trl^^^J^^^P^^ ' ^^"^ ««^e'-''* ^'^^Pa:s";SVhXyrie?uri was. So that orices will i..^V,„ .•!:!^"A'*fr*^«' ^"4 '« not so „.„.„ » soecuiation as it once a sound, legitmate side has grown, until theylre ilo^rCra^re^sltras our wh"^'? *-te for a'p/les froTthi It has now assumed the aspect of a reguUr tr^de an f it nnf J^'^K''"'' ^'^^ ' ^""^ *his reason was. So that prices will not run into extremes as n fort ' ^"^'^ » speculation as it once trade has been established governed like all nth ^r, l^ luT'' •^^*"' ''"* » s""nd, legitmate English and Continental apples do nofinflLnce the^nrice o^ "^ '"^^^^ """^ '^^'^^^d The then, almost entirely out of the mnrl^Bf ." „n" ul .^^P""".^. "^ "ur aPP es, as we have driven n, I — 1 ""v"V"="'"" aj'pjes ao not them almost entirely out of the markpt in ',rn"i-r 1"° '^'":"'. "* """■ aPP'es, as we have driven the local demands. The magnitud^of tL ?rade hL^r a'''^'' \^.' ^°«*1 ^"'it only supplyS carnage of it, and better ratts for shlpers have been 'if. our ship owners to compete for^h? j. has been developed during the pasTseS S^th^M.^*'"^''}^"" yf^""" ^"otner feature I wiihourown in the large centrL of trrde!'irke ToSnto 3^^ ?"'r ^^^^^ competed I very few have visited the fruit districts of Ontario for t^o Montreal, while comparatively I ring to have growers pack and ship t^ir own ft?ii^. '° ^"""P"'' °* ^"^'"^ orchard, prefe^ I ^^^dle, in his evidence referring to the same point, says •- .. There is no reason whatever why Canada shnnl^ k , ^ \ to any country I am acquainted wi^h.^ We have betlli'! second as an apple growing country , can possibly growthere. I would give the preference to ^-^ ^ ^^ ^^"^ '" *^"^^*"^ °' as an apple growing country, having regard alootoTv,! ^^"^<^* m.comparison with England covelrtre^Tp'^e'hrwSl S^lhfhthTst''^^ ''' ^f^'T'^ '^ P-^-*-" or dis- our trade we must rely on such sipTe varietL'ar''''b^^' ^^""^^ . ^^^ *^« bulk of are always people in Great Britain So wTnavZ'" ^'' "ot.ced above, but there tionally choice and excellent or attric tvlly KenSd H f^' ^' ""^'^^ '' ^^^^^P" an apple and its presentation to the columer in the mS ^^ f.'-oductaon of such for .he „pu«i„„ „, «.„„e>,.s":s£ pZti: i^ife^Ve i:^°-;s^ PICKING AND PACKING .e ectthe fruit, rejecting every one that is uSer Srsn^^^^^^^ ^^' ',"i"^ ' '«* the packers let the fruit be of a fair uniform size, as it will not nav ?o « A T^™'^' "^ ^^^'^rmed in any way ; eign market. Don't be tempted to ship medium ^nw \ ""^ ^^f" !" ^"^ "^^er shape to a for- medium-sized in barrels by theniLl e' Sthp „nnl T ""^.^^ '» ^^^ '^^^ b«*rrel. ShTp thr(,w them the whole length «f the arm iS tt bale/rTl.*'^'^''''^ ' \^^ '^'"^ down, don't other .-empty them carefully upon the taKr .ewf ° ^''f U''^ ^^'H cattle against each medium by themselves, and the culls by themselves '•" ' ^""^ *^' ^^■"^^ ^^ themselves , the Mr Beadle says in connection with tlie same matter :- care is t'^e'n7:tli?t i'%TmSralSyPts7 ^^I^] ""^-'r^^ ^-^et, and unless that and selected with care.^ In the first place von Zh ^ Th^''''^ reason-they were Tt packed '^'''TTn P'^"! «^y^ell grown I doit illfrf^ ""^'^L, all we l!lrow„ are the ful y developed size of that variety Th^n ^hev ^ ^Tu ^I ''*"7 '"«*"«' ^^^ that the? as cuts or bruises, spots or scabs. They mn/t b? nfe'"'* ^f ff'^ ^''"'n imperfections, such put into the barrel with care, gently shaken then^Zh «T^""y. "«* handled roughly, but on they should be pressed a li'ttl UaS!"e^« 'L 4,t H,'' ■^""' ^^^^^en the top fs" put you must wrap each apple in ti^l^^^S^ll^J^Jl^XS g^^r^'S^^I wr 44 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. 1 i IP I ^}?hT} 1 I'^P®'"' ?«■««! them down a little, and, perhaps instead of rounding the top up w th apples, put in a quantity of some soft material. Sonfe recommend packi"iS with bu "k^ wheat chaff but anything will do that will keep the apples from shaking whenX barrels are ^.r the trouble. •^P^'''^"*"P'" ^'^'^ ^^^ command L' much higher prlcrthat will ^^^^^^^^^^^ Mr. Ball too writes : — the'fac."t '&!,"f„!,^Jir i*i"' '"■ *I!^ "^^^"^ ^^''' °"'y ?''"^ *'^''t ^^^>-el« «hculd be used, from the fact, that no matter how much you may sweat apples, the process of evaporation sti Igoes on unless the air in the barrels is saturated with moisture. And the escape of this moisture 8 the cause of so manv ' slacks ' that often so sadly reduce the proceeds of the lot In ""eSg let the apples in the barrel be of a uniform quality throughout, and the whof; contents be fairly represented by the top layer. Facing the bWl is so generally doiTe hit not to do t wou d seem to indicate carelessness or want of experience in putting up fruit but shoddanv ^z:^£::^ii^!rS^^-^''^ii;S' ' '■'^-^'^ -f thim^itUii^^Sriiis ^:j^&^^!^i;tL: tvJS«rg:^.ftk?;::,KKKr any imperfect fruit, as the best so. vill sometimes let a bad on. sWrnVfilUo about the top o the barrel, but do not round or heap it up, pr.ss the head in, wh ch will contract thl barrel about one and one half inches and if every apple h^xs found its bed by thorough shaking Wr«t7'fi.Y'i^ '""/'f 'i'* '^^■'l ^ r"1 .P'«°« "^ ^""^- The hoops should be nailed before the be lined ' ''°'"*' '''""^'^ ^'"'^^''^' '^"^ '^°"^^' ^^ ^'''^^'^ ">«■ The heads should " ^^ ^l a Sreat mistake to fill the barrel so full, or rather to heap it so high that the annles are crushed in putting the head in. In this case the te.xture of the flesMs broken anlthe fruit will either dry or rot, producing a shrinkage that will cause the apples to rattre when the barrel IS moved. All such on landing are placelon the catalogue as ' slack'^nd on an average only bring about half price On the other hand, when the pressure is equalto the elStv of the apple, but not enough to break the flesh, a good tight packing is secured." ^'*'""'y scribes •—"^"' °^ ^°'*®"^^' recommends the Tomlinson barrel, which he thus de- , "It is made in the form of a cylinder, without any bulge in the centre ; it is cut in one piece from elm logs similar to the common cheese boxes, f he piece (or shaving) can be nut together double and joined at the sides by splice and nailed well. ^ The ebar^elsSe often used Wri ! r^'j'!^"''"''',-, /•* *^^*''^ ^"-^ l!""'^'" good-sized hoops could be placed upon whTch the &sebarr"els t\'^\'^^ "^T'""^' *^"« /'^^'P? *»>« body Sf the barrll from any pr ssure sort." ' manufactured in quantities fully as cheaply as the common CO-OPERATION IN SHIPPING APPLES. Already in Great Britain, Canadian apples, as we have seen, enjoy a good repu- tetion. But selfishness and greed will often put in peril the most promising trade lo guard against this some of our orchardists are adopting a co-operative method of guaranteenig their fruit to the consumer. Mr. John Graham thus descr os the object and plan of such an association in the Bay of Quinte district. He says :— fi JT'*^ ''^^P®°* *°.*i'^ object we had in view in forming a Fruit Shipping Company : in the friHt^inH ',r!irr'S*° ^'^P *^' ^T^^. ^^ "?"^ ""•^'•'^ ^^^PeHence in growing and shipping S^« Lr^f f„ , r'^r^ young orchards beginning to bear more fruit than we can profitably dispose of in our local markets, we expect, by careful picking, selecting, and packing to establish a character as fruitgrowers that will enable us to compete in the foveign mafkets with the best fruit growers of the continent. ""^n-cus "I might just say that our company has not existed long enough for me to say much from hLTSf ' ^"* f ""T^^r \'- ^^^^ ^■^'^^'^ «^^y H^' «*"*■ ^'^"^ ^hat few transactions we hav" ?K« J l!i ^P ^u ["'*• , ^" fh'.PP'ng it is required of each member that he puts his initials on the head of each barrel and his card inside. The commission merchant to whom we consign IB instructed to sell the fruit of each brand on it.s own merits and make his report rcording?y !o that each one receives his just due according to the value of his fruit. So you see that, as the buyers in a foreign market get accustomed to the marks, if we have a ' black sheep ' in the flock Sr Ji\!w,"t"f ^ T^^ ^'"'''" "\'*' ^"* ^« ^","°'^ '"*«"d to admit any person who has not first established a character as an honest, upright packer. By careful selection, and careful and honest packing, I do not see why we should not anticipate a bright future. " MARKET PRICES OF APPLES. The price of winter apples in Canada does not generally exceed from $1 to $1.50 per barrel ; about $1.25 is a fair average, but during the past season these figures ON. of rounding the top up 2nd packiii^' with buck- ing when the barrelH are price that will pay well els should be used, from of evaporation still goes I escape of this moisture of the lot. In selecting the whole contents be r done that not to do it p fruit ; but should any necessary, as the brand I one lialf-bushel, lesser king, looking sharp for slip in ; fill to about the i^hich will contract the id by thorough shaking, lid be nailed before the off. The heads should so high, that the apples flesh is broken and the pples to rattle when the lack,' and on an average 8 equal to the elasticity I secured." 3l, which he thus de- centre ; it is cut in one (or shaving) can be put its barrels are often used 3 placed upon which the •rel from any pressure. 3heaply as the common h enjoy a good repu- lost promising trade, p-operative method of nch an association in pping Company : in the growing and shipping ; than we can profitably cting, and packing, to in the foveign markets ir me to say much from iv transactions we have ; he puts his initials on it to whom we consign is report accordingly, so So you see that, as the lack sheep ' in the flock ny person who has not I selection, and careful t future." eed from $1 to $1.50 season these figures (CULTIVATION OF THE APPLE. 45 t':;' in'coCrnrSnntf 'on"rof 'ir'^ "^^'^^ '""^ Commissioners were sit- sixfy cents to persoL wCfound L ba ^oTs Ta disposing of his crop at boarding them while so engaged ^ P*''''^^ ^^^ ^^"^*' ^r. Hinman Mr. Ball says of the prices in Great Britain :— per barrel, and this will be about theUg^ tri'^^^'^^jl^^^^^^^^Z llZ "^^^^«' traii c^KdVlil LTe^relri^Svf'"^^ '''' '^^^"^^ ^« ^^^^d' t^e -Port A NEW DRYING PROCESS. ground o?FeTtoloc\:ZTtnT"\^sS If d^ ?t "" V^*^'? '^'' *° -* ^ *h« a system of bleaching and dryin" ap^p"es bvan t^T^^l ^"*' ^^' ^"'"^ *™« ?*«* tion in the States, and it is satfaftnCt f , a^ ifacial process has been in opera- Ontario. Mr. A. M SmUh of ir r{ft" '"''"' H ^''^""^ '^''^'^ introduced into apparatus used :- ' ^^^ ^-^^harmes, thus described the method and ^^fy^i^^^i'lM^^^r:^^':^^^^^^ «*• St»^-ines with a capacity not to the States. The apparatus used is called the ' sXn^ifi."?'*''',""' ""^. '« ^*n*J*. but the 'Alden,' althoi^-h the principle in the tS the same ?M-ai' ""''■ 'I?'} improvement on over a furnace, and on each sidl there is a beltiae likTa«Jii ^ upright frame or box built f'^'ilo^*' %^ subjected to the hot air of the furnace Th.fa^.''^"'"- ^^ ^>^ ^'■'"* "ses on to 170'. The fruit comes out all dried. Before beW nuf in f^P!l'*''"'!u'^1"'''«d '« ^'om 160" a process of bleaching to make it whifp Thof ^ ^f '" *,'^'' ^'^^^^ *he fru t goes throusfh wondered how the fruft was rendered so white The luitThl^ a secret p. ocessf and ^e on httle trays which are placed over buring^ulnhur inH a f*'^^^^ being put time. They have machinery to cut ud the frn ? Th. ^Wov/^A to remain there a short girls. _ One girl pares the fruit ; another^cuts i So sect oLPl""'? ^l ^""'^'^ ^^ ^»'«°» ^"d bad pieces. I think each tray is alh.wed to remah, ntlA^ ' Tu **''^' ""'^ *he bruises and five minutes. The bleaching is doneassoSras^he apple \s'cf,'?P''R^''''?u*'^'^'^'""^ Catharines factory to England.^ i have see^n^sevl^JoTlll^^'^^^^^^^^^^^ bushel! a^d^Sfpllfrg^^^^^^^^^^ .^^ out and prepared for drying for 6 cents a l^rt.Tt.^ L-'J^A"^ *he driidVuit, wl'l^h wet'£lt^r. 1^"'-.^.'^-,*. five bushels of -^ u. --,j-- ••■'" ""f'^. ii- wouia not pav It would to dry the second-class ones." ^owto^Si°Sofr:;p:l.t°t:l ■"" """""'o « "'^'-^ -'-^^', <^i' *» f„,. »u them. A„, k,„r.,".3 tet„ir;siTK«5ro\#' " "• -« PRESERVATION IN WINTER. of ft7i^:S?S;;^:nT^^^^^^ ThefmitwiUbeara few degrees the better. A celkr suitable for root, ! thermometer is to the freezing Ej for the apple. Some growers pr fS to keep t^Tapo/e? "' h 'l '^ "^"^"^^ ^^ '"™ of the separation of any spoiled frJt hn?fV ^^f ^ ^^^H^^' '" o^'^*"' ^o allow them in barrel.,. a» d«cri^"'i ^ - iJ' f^if ^''f "'"^* approved method i., t.n r..l wanted. The temperitu ^"akd di^'ieafS'th^^"'""' t^'"^ ^" '^^' ^""dition un«l to the preservatioLf the ?ruit S th s luntr^v ?fr ' ri,'"\^"«"^ hand, the sooner the fruit goes into ^nsSmp^tS the betS?' ^"''"' ^" *^« «*^- f!n 40 ONTARIO AQRIOULTURAL COMMISSION. PRUNINQ AKL TRAINING APPLE TREES. It 18 not possible in this report to go into all the minutia; of orchard management nor, having regard to the fact that these notes are intended for the farmer who may devote a iew acres to fruit-growing, and not for the professional culturist is it necessary to do so here But, on the subject of pruning and training apple trees, a little information will not be out of place. When asked what time he recom- mended for pruning his trees, a blunt spoken witness replied : " whenever the knife 18 sharp enough!" His meaning was explaned to be that, whenever the tree in appearance or vigour could be improved by the application of the knife, it should be applied Prune well but never severely," may be regarded as a safe maxim tor orchardists. As a rule, farm orchards are not pruned sufficiently, and the culti- vation of wood largely supplants that of fruit in many. Mr. Beadle's advice as to pruning is as follows : — " I like to prune an apple tree into a sort of inverted umbrella shape as nearly as may be, to the habits of the tree. _ Sometimes, however, I make a having some reference of course to „..v, „„u..,o u second Btory of limbs- a small set in the centre. I don't think," ho we ver,' that The form Ts so very essential so long as we keep the top sufficiently thinned out to allow a free circulation of air, and enough of the sun s warmth to come to the leaves. We shouLi guard against allowing the tree to become too dense so that the fruit is not sufficiently e.vposed to the sunlight and air- perhaps mostly the air, because I believe the fruit needs but little sunlight. The leaves are the organs that develop the sap both for the fruit and the tree. We should also guard against exposing the bare horizontal branches to the direct rays of the sun, because sometimes the heat is sufficient to scald the bark when so exposed. The only object I have in pruning an orchard tree is to get m a circulation of the air and let in the light. The cup form of tree 18 probably not so important here as in Great Britain. In Britain the sky is overcast much more m summer than with us, and there is proportionately less sunlight." Mr. Dempsey says : — "I have paid some attention to the form of apple trees. I have amused myself by training them in cordons, bv grafting the ends together, and also in pyiamids, and almost every other imaginable shape, by adopting the system of root pruning, but there is nothing pays so well f orm " culture as a nice round head, not thinned out too much. I try to get them in umbrella Mr. Morris, whose remarks, like those of the witnesses above quoted, wil^ apply to other fruit trees as well as the apple, says : — " I would train a tree to a flat, spreading head, and keep them from running up. Trv to make it spread out I would start three feet from the ground and allow it to branch, and turn my side branches up to allow of horse culture underneath ; above that the tree should spread out as much as possible. These remarks refer more to apple trees. I would not care to have pear trees with more then a foot or two of stem, and the same way with peach trees ouTa"stemTo"'"'^™*'"^ without any stem at all. I think cherries should be grown with- APPLE BLIGHT. Besides the dangers and injury to which the apple is subjected from birds and insects, to whose operations and habits a chapter will be specially devoted the apple blight is the only trouble that appears to affect this tree. The cause' and the nature of this disease except so far as the effects are concerned, are little understood. Mr Beadle says of it : — ' ' At times the apple trees suffer from a blight at the ends of the shoots. We had a period of It a few years ago, when it seemed to go like an epidemic through the district, blightina ff T^^u ^^^ twigs and blossoms just as they were forming into fruit. It very matlriallv affected the crop that vear, but it seems to have passed away. I noticed it this year again in the County of Welland around Druuimondville. But what appeared singular to me was that the trees which had no fruit upon them were almost exempt from it -or at least were affected very slightly in comparison with the others. The blight, however, has never been so serious as to make it a matter of alarm to the orchardists. " ' ' Sir. Dempsey speaks of a similar visitation which attacked the apples just forming, and caused them to turn black ; the blight was communicated to the pears and pear blight developed itself. ' ON. CULTIVATION OF THE PEAS. 47 'chard management, he farmer who may onal culturist is it raining apple trees, lat time he recom- whenever the knife lonever the tree in the knife, it should ed as a safe maxim jntly, and the culti- teadlo's advice as to ! as nearly as may be, i, however, I make a )r, that the form is so V a free circulation of iiard against allowing d to the sunlight and sunlight. The leaves Ve should also guard in, because sometimes ict I have in pruning The cup form of tree sky is overcast much ed myself by training id almost every other nothing pays so well get them in umbrella ibove quoted, wil^ running up. Try to ow it to branch, and that the tree should is. I would not care a.y with peach trees, hould be grown with- jected from birds specially devoted, tree. The cause, ncerned, are little ts. We had a period le district, blighting It very materially it this year again in ,'ular to me was that t least were affected lever been so serious 1 the apples just sated to the pears, Mr. Arnold speaks of the blight as "slight" in his district and "not sorious." Mr. Allan says : — " We have had some attacks of the blight, but they have been very slight. The Transcen- dant Crab and the Keswick Codlin are the varieties most subject to it with us, the trees, in some instances, being almost killed out in one season. Twig blight is very common this season on many varieties, but does not extend beyond the extreme ends of the new wood taking about six inches of that." ' It is evident that, in the opinion of these experienced culturists, the apple blight is no serious iuipediniant to successful apple growing. CULTIVATION OF THE PEAR. LIMITATIOf BY CLIMATE. The pear is not indigenous to Canada, and, whilst it attains in many cases a degree of excellence nearly approaching perfection, it can be successfully cultivated, as compared with the apple, over only a limited area. Its natural home must be found in the Niagara and South-western Peninsulas ; in the Huron fruit tract ; on the Georgian Bay ; in Prince Edward County, and along a somewhat narrow strip on the north shore of Lake Ontario, as far, perhaps, as the head of the Bay of Quinte. East or north of these places pears may be, and in a few cases are grown in tlie Province, but hardly for any marketable purposes. THE AMERICAN OR FIRE BLIGHT. Another check to pear culture is the disease known as the American or Fire Blight, to which the pears on this Continent are continually subject, and which is apparently, if not unknown, seldom observed in Europe. Its source or cause, as well as an eflective remedy, are as yet undiscovered, for it has baffled all the study, and efforts for its prevention or cure, of fruit culturists and naturalists, both in Canada and the United States. Mr. Beadle says of this unwelcome attendant upon pear culture in Ontario, and in fact the whole of this Continent :— x>i- '^^^m^^^ ^ disease here known in Europe as the American Blight, we call it the Fir* Bhght. The term has been so long used by fruit culturists that we know what we mean by It, but after all the word only exp-esses our ignorance, for we don't know what it is nor what causes it. It usually makes its appearance in July, and from that on to the end of the sum- mer. It sometimes first appears in the end shoots of a summer's growth. They are noticed to become black, and they dry up. Sometimes this blight will only extend to the growth of the present season ; at other times it will take two or threg years' growth ; occasionally it will appear on the trunk of the tree, and when it does it is usually death to the whole tree. lu ■ ■ T l'^'^^j^ ** * disease which appears on the quince and Siberian crab so analogous to the one I have described, that it seems to be one and the same disease. The disease is not wholly unknown in England and the Channel Islands, becaiise they speak of it there as the American blight, yet I presume it is seen there only to a limited extent. The liability to this blight seriously impairs the whole of America as a pear growing country. We are not particu- larly lial)le to it as a disease in Canada. My impression is that it has not appeared in the Channel Islands sufficiently to make it a source of serious trouble. As to districts near the se*, I am not sufficiently acquainted with them to give a deci led opinion ; bui I should say that, where the climate is such that pear trees can be grown, they would not be so likely to , be tr.mbled with the blight as we are, because I know that in the' vicinity of Boston there is a small secticm of country nearly or quite exempt from it. The climata of that section is more humid than ours, that is about the only difference." Mr. Dempsey stated that, for ten years, his trees had not been affected with the blight. Previously, for two years, they had been blighted. He suggests that having ceased to cultivate his pear orchard has had something to do with the ces- sation of the trouble. Mr. Arnold says of it : — "I have no theory as to the cause of the blight. T have soirietimes thought that blight was much like apoplexy in the animal. The blight generally comes on my orchard after a severe or sudden change, such as a heavy wind, vhich knocks the branches together and breaks the sap vessels. I am satisiied that high food is also one cause of it. Pears which ONTARIO AOIilCULTORAL COMMISSION. .Kht. and sometimes they do not. Home vi;ie^"l't^^:uhSS rkilled.^^^^ "'""""' ^" grow rich . blight very "om This view rather bears out Mr. Demnsev'a thfi.irv tKof *i,„ u * ... . with its stinmlaii,.g effects, has check Jtlfe tendency to bt " °"' Mr. Allan says of the blight :— ' ^ uHe of S knr".:L';,l»Led t^TZ'irnTv X -'*"'' '" «7"« f ctionB it i« very bad now. The . blight can be ,.reven te 1 Ty ulg linleed oU^ a walhTnY' '^T^'W^' "''^r«'^ ^V «'>">« ^^at an.T winter -liKht in Hummer"n 1 heavv in wU«r f '^ ^«11 mulching the trees in summer Several orchard, in which ikLt'i:^^^^:^^::^]^:--::^^ ^-J ajfectin^^the roots. than''dayfi„ro";ltr'"^ "^^'^^ P— "" » -«- conducive to blight point- S-«^;;°JT^"'^^"^''=*^"*"^"*-- »*- ^-m his long experience on this treelVff'^cIl^lihlS^mL^VnXrrrnd^tt'^^^^^ "^^1 /T«*""- "- escape the next. I used to think that smne v^rllli^! ^'"r* '« .attacked this year will after they were attacked. The' Laves and the vounrsh^'.! J*?? ■*»*•"«**»; but a few years off about a foot below the diseMed Dart Whin ^nn „ *^- *?* ^lack and they should be cut ing. where the trees are suSTng fC. bliX the smelM^ '"*" fu"."^^?'-^' [" *he early morn- Some of my varieties have suffered from near W!,»K(- t o^ • .. .. j . pear orchard, but there has been no Et in U vet For nr'.vLf- '""^^'^^^^^ >» » three-acre the trees with sulphur and liuie. We mix up a nailful o^f if^a 1 Vr'*"""? ^\*''« *''«^'"^ pound of sulphur, and apply that mixture L tL tr^ef A .nL ■/"'l,*'''"""'u'" ^^out a half! feours have suffered from ,li\rht Another San I Xnt tn nT 'tu^'^."-"'"^'"","^ "V "^'K^- to grow right from the ground I th nk one cL^e of Sinrv .!l*,''''^^--"''-*?.^""^.*'^«"'"b8 long naked stems. You often see a dead snot at the hn?^„,7 tVT'' '.' ".'"'"S^ ^^^"^ ^"^^ although mostly attributed to blight " ^ """^ °^ '^^ *'^""'^ '^"'^ *» that cause, ANCIENT SEEDLINGS. KlilVfv,* """""^ ^*''* that notwithstanding the usual susceptibility of the near to blight there are some pear trees that are never known to suffer from it These ar« old seedlings, planted, or the immediate progeny of trees nUn wi K?, i I\? ® missionaries, eiU.er in the French ^emL.frn:ELl':,''l^^^^^^^^ hshed nearly 200 years ago, or, as at Fitzroy Harlour on the Ottawl nn /vll f" of voyageurs of the same race. The origin^als came ;robablv fS France and the existing trees are not now recognized as of any known Eurooean vari J^ % of them are believed to be GO or from that to 100 yT^soUY^i^fhl-^ I *°'VI from 25 to 30 bushels of fruit in one season. It has toT/shatln ol thftreef a'Ket mt: ff a veart • So"""' ^"T '^ "^^ '^'''^'T^ ^^ ^ -i*"-« -h' has ^ade from »15 to ^20 a year for 20 years from one of those hardy and prolific seedlinT Attempts to propagate them by grafting have not succeeded. They must be nrZ" gated by suckers, of which they throw out an abundance. Their ropa^atFoXv any means would be decidedly advantageous and ^-hould not be lost sight of VARIETIES OF PEARS. Of pears the varieties are very numerous, one wi^npmn M,. Mo«i,„ • r. mentioning that he had no less thin 85 in his nursery. ' ^^''^enzie Ross, The Dears named in fbo Pvidenrp ir»"i"n — fi--- -« iv ^-. . As la the case of apples, local nomenclature may here and there produce Hittle ■A )JV. > which grow in very iiB tr«eH recover from led." ence of cultivation, 1 very bad now. The slaimed by Home that r the treeH in summer t affectintf the roots. h the blight." Jonducive to bli^1 ^'""'V^M!"=* "^ *^« B*rtlett. TI.e tree Ih hardy an I productive, liy h ir.iy I W itZ^m! 1 *^ 'i*?.'.'" f"*"*"!'' *"'• ** •'*'■«'"• '••'»*• " »""*'"^ '" >"*"« <•« the tree too long It becomo;* decayed at the core, but you cannot jwrceive it until you break open the fruit." It is hardly so reliable as the Bartlett, accordin-f to Mr. Arnold. Mr West- land recommends It should be pickad while yet Kroon, as, if allowod to hauir on the tree. It would be liable t(. decay in the centre. He speaks of it as a favourite pear, n "'Yi* r *" »fc as " »i new pear with a rich Hdvour," and one that "always sells well. In the County of Perth it is one of the most profitable and most com- monly planted varieties. The Bartlett, however, is the pear, that above all others, commends itself to the orchardist and the public. It is inonticmed by Mr. Beadle as one of the varieties that fruit early. He goes on to say of it :— mark'p^frnil" 'I"'"' "^ *'""' 'n/iP^ning is the Bartlett, which has a great reputation a. a SSfv oth/r ff I suppose more iMrreli of pears of that variety are 8..Id in our invrk.-tH than K^Jn n 1 / J *** ^'-"Uifht, until within the la.st year or two, «t(l a barrel, but of late it has fncrea:e,rHlnr" Th".""' ^ ) "k""*'^, "'''°*^, *" 'K" ,«t""pncy of the times anei partly to th^ CWui wi^^" f^** '^'"■"'*? has been planted largely in the State of New York, and Canada a.s well, so far as pears have been planted in Canada at all." '' So far as I know," he adds, " the Bartlett is the most profitable pear." Mr. Dompsey, who3o situation tries the hardiness of fruit a little more than is the case in the Niagara district, alludes to the Bartlett as "tender," and neediiij/ a more favoured locality " than some other pears. But Mr. Arnold says • "The most successful variety of pear, everything considered, is the Bartlett." Mr. Allan s testimony is : — ^h^A^^^ '"'"'' P"!?"''^'' PS'^"" is the Birtlett ; on account of its bein? so profitable, it is far variety?" """^ the others. . . The Bartlett is fruited probably eariier than kny other Mr. Roy says of it : "It comes in early and is easily sold." Mr. Leslie " has seen nothing to beat the Bartlett ; the tree bears well, and the fruit is good." ihese testimonials, from authorities so unimpeachable, must establish the Bart- lett s supremacy on its economical merits. '^^^ Ananas d'Etd is only alluded to in a passing remark by Mr. Dempsey, but Mr. Leslie, in his catalogue, describes it as a large, handsome pear, resembling the Wartlett, which ripens about the same time as the latter, and, bein" hardier nuy be regarded as an exceedingly promising variety. The Souvenir du Con.'ress, with winch the list of Summer Pears ends, is mentioned by Mr. McKenzie Ross as a pear no garden should be without. AUTUMN VARIETIES. Coming next to the Autumn Pears, we have first upon the list, the Belle Lucra- tive, which Mr. Beadle describes among amiteur varieties as "a sweet, rich pear " but one that, without a good deal of sunlight and exposure, is apt to be discredited by a good many imperfect specimens. Several others recommend it, but do not particularize its merits. Of the Beurre Hardy more will probably be heard in the future than in the past, tor it is now being thoroughly tested under the ausoices of the Fruit Growers' Asso- ciation. It is described as a tree of more than usually hardy and vigorous consti- tution, and ' IS ranked in pomological parlance as ' very good.' " 'm ^ ^^^^^ Superfin ranks as " good," but as inferior to the Beurre Hardy Mr. Beadle gives the Buffum the one notice it receives in the evidence by remarking : — '' "I don't think the Buffum would succeed in Cana la as a profitable market sort. It will Tmarker) "^ *^'" ™''''* ''^^^'^ varieties, but there is not much money in it as The Ouuiidaga curiously comes in for notice from witnesses at two extreme points, and no others ; Mr. Dougall at Windsor, who speaks of it with others, N. nntry m any I know luctive. Hyr h mly I thi) Floini»h Huaiity, hurix (in the tree too jreakopen the fruit." mold. Mr. West- fi)d to hang on the 8 a favourite poar. one that "always ble and must com- mends itself to the le of the varieties reat reputation aM a in our in:\rki't8 than el, but of late it has ea, anil partly to the of New York, and ;able pear. " little more than is der," and needing mold says : ' ' The tlett." profitable, it is far rlier than any other Mr. Leslie, " has lit is good." istablish the Bart- er. Dempsey, but ir, resembling the jing hardier, nity iu Congress, with zie Ross as a pear , the Belle Lucra- jweet, rich paar," to be discredited nd it, but do not I than in the past, lit Growers' Asso- l vigorous consti- eurre Hardy, the evidence by irket sort. It will ;uch money in it as at two extreme F it with others, CULTIVATION OF THE PEAR. 61 classed 09 " the best varieties." and by Mr. Usborne, at Arnprior, who refers to it as one of two varieties only that are so far, ap,.arontly, doing well in his -for pear culture-comparativoly unfavourable district, where any pear tree must, in order to »»cceed, possess to a very large degree the element of hardiness, o ukr '■ "* '"«ntioned by Mr. Arnold as a new pear, and " likely to become The Howell receiveo only a word in passing from Mr. Jno. Graham as free from blight during the period in which some other treos wore aftected. It is. however " ''m;: »f hue flavour, whde the tree is hardy and yields a good crop. ' Ihe Flemish Beauty is a delicious pear, but, says Mr. Beadle : — "Ih a very deHirablo pear for home uhb, but not profitable, eHpecially as nine ijeoole out of every ten do not handle it properly; it Ib generally Hhipped to market too ripe and thJ reMult iH that the consiKnee sends back only a lon>r bill of chargeH." ^' With Mr Dempsey-although generally in his noighbr.urhood the Flemish Beauty .hf« '/""« J«l -the fruit has, for some years, cracked so as to be haTdlv distingiushable. Mr. Westland mentions it as peculiarly liable to the ravages of ^'"iv b *A^ w'"\ •'*"•'' ^'- ^""'^y '■"«''^'^« '* "' °»« "f the pears least srceSe to bl ght. At Windsor, in Essex, its fault is that " it ripens too early," although Mr. Dougall speaks of it as a hardy pear." Its hardiiess is further attested^ Its successful cultivation at Arnprior, in Renfrew. It appears to succeed well in almost any pear-growing section. The report from the United Counties states that t IS the only pear tried in that neighbourhood (Cornwall) from blight "^ '""*^'"' y^^i^ties, is a pear of high quality but a great sufferer The Beurre Bosc is a pear much appreciated where it can be grown, but is too tender for the average Canadian climate. ^ ' The White Doyenne is a good marketable fruit when successfully grown but ^""^tfr^Ji"- ^"''^^'' 'r 7'ir' '''.^'''^' *° be reliable on economical grounds.' The Grey Doyenne is less hable to disease, but the tree is a feeble grower b„f n f ^"y^"»«du Cornice is mentioned by Mr. Dougall among the best varieties but not alluded to by other witnesses. vant^ties, The Louise Bonne de Jersey is frequently and approvingly mentioned and is cultivated in so.no districts that demand a hardy tree to ensure success variluL^;"!;;; hisr^Xdle'^ '^'- ""^"^^^ ^^ ^"^ -^ '^^ *^-« --^ p-^^^^^^ The Seckel is conceded by all to be a very fine pear and. in Mr Arnold's ev penence 18. with the Tyson, leas subject to bli,^ht tha^n any vaHe"ies n ts grounds Mr Cady considers it " the richest pear wo have." and agrees with Mr. Arnold as titj^zT^B^z^r'' '""" ''^'*' ^" ^'^^'^ ^'^^ ^^ '' ^'- «-^--^ b/t^: hiJ^^^ .I>«che88 d' Angouleme is an extremely popular pear. After speakin-r of the Ss rto'sa^-'^ ^ ""^^'""^ ^^ '^'' ^'''''' d'Anjou in New York, MrVeadle inH^ M- w^ T7f y ^^ h*^^- I ^"''^ «««" 1'»'« a number of pear orchard" ruined bvth^ pear blight, but I have never seeti one of that variety seriously affected It is no unoominn thing for those pears to sell for 12i cents a piece on the PhilLdelpWa and New York mXtf They are large sized, handsome pears, of fair flavour though not the hTghest quahty o7 f rSt. » Both Mr. Beadle and Mr. Morris put it as only second to the Bartlett amona ^ WINTER VARIETIES. BeaSays:-" ^'"* °^ ^^"t^"* ^»"«"es stands the Beurre d'Anjou, of which Mr. "Following the Bartlett, I suppose the next best variety would be the Beurre d'Anjou ; w I ! 5 ^ j j 1 1 M 1? 1 J k ONTABIO AOmcVLTURih COMmSSION. W k^ZLXai^MTBt'dVe -t^°«'«W« P- 'o the grow.. ^?lf,7,Ti° TF:. "^ r^ °' "l-'trating hi. remarks :_ willX'^tTchriSr"' ""'• """8''" "J""" "» l"g» .nd handsome pear that in M^Tira jr^ttlL^ySrA'^rTr-" *"^ «™' varieties. P^*°®^ " fourth on the list of the most profitable PreSenfC-a^d^'^hL^^^ "-' ^" --P-^ -^^ the , Mr. Leslie thinks ' ' it miluhel^Slil TI^ ':^""ded to in the evidence, last mentioned suggestionTe connectstU thi V" *^" English market." In the and expresses the opinion that these are tS onlv ^^^^^^^.^^^ Vicar of Winkfield, to Great Britain, as'^the others do not carry we f "^^"'^^'^ ""' "^"^'^ ^^^^^^ '^^^P -But of the Vicar, Mr. Beadle says :— obt^ned. The fruit shlltrt^^^^^^^^^^^ pearb^uU:tT?XaLl:trVr^^^^^^^ ^^ri,*'^ "^^^'^^^ «^ ^--'T. - a fine years old. But it is^;ery ShlTiteS bv ! ''*"" ""*^^ '' ^' ^^^^' ^^e^ve says of it:- ^ ^^ esteemed by some growers. Mr. Dempsey Eu^p'e. """""'' """ "■«^«"" *-' *» pear might be prohtably shipped to h.;r„HS°.tre^i'dr4t".afe"' '"°"«° '---^ ---.ded late pear. I have tried" ' ^ "" """ «°'"' ""*''"»?. " " &» best'^.Uho very worS,ts.it'tr„"'Svtl;"°i&rBSlSv''"d'r t"'."" » •'-' with^rpif^hftfi^'iSia'"^^^^^^^ fill ^nlt.Vof.Vn , r -u "" .'^?^"austed, and some hints nflo««aP,.,. to th^ ,,- ^- -_.!.....?,, on ot U1U30 varieties, which thn inCnrmo*.- ---—=— ^- co tne success- the agriculturist to grow, will be next in orde" ^^'^^^^ ^^^'^ '"*y induce I m. n fact it has sold at ir 131) in the Boston 3 d'Anjou third on teeps till Christmas ; he grower. •le hands of persons I. large sized pear, of differently from the ed to hanj? too long iree the fruit should ollen sheet or some- )lace until they are ripen into a most idsome pear that tvould stand first e most profitable mpany with the > evidence, narket." In the VAV of Winkfield, sould safely ship 9 with. Once in a ber of years after m sandy soil, and results might be anuary, is a fine is about twelve Mr. Dempsey Valines, because it I, but when it has lesh." 3ly shipped to recommended led, warm clay very much." •est of the very soil is almost lis pear. o the success- en may induce 1 CULTIVATION OF THE PEAR. 53 THE SOIL AND CULTIVATION FAVOURABLE TO THE PEAK The sml best suited to the cultivation of the near is n»\i^ Aitr ' x i. required by the apple. Apples as alreadv nninf£l ! ^ •., ^^ff^^e"* from that soil, so long as they have a porous ubSl ? an? nul!*' ""il" ^'°^ ^" *'™°«t any greater or less exteL under Srourabi: cirSstai^tt^^ *" ^ cultivation, a suitable soil is essential and a S ol«v f; ^^*'- ^"I *^^'f. Profitable Owen Sound finds pears do extreS;^Tl1nrclL^^S ^^^^^^^^ %^- Exc^pT to l:'tL'\t'ZTc:&i^^^^^^^^ ^"^r' ^« -^"-t^^i^ ing is generally confined t^the ao«ltaH^^^^^ '^ undesirable. Manur- Dougall, formerly manured? bu? subs itu S InT f ^'^T .^'^^ ^'t"^««. Mr. barnyard manure stimulated the tree to^o ^3^ !rn'Vr ^'\if'''f ^^^ ^«"ed its wood in the fall. ° ""^^^^ * growth so that it did not ripen PLANTING OUT. and^rot^r* sr„f v^Sefi'trUr.^^^^^ '-»' "^ -* -^. would give them. Dwarfs-that i, nSS StfS J ti. '"°" ''°''"' *»» ">«' g^^ed ,„. 10 to 12 ,eet apan . i^o'^L'T^^^V^^S^Z^'ltli^Z'S PEAR STOCKS. stocI'^orSt tt'^ot* adS'oftf '1^ ''^'"'^ °^. "" '^^ - - the quince be from a graft on the pafsTokwhie tt^ Swarf wi if b'""^\^ P^*^ *^- -^1 standards, rooting deeper and eatheS nonrii . i" ^"^ ''? ^^^ ^"^'^'^e- The more hardy and endurSg. The dS on thf .X l'""^ ^ ^'''^'' ^''^' ^'^ ^^^ fact that they mature eariier-ofterbv two or thrp! "'^' ^'"V^P"^^" ^'■°'" *he productive. Their greater susSbiHtvTn f J«f y^ars-and are exceedingly mulching with manureTpilinH little pi^/n ^^^^^-^^V^e^ t^'^^^t either by is again%emoved. The whole ma er nt rt^-^' *kI "'"''*'' Y^^''^ ^" *he spring quince is one for intelligent Se^atirn Id d^^^^^ *h« P^^^^ stock and opinions of some of tl e" experiS w^np«l„ " n "^'rv: Meantime, the following be a guide to the novice' irprcSttr^l^^SVeS^a;?^-! ''' ^^^----^ -" whi:Srrg^L\TslLidf fft ;'ere^;SnTa*n° ScTarTT-JH^" A^\^"--' ^^ *h- I would plant them on the quince root Tt ornw/w Vi '""^T^"^ "^ *l}e Duchess d'Ang,„ileme fave years sooner than the ISard If il^veriLTs it^^n "l?Tv '"'^V"" bearing three to willlje perfect. If I were plar Mng the Bartlett T w«, 1 1 ^^ 'u'""^/' °"* «° 'hat the fruit that one cannot give a categor calfnswer as whir^/hpT"^^^ ^T '^ "n? ^'^^ ?«*"• «t"°k, so as a whole, I would sooner plant o^thTpear sto^k esDecLllv f^t" ^^^\ ^^^'""^ P^^"" ^^It^-'e knowledge of the art. " ^ °'^' especially taking into account the present an orcWdi:%^7tt^sS'tnllp'r "'1°^ *^ agriculturist intent on layin. out pear stock standards Mr Arnold ^1! unqualifipd opinion in favour of the work, but has "mported thetiyd i f\"''''' ^r"] ""^l^ *° 8^°^ P^^r srock fit to admirably. He remarks 5- ""'"^ ^'^' '^"'^' ^^^^^ ^^ «^y« ^as succeeded ito^^SnctTicWdd^ngFoTrdUTtinr^^^^^ i^^^^u^''^ -"<=»> prefer working begins to bear immediatelv and vet throl . ^^ ^"T ^"^l"^ ^^^ ^^''f^^e so that the tref standard trees. I wonM richer t-^-* S'h^ - T^' ^""^ ^^^ ^^""^ ^^^''^ ^hich W,l! m robustness of character, /ou^ maf^^tn^l-ranfc-h'a;^^ whtTth"raTe%rwn"J„^ t:i* 64 ONTARIO AOBICULTURAL COMMISSION. |! I. l;i I i« . F tt'ss ssSd'Sf. jr »«t ',S'.!» "'°* «"~ " «"•' '■"«"»- <■'" and must be grafted on a hardv vicnrnnr . ! , t^ Y^" ?.*"* g^<^^ "" q»in°e ference is given to standLS^ ^Bn' TS wen Sound ta«t« *^' ^"'"'^ '^"*"''*' P^^' point in another direction. ' ^**® '''' experience seems to but s'ome'tiStt^iirrhr eTof^fiat.%^^^^^ ^'^T^ P^"'^"^^ ^* eight or nine years, depend on them in four or five years " ^ ' ^'^^^ '^ ^^^ «° '"'« "^^^^^ t'-ees you may quinJe*- ''"'*^''^ ^^'^"^^ *° ^" *^« -i'i— the following succeed well on the Bonne de Jersey. Duchess d'AngoXme '^'""'' ^""^ ^^y^'^"^' I^°"'«« WiNxp Beurre d'Anjou, Beurre Diel, Oswego Beurre, Vicar of Winkfipl^ pensable. The removal too by thinn^ncf ./ symmetrical appearance, is indis- enhance the ,„^U, e, tketira^'J^ Vu^elrtul t„?S*e jiLC^^' THE JARKET FOR PEARS. cons?mptn'of?hfcS ^o^^l'l ^'t^'' '« mainly looked for abroad the From Owen Sound, Lake Huron and th^« w T^ "'"'^' ?^ "«°«««ity. be at home, found in the great AmericfncTtSstimPtr'n "^"r*'''j '""^" ""t^«* ^^^ b« west, where pfar cultme S be all' hT:^7' will create a demand in the North- the Vicar ofVinkfi^Sr theVtephine de mXTs an^the'^r " ^'^-l^-^*'-- suggested as possibly suitable for t^ English markef Bnt^r''"?-.\'^' ^""? The prioe of pears appears to run fern sf f,^1P' t'"!"? '"?V" '"" '""'"S- .arieties, unde'r the i,Xence°oU speS d,Va°„d%£ Sg'in^t*""^" '"""""» PICKING AND KEEPING PEARS. kepf aSlS. 'r rtrint'L"trBeu?re"^''' ^^^^^^ T^^^^' ^^^^^^ -««« "^4 be baskets were shipped last seaso^ of n.3!^ Railway Station alone, some TofoOO miles east, southSwe of the Watirn thicf/rnV'^.^.'^iT ^''^. "^^ ^ ^""P^^ «f of Lake Erie, in Norfolk and Elgirpeache" can ie nrofi^^M^'^'iV ^^^"^ *^« '^^'^^ number are grown. There areTnmr.r^n<.1^ ui PT*'',^^^ cultivated, and a good the County of Oxford "and tn S and f1 T'?^'t " *^^ ««"*h«™ half of they are nit grown so 'extensively as they Sh'tTe Y?«^"' '"1 ^'''''^ ^'^'^ « on the part of the cultivators nS t^anv .fnl^.f.tr!' *.'^ ^"^'"^ *° ^»"* ^^ energy were seen by the CommissSners ripS" on tfe uL^'Zi "'''if "*f- , ^'"« ^^«^ visit, and in Essex we have the tTiZ^f Mr DouS fW 5'"* ^"ring their far more profitable than apple growinraUbm,; v. VvT ^ *^''* "peach growing is and that it is even more profitable^Ctltr/^ ^^ "'"'S '" "°* 1"'*« «« certain/' the lake, peach culture! on a^^^Se^S^^^^^^ „^"' "' T '°™'^ ^^^'^ ^^^^ carried on profitably in either LSton or MiSi' g^*^"*"^ janishes. It cannot be counties, unless we except oLsrotrnWaKn ''k^ '"'iI? ^^^ ^"l*"^ south-western enterprising and enthusSsroTcha 3isT cSs^hardu^,^ ^^^^^^^^ has grown not only sufiicient for h a K omI aIT ^ u . , '".^ ^^"^ '*^* ^^w years he At Owen Sound a^few aTgrown Lt^^^^^^^^ but also for shipment elsewhere. Mr. Allan says •- ^ although not very successfully, but at Goderich both L'lo^lnTiTlS.^'T^^'t^^T^^^ *^« ^--th of peaches between the lakes, the northern shore rfLake^EHe and rsmalT d'^t.'^'' '\l' *^« P«"'»S the Georgian Bay. Various attempts have been m.Hpf„ ? small district on the south shore of the tree will live and thrive but tEe sevlrif v nf ?h» ^^/^^^''^^te it elsewhere, and for a time natural home of the peach i NLtherrSshwherrih/^ *^" ^••"'' ^uds. The cold winters-though the therm/.SSter does'not gS.wn to' W hM ^""^ "'''' """f "^"' ^'^^''P summers. With n the limited area T hava m!^„f -^ i *° "^" "^'°^ zero-and quick warm the United States. wT get peaches iZnT^Hr'^^'M" ''\'J ^?'"?^*« '» P«*«h gr!.wi„g Tth ci J.TrStfwIirffltfeot'' a'loIrdemS ^.t"" "IT- -i?"""-'", African SOIL AND ASPECT. clay'oJdrp^tl -'"^fk'^^^^^^^^^^^ I*-f -* thrive on a heavy quotations from the evidence of ex IrLti V" "^""^ """ ^''^^^^^ ««'l- " These character of the soil to b.f Sctld ^ A to 1 J/n?'^^'"7'' sufficiently indicate the "TfT , ^ «-" o<. seiectea. As to the question of aspect Mr Beadlp onva • If.I wereplantinsraneanhnrrhord T.f„..Mr^-f . ,, i' ^'' ""; ^eaaie says .— retard, a ,n spring, for if the blossoms a;e not tevent'erf^^^^ ''•^""'" ^"'^"''^ '* '« ^^ere Bpnng they are apt to be caught by the late fr^.^lti SlTcedraTpL^cV^rcha 'C:. 66 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. mg on the north side of huildings, forests, etc., and sheltered so as to have their m-owth retarded in the spring, are much more likely to give -us a good crop of fruit. One cause of the cnldSri'ni fl^w crop is that the warm suns of early spring start the sap, then come* a cold night, and the blossom bud is killed before it opens at all. I therefore prefer an aspect by which the trees are sheltered from the rays of the sun in the early spring. " The peaches mentioned by name in the evidence are as follows Early Canada. Early Crawford. Early Purple Hales Early. Louise. Early Rivers Waterloo. Alexander. Amsden's June. Wilder. Beatrice. Old Mixom. Smock. Sixteen varieties in all. Mountain Rose. Honest John. Late Crawford. The Early Purple was once regarded as one of the earliest varieties, but is now superseded by others. The Early Canada was a chance seedling of Hales' Early, and has just made its appearance m the market. It is one of the earliest, if not quite the earliest, to ripen. The Waterloo is anotlier new and very early variety ; so, too, is the Wilder which 18 a good deal like Amsden's June. Old Mixom is named by Mr. Pettit in company with the Smock as a profitable fruit. The Early Rivers is spoken of by Mr. A. M. Smith as a very promisin^r variety, coming in right after the Early Beatrice. ° Mr. Morris mentions the Mountain Rose as one of the most profitable varieties this year. Honest John has a passing mention only from Mr. Toll. Of the more largely grown peaches Hales' Early is now beaten, both in point of time and quality, by some of its own offspring. It is, however, needed, with others, to maintain a continuous supply through the season. Mr. D. Caldwell says of it :— "Hales' Early is about the most profitable of any for market, though the fact that it rots so badly detracts from its profitableness." In Norfolk it is regarded as one of the two most profitable varieties, and is the peach that ripens earliest in Oxford. The Alexander is another very early peach. In Goderich, Mr. Allan says :— "One of our best growers says he would plant the Alexander, Hales' Early, and Early Crawford for profat before any three that could be named." In that district the Alexander, with most growers, is the earliest to ripen. Mr Westland says : — ''I think the Alexander is the most profitable of the early varieties," and it is the first of all to rijien at Grimsby. Amsden's June is not so early as some others, but appears to have rather im- posed, by its name, on the confidence of fruit growers who find it ripen later than Its designation implies. In Elgin, however, it seems still to retain its reputation as the first to ripen there. In Essex, the Louise is a favourite, although not so early as the Alexander. As a choice vaiiety it has brought $3.20 per bushel, for shipment, at Goderich. Mr p. Caldwell, who grows the Beatrice in Waterloo, had pulled some of the fruit ten days previous to giving his evidence on the 18th of August. The Beatrice is mentioned in several places with favour. But the peach that undoubtedly outbids all others in popular favour is the Crawford. Mr. Beadle " thinks the Early Crawford is the most profitable peach yet known. " Crawford's Early," says Mr. Allan, " is looked upon as being, on the whole, the most profitable." ^ " J*^!. "l?^\ profitable peaches," says Mr. DougaU, "are the Alexander and Crawford 8 Ea^ly. Mr. Pettit says : — "The early and late varieties this tseason have been the most profitable, and on an average, I think are always the most profitable. I don't know that Early and Late Craw- N. > have their jfrowth it. One cause of the he sap, then comes- a fore prefer an aspect ng." s : — 'urple, livers, till Rose. John, •awford. pieties, but is now has just made its i earliest, to ripen. 00, is the Wilder, 8 a profitable fruit. )romising variety, >rofitable varieties 1, both in point of eded, with others, Iwell says of it : — the fact that it rots irieties, and is the p. Allan says : — 3' Early, and Early ist to ripen. Mr. rieties," and it is ) have rather im- fc ripen later than I its reputation as e Alexander. As t Goderich. Mr. le of the fruit ten The Beatrice is • iar favour is the t profitable peach ng, on the whole, 3 Alexander and )lital)le, and on an ly and Late Craw- CULTIVATION OF THE PEACH. yX,?arSyt:H:SaS; ^"'^Orawted brings higher prices, but does „„. ^ Th?jSefSS^rtfe'elJ^aV&^^^^ ?r "-r'"'- W that on tho whole the Crawford, stlkd St am"ng peliSel °°' °' °°" """'»' PLANTING AND CULTIVATION tioe MfrrsSrsa;."-""" *° f""" '"" P'"" '". ""' «' the latter prac- .ri'aJpSeX^?ireTw1;,■V:rfi™ ^^^^^^^ apple culture, that peach wMe^the^pplos are connng into ''^^^^r^^ Sl:;:tt:::^j::ZtT, w»K,?stfe!:,iKtlhnr^^ hi. a i^'^Sl:^£^:^£i-;z;::^js:^^^^ — THE YELLOWS. More fatal than the Firo TiHf»Kf +« iu peach has to contend with is the Ss a se ktw'nl's ?L Si ""^* T^^"^ ^"^'"y ^^e parts of Niagara district its effects have been moTe thL^f n'' ^.^^'^'^""y in some vicinity of Drummondville the peach orchardThlvf '"'''"^ disastrous. In the diseased trees being rooted ud arth« nnh . ? ^^^^ "^^''^^^ '"^^ destroyed, the Pettit gives the f olfowing t c^nVi? ^e VeS^ 1^^"^"^ ^'^ «^ *he plagu'^B. ' Mr' first''4Ssf irth*:ir^.'?r;Sl1el:s^^^^ Ti ^-- *^>^ ^^"-- This disease find any tree recover after it has once beeratX^w,^':^"?.^'"^'- i '^^'t think yoi wfll lave !ui„ aiounj tinj roots ot staue trees anH fho,, ,„o. ° , - *" '"^^t^ts and bees. Wp known any injury to result from people eat^ntrthl Z *Pj\»''«ptIy very healthy. I have not fruit IS grown it is not generally^eaten "Sf only relTY^n ^" **"' ^"'-'^j'^'' ^''^^^ "h« y .. juiie oniy remedy i can recommend, and which I 68 ONTABIO AOBICULTUBAL COMMISSION. have carried out to a certain extent, is to chop the diaeased trees down and bum them u« at vaw/'nf' T^ ''"• ^ JrT"^ ^^' '*'*'«'*''« *« infectious. It has become very n ™h m^re re- onh . rl*V*'f '■ ^^'^% y^*P *K" ^** **>« "'^t ^« «aw of it. I think it was broS to our locality by trees purchase.! from the other side. We have been cu tivatinJ Deaches t Ther«"irrn::*^ years but we have grown neaches more or less ever sTnce I can Lmem! trL X^ *' "° T.^fi"' "^ detecting whether tlie tree is infected with the disease when sent from the nursery It does not manifest itself the first year either in the wood or roots The next year after the disease has made its appearance, or the second yen There appears a lis colouration. I have only had two trees affected on my place, and tL I removeTaronce " Unfortunately one effect of the disease on the peach is to make it more early saleable, and as the possession of the earliest supply of this much coveted summer fruit means high prices and large profits, there is a direct inducement to fruit growers, if not very scrupulous, or to merchants, if ignorant of the symptoms or greedy of gain, to put infected peaches into consumption. It is noticeable that in the peach dist, lets people do not, Mr. Pettit says, usually eat the diseased fruit. But there is evidence that they are shipped to Toronto and other great consurainj/ centres in large quanities. i-unouimng Mr. A. M. Smith says :— " I saw some of the diseased peaches in a store in Toronto lately. The dealer said that thnv Temn^ ?r T'^Vf P-?"*^?!' ."°^ ''"°^\"» *h«y ^^'^ """^"""^ f^"it- There is no troub e in utZabnnf J^nlf ^'"^'•v ^' '' "^^^^^ ^^''^'H'^ °' ^P""^'^ ^'^^ red, and red inside, partic" ularly about the pit, and clings more or less to the pit. If slightlv diseased the flavour rnLv and ci^ie'^s'^n'f^h'' ^1T"^ ^"' '^^-^ ^i- ^^%^''^^ b« '"^JP'^ and wortht Many ow^^ 1 thinW ff^, "***"" ^"""^ prohibited their sale in their markets under heavy penalties, Ind inhabitants " "'^" "*"' '"''"^'^ ^^ *^' '*'"'' *^^-^ ^''"^'^ confer a Lnefit'^A the Mr. Pettit adds the following comfortable information :— "When I was on the wharf here (Toronto) one day this summer. I noticed that abm,t two-thirds of the fruit exposed for sale was diseLed. I should think thesrpeaches were un wholesome. I should not care to eat them myself." peacnes were un- it is quite possible the dealers on the wharf, or the Toronto storekeeper were unaware of the character of the fruit they were distributing, but the disease is clearly one easily enough detected by any fruiterer or orcliardist once made ac- quainted with Its characteristics. The fatuous stupidity, or worse of some growers, too, IS almost past comprehension. *- ^» . »"'»« Mr. A. M. Smith says :— .. " '^^^ §!^^''!' ^?'"^*;3? ^*^''y rapidly. I planted an orchard with a man four years acn !«.,<■ XT/"-fwK^'"'^n ^^'■'? y«,Tv.?'°' *hi« last fall, there was one tree whi Jh I s^w ll aSowf iY'.*'' *^'r"^r- ^ ^''^^ ^*"^*" •^^^^ " """^ *i"^"' but he said it was a pit^ Tud allowe, lit to stand. The next season there were twelve trees affected by the disease and the SnallrSed" "'" "'°"' '"" ^''"''"^- ^'"^"^ '^''' ^' ""* ^ ^""'^'^ tree out of the 250 It is rather satisfactory to hear that the obstinate man has been pursued by the Nemesis he invited in spite of warning, but unfortunately his punishment was in all probability, shared by scores of unoffending fruit growers. It is suageated that birds and bees carry the infection from tree to tree. Boys are also stated to be busy assistants in the work of mischief. Mr. Morris says :— "It is generally acknowledged that the disease can be propagated from the pits It i« customary for boys to gather peach pits and dispose of them to men, who again seU them to grtherpL from"'- ' '' ^^"""'' ^'"'' *"'' °"'"«''''y"^«» «h>^"ld be cautious whereThe? Between birds, bees, boys, stupidity, and avarice, the peach orchards of On- tario stand a poor chance, if no one comes to the rescue. Mr. Morris and othpr., urge legislation. He says :— "We have tried to do something for the extermination of the yellows, and I would like to urge the importance of having some compulsory measures taken to prevent its extentfon Theonlythingyoucan do is to pn.hibit the importation of trees from localities where tTe disease is known to exist. That, of course, will be a difficult matter to do. ThrWis atu e of Michigan has passed a bill compelling parties to cut diseased trees down. We tried to in- corporate Bometh.ng of that kind in the bill for the suppression of the black knot, but it was nv' wn and bum them up at me very much more pre- [ think it waa brought to )een cultivating peaches ever since I can remem- th the disease when sent the wood or roots. The ?n there appears a dis- ■ I removed at once." to make it more early luch coveted summer inducement to fruit of the symptoms or t is noticeable that in it the diseased fruit. ;her great consuming 'he dealer said that they There is no trouble in , and red inside, partic- seased, the flavour may orthless. Many towns er heavy penalties, and confer a benefit on the ', I noticed that about these peaches were un- to storekeeper, were ;, but the disease is rdist once made ac- or worse, of some lan four years ago last tree which I saw was iid it was a pity, and >y the disease, and the und tree out of the 250 leen pursued by the punishment was, in It is suggested that ■e also stated to be i from the pits. It is 'ho again sell them to le cautious where they eh orchards of On- . Morris and others ■s, and I would like to irevent its extension. 11 localities where tlie do. The Legislature )wn. We tried to in- ilttck knot, but it was CULTIVATION OF THE APUICOT, NECTAUm, ANn PLUM 59 any par icular district there will probably not hJ7^}^^ ^'^^^ P^^''^ g'-^^ers of base as to run the risk of disastersTSlf and ^^ .''"fu '\^" «" '^^^'^ "^ so rJ'.V.^'i"^ in his orchard affected S«'^„' '"^ *^^ P"^- But the cultivation of the peach is not hS it i '"^ ^''^^^^'^ ^'^'^ *« market and the evidence already quoted show that tV r ^''T'^ ""' ^ «i"«l« district present. Legislation is useless, if the kw enacfpH d^"^"' /'•"" ^^'' ^'''''^ '« «^«r port of the community, and especially of those fo'wb""* '"""^"^ *^« ^^^'^y «»P- been placed on the Statute book. We hav«Tn n . ^"'^ ^'P^'^'*^ ''«»««* i* has suppression of the Canada Thistle hZJl 7 ^""^"T *" excellent Act for the he husbandman, the thistle ciop is aWsarfl''^^ *" ^^P^^ *he labol o? twenty. By-laws have been enacted in^n.t.i °"^ '" nmeteen townships out of mg beasts, but if people do not turn out thet sr.7/'^"'^^P *" ^^^t^ain wander- not because of those numerous and weU drawi bt I ^'^^ °" *^« roadsides it is th. sS^^i: theTiitttosI £XeSvtV'"T *^« ^^^ «^— i" ^^nsl^Lrir^^ the cases of diseased fruit would have a very healthy eSc u^oz, ifc wh^'"'"^'.! ^^ ^^- ^- M- Smith the fraud or too anxious to make Hrofit out "f I« *'^ «^ther unable to discove^ to be parties to it. * P °°^ """^ °* *he pseudo-early peach, to refuse Of.. . ■ ™^ APRICOT AND NECTARINE. Of these fruits Mr. Beadle says •- This statement nearly teD-pspn fa n,„ i i. vation in Ontario. There a^nea s to l! '*''*' "^ *P"°«* ^"d nectari ne euk T - not be cultivated wherever Z 1 , ""^ ?^«"" ^^^^ bruits so delicious shm. Id follow a plentiful proSon'titr he re^lT of' nT d ^ ^ ^^* demand Tsut at their cultivation are being made in the Pod"!- "/^^^f*^ Pnces. Some attempts 60 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. ^'foHowi?-' *^''' *'" "° ^''' *^'" thirty-two varieties referred to in the evidence, Lotnhftrd. Pond's Seedling. Coe's Golden Drop. Fellenberg. Green Gage. Peach Plum. Jefferson. Yellow Gage, McLaughlin. Bradshaw. Smith's Orleans. Imperial Gage. Washington. Common Blue. Ouillin's Golden Gage. Prince Engelbert. Magnum Bnnum. Reine Claude de Bavay, Royal Hative. Wild-goose Plum. Damson. Columbia. Greenfield. Quebec Plum, victoria. Yellow Egg. General Hand. Diamond. Prince of Wales. Guthrie's Apricot. Brandy Gage. Glass's Seedling. The cultivation of the plum being universal, the question of selection will fnTetail tkf Ledts oT*tr • ^' T' '"T'T^ "^ ^^'^ instancerinsW of'notic'g m detail the ments of the several varieties, be well to turn to the evidence of tho respective witnesses, and see what, from their experience of soil and cUmato has been the choice they have made. It is impossible to refer, however to Xm'cuT ture without at once encountering the curculio, its bitte;est ^nemy altC^ah as already stated, the subject of insects affecting fruit will be dealt S^sCratefy THE PLUM ORCHARD.S AND VARIETIES CULTIVATED. Above all other portions of the Province, the Owen Sound district excels in the cultivation of the plum. The soil is a clay loam, resting on limSone rtk The rot IS the chief trouble that assails the plum cultivator^n th rreS ami that not to an alarming extent. Black-knot is not a serious evil the?e' The Sr Rnv f^ "°* ^'* ":'?' its appearance. The varieties of plunis mSoned by ^l' Z'j r^r^'l^'t'^^^^ *^^. ^'•">* g^«^«r« oi the district, as grow^ there are. the Lombard and Pond's seedling, described as " very good plums^r shin' ping ; Coe's Golden Drop "always saleable ;" the FellenbSg, ^'TZune pfum which IS very good," ''can be eaten either fresh or dried," is " a sweet n"ce pkm e1 SlT H™™. *^V*r' "''J, '^''^y ■'" *^he McLaughlin, WashTngton Yello; sfei?Xr tlSrareZlled"'"%''r^^ ^'^ ^Z'^^' '^"^ *^^«^ --* '^ -*- -^ Biioiuy alter tiiey are pul led. The Diamond is recommended as "one of the bp-ft for exporting," and tlie Victoria, Mr. Roy advises, " should be pTanteTverV laLelv as It IS very good for exportation." Of the trade done Mr. Koy ^aks a« SK- plum trtsXm .5o%rtoortJee:TslTL:et^'Tr-^ .'^^^ planted some thousands of Simensions This summer in Owen Sound Thf! is becoming to be a trade of large usual'lvtveXriSl "l^tlet "rirtJl^se'prre Slf 'l^* '"if ^^'^« ^° ^^^ *'^- French plums they would look as wel 'llie F^ll.nL^L f f^.T ^\^^ '*'"^ P''°'=««^ »« 'he ever seen. The pranes of commerce are laSl ovl w^.t ^ ^'''*' ""I*- 'u ^^'f' ^^^.^ P''""^ ^ '"^^e in the Fellenberg no sugar is rXiire^Ind Hp™ v "^"""t ^^'^h makes them sweet, but has been recommended by theTruFt Grow^^A L '7 «weet after being dried. This plum was the only exhibitor of thL plum for soZ vtnr^ h"°.'**'''''' *"'i '*f •^'^^^'^ '« increasing, I It might b/grown to a large ^.Z^lnZl fprofit '' ""^ ^°" ^"^ '' ^^^""''^ ^''"^ ^"^ *^«^«- ION. 'ed to in the evidence, 'olumbia. ri'eenfield. luebec Plum, 'ictoria. 'ellow Egg. eneral Hand, 'iamond. rince of Wales. uthrie'H Apricot, randy Gage. ion of selection will le, instead of noticing the evidence of the soil and climate, has 3wever, to plum cul- ; enemy, although as It with separately. TED. nd district excels in 1 on limestone rock. ■ in this region, and us evil there. The plums mentioned by rict, as grown there, ;ood plums for ship- erg, " a prune plum "a sweet nice plum, Washington, Yellow 5 must be eaten very as "one of the best planted very largely, speaks as follows : — ted some thousands of to be a trade of large I many as 2,00U bushels listrict of Owen Sound bas been about a dollar ' all the plums I have o. There is no particu- spoiled ones, and even creasing the demand Iried state. Of this se who do grow them e same process as the ihan any prune I have lakes them sweet, but ing dried. This plum nwth is increasing, I ilanted here and there. ;he mild climate of also mentioned by ^_ lies he is acquainted ^g the plum so much, " CULTIVATION OF THE PLUM. S; vli^XTthtei'^Sf ot^^^^^^^^ '\ -« -»-d«d -her as a wel- down the trees. But whe^the fruitTowers of Hn^'^'^l^ '" ^^'^^^ «« *° ^'^^^ hm out their plum crops, had a lit e'nToTe 'experience ^f^V ^"'^ '^ '"u^"^«"* *« the partnership unprofitable. Working on shares wifh I '"''?^'?' ^^^y ^o""^ growers found all the capital and labou? and SmT ^ f ™T*' *'^** ^^e plum all events, he has effected so great a chanrfh,;/ k '^^^^^oyed all the fruit. At profusion, their cultivation isTc ared tol unnrofiS ^^""if T^ ^" '^' ^'^'-^' not. How shall we thin out the Dlums ? bnf "[IP'^""',^^. «, and the question now is And they give up the answer in maTy cases in Teli" ""t.**^^" '^"'^ '^' «««""« ? back to the cultivation of the pluni ^ '"'P'*''^- ^^'^ ''«* '« ^Iso a draw- AUan'Ly^ot'it ?- " ^" ^^^'^^'""'^^ -«^*-' ^ut does not do much mischief. Mr. ■^^^l^vlipX^^^^^ enemy, thou.h -.e bursts, and cover the wouncT w th salt H«l^? advantage to cut it early, before the knot erally. is sufficient. We S^o to ^ho" ''*''"• ""^u"'" '>*^' '» Prosecute. A warnh?^ in kindly the harm he is doiig to'hims iVaKt'her"^ T'^''^^, "'?^'*'^d '' is found, and Tell ^C bl.k..not on all varieties of ,^Z^{^ "^^ZZ^^J^^ ^^^ ^^^: ^^^^i:^^T:r.C%l^^^^^^ ^-p, the several «eedh„g, nameless as yet. Mr. Allan thus flludes to ft - ^^""^ °^ "" " * ^^^^^^ k; I, 1^*™' *^^ gentleman who had it first caK R? u ,P™PagatinS largely from it he has the recognized Bingham plum All that hVt "^^'l'"" ^P^"'**' Favourite, though common where a farm had formerlvTen The oon^fn o"f k' ^>°",' i' •^- ^^at he found it on a go wdd. He found this tree and transSnted it"' ^ "' ''*'''"« ^'^'' ''^^ ^^^^ ^^'^ allowVd to W the market and most marketable plums Mr. Allan says - account ofPrToo^Sp^SVuXe" ''''"ATAt* r ^'%^°'"™- Blue and Lombard on |e.f ^nTt^e ^^^^1^^^^%^^^^^^ Frut S 62 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. -rewih ?nT?he^''S n'lJ'""''^ '""^^f ?« •'«"'«™°"- b"t the treo i« «o slew of Beadle has a commendatory word ' The jtukh T' T"^ '^' McLaughlin. Mr. equal in quality to others, ^'sritt Orltnl' '^tV^roTu^tiTe'-^^T^^^ 18 the most product ve of all varietips Anri th., p ..? I"^"J ^ ," ^"® Lombard to it for proAt as any ThTZtZr^^U^^ff Common lilu-j plum com^s as near ^2 to $3 per bushe^" As in , Inv nfh f , ^'^T^ i" .*'^*^ ^'"^'^'''^ ««^^-" i« f^om the Damson cTass is ahead Tmn!f ^^^^'^v '' •'"*^ P'"'"' P'-^'^'^bly a seedling of Beadle says of tE plum?- '* ^"^ '*' ^'"'"'^'""^^ '^"'^ productiveness. Ilr. cla«:;j;/ur. wh"ch7trnk''l".^rb*e"vrat*%tlT.^ %«^-r"^"^ "^ ^''^ ^*™«- qualities, and partly because the fruit seemn In )f» «v^ f account of its immense cropping does not thin it more than enough to benefiTth« rron T^1 'V'?,.*^^ '''?*• ^^en the curculio prea.nt. It originated in the ShbouSoVof S ^Tt'.*'""'' *^** '* ''*" *"/ "'^'^^ ''t of that place, that he should cultivate tnmrl Thl ' *"'' ^ ''"^^ «"KBe8ted to Mr. Moyer, P JL^qti^t^it^^^^^^^^^^ ^J:ty^^-^- «^ *^e -- frequSVtXeXin &[; t^^fch^l/tVr^^ tT^' ^^* ^"^^ '^ ^^^ -«• ^^ curculio takes its share of the fruit stniHlril " 'l'» ^y.^a^^Y cultivated. The said to grow wild with us, and o Sen erow in th«T' ''^""^'^"tly- Jt may aln.ost be harvested and marketed, and sdl well in CtreTl Whtn'tl "T"""?- ^^"^ ,*'•« ^^f^^la^ly good dessert plum. The skin is nerhaDs Tl?Hwki u i ". **'? '^''^^ '^. "«* overloaded it is a able. I don't know of these being cuftivatiHf„Jn5 il"' ""* f-"""^!' *" "'*>^e i* objection- noticed what were called Damsous iS thev^iow i/''^ M^'f '"" "^ *^^ country; T have say where it came from ; it is p:ouli'ar"o ttUnty of fee ^Edward"''"" ' "^ ""* *^'« *" curc1.1^"c7nnotgeUnto^t.'^ "" ""'■ ^^'"^^^^ P^^^«^« ^^ *h« P^^- " - ^tiff the Plum cultivation is profitable in Prince Edwar« '^^ ^and- with a p^ale carmine cheek tLt juTc,, es Jn wh^^ iTr befs Vt ?J''^^"»'" «.';»»■". yellow, young wood of the previoPs vear. It is not wdl known ^^nH T i ""t •?• *''^' '} ^""'^'^ *"> the I have several other fine seedlin-s one of wfXo^ t^.u' ^ I I'ave not disposed of any trees, the Green (lage. I hav e been exnerrmentSf.Lf, ^f *'? *' *V Washington and rich., than the Wild Goose plum, of wWch Srar^L^^S'^lT ^n'"^ a"- T"''"^" "T^ ^-^-^^ - — R..I1 — e purpi'T aiiu ihu otnor red. The t8 the Jeiferaun hc * CULTIVATION OF THE PLUM. lurite of the same lum, "so stiff the 63 purple JH worthlenH, bnt the red is a very nice fniH The fmif tn^^„ f,.^^ fi. * wh«n ripe, if to„che'- ^*"' ""Iv on« know whether it in liable o\he curculio or S i" '" ""-V ^"^ ?^ *.*"' ^"''t- *•" ^ '^'> ""* varieties. The earlies^Im Ih the Xyal Hative."' '""''"" '* *""'^' ''•' " ""'^'^ «" «»»"«' Mr Leslie, of Toronto, giving the results of his experience, says — trees iort^t C^ouit'lirrmliuI'^nS^^^^^^^ wVhf "*• T' '\' ?P'-«'""""'^' ''«-'^-' ^^^ curcnlio ; even the wild plum U not ^her™'a f "^V"' ^'''^ *^' '* "* f"*""f '^»^"'"*'t *»>• Lombard, «o that they K IwavH Lr a r^l nntitT 7":^ '«« v«ry prductive. such as the have found the best vLietiPH fT^thir Hecti^ /^' b-fr t'^^'J'^'T ^^^ 'r*^/" "^ ^'''« !'««»• We GaKe. BradHhaw. Prin Je o WaleM. Refne cL,"de ,le B™^^ p"'p' Y^""- ^'X*? Jjnperial fine lot of plnn.H. and all thene varieSes do we Vml ^re'reiZ bW hlr.i?" Th ^'''p ^M* *" •" At Ottawa a seedling seems to hold possession of the field. Mr. Bucke says • - Cr.untv. and ho faV has answered exce'ditrfvwen an \}77u-^ ^* ^^^ ''■•*•''«'' '" I'^"***"" North-West. It is beinL- pronlated bv M^^ rlu I '''" ^. 'i'^'"'? ',**"'^ *he climate of the Hent for trial to Manitoba. wXifnever trie^l o ''cto^r/b''^ * "n '^ '' '^"''.^f ^.-''^eady been varieties. Any attempts made iirthe direction l^'^p/f»^^^^^^ '1'?' '^"^ *''* cultivated hardy variety of plum in this way would hive to Ife tade^iJ*';/'"""'^ "^ '" ^!"'"'< ** «""'l because we cannot obtain the blossoms HO far «!.«f„u Off ' V'^^^ ^^^l^"' ''^''^ "^ Ontario, to any extent at present We have verv Uttle .nrn,^."''-'^*- ^he Greenfie d is not cultivated develops the insects very mSrand^the e^^rnf nl'l ? °T '^'If'?-*- ?»« heat of summer frost of winter. PeachesUlloltown' fn'^o^^^n^ S^O^llZ ^o^chSrit"^^^^''^^* Bon^^ri nVie!^::;?^^^^^^^^^^ ^ .^-^^ard. Yellow Magnu. the Commissione^rM;. Arnold sayL:- '""''"^'"^ '^^'- ^^"" "^ '^ ^^*"««« ^^^^^^ have'sSVfSln*d cln g"ef rpefcLrLtTei^f^ ^" .^.^^" ^P"H "^^ ^^^^ - t*^-^' -'-re we just exactly to what we want. C akinl'oui wiH n "*'>''^ <="""t"es, we can model the fruit youn. as the chairman;"! ^Wd malSn^lt^emJ^ ''^^t^^^^ ^Al^:!,?^ 64 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL flOMMISSION. Eight or ten years is not a Iohk period to devote to such an exporimtmt and tht. u, elhgent gentleman fron, Lindsay, whose evidence elicited Mr a3"s remark. t"e pTovrnce fn 'thl^ *""r"V" f-P«'*/.« -'^^h culturists, in the otLr p'rts of in^^orirt centr«^^^a^^^ provu in«f the district of which Lindsay is an SrofS^^^lurbtelhlrestteit''" crcumstanced. with acclinLized «t4^:e:S;::S^t":^JS:iil;zr^ --'' "-'^ '''-'-' -'- - — '» CULTIVATION OF THE CHERRY. th^f'^r^lil*'!^^?.'"" P ' ■!'^ ^^^"^^ *""* "''^ obtained such dimensions in Ontario as that of the other fruits already mentioned. Cherries may be divided into two families the acidulous varieties represented bv the Morellos and Dukes, and the sweet cherries represen ed by the Hearts ancf Bigarreaus. " The former clas,'' says Mr. Beadle <• are all more hardy than the swtet cherries, and c^n be grown .hroughout the frui area of Canada generally." The wild cherry is a well k^nown object to every one m this Province. Of the tart varieties, the one that succeeds best IS the red Kentish cherry ; it is hardy, not fastidious as to soil, bears a greaJ crop, and 18 excellent for all cooking purposes. The English Morello is a |ood cookmg cherry^ The early Richmond and Montmorency are also recommended The Hearts and Bigarroaus, Mr. Beadle has no faith in for market cherrSs th^y are so liable to rot. Of the Bigarreaus, Mr. Beadle puts the Napoleon fiS taking everything into account, although the Governor Wo(.d is thi best in noint of ddicacy of flavour. Then comes in order Tradescant's Black Hea or llkhorn -h^il!? «weet cherry which ripens later," and finally the Black Tartarian, " a fine showy cherry of the Heart class, which everybody likes " WlJn f^'i''''' *'' i^X ^«^*«*if« ""^'.Ved by Mr. Beadle, Mr. Arnold speaks of the Elton (a cherrj- of the Heart family), as " one which everybody sho, Id cultivate as It succeeds well." But, "it is too soft and good a cherry to ship." The May Knl\?rFri R^r M^ 'r ^1U '^'^ ^'- ^"^^^^ «« ^^^^^ nomc/other people^ A^^ f^f^^ Black, Mr. Arnold commends as a good cherry. Both Mr Arnold lltZ"- ^"^ ^'n^ P,"^'?m ' ^^Y' *" * '^^'^y '•^'««'i •" *he last named place and known^as the Ne Plus Ultra, of somewhat remarkable qualities. Mr. Arnold says canftSrpr^^^^^^^ on spurs '•'''' ""' "^ *"^ '"''^ occurrence in cherry clustern before?^ Thergen"rVK' grow Mr. Allan adds to the above the description, that the cherry is a large bearer is of a bright crimson and j-ellow when ripe, is not subject to rot, belongs, he believes to the Bigarreau class of cherries, and, if packed at maturity, might be shipped to England or elsewhere, if packed in small boxes fP"" i" To the list already furnished by others, Mr. Allan adds the Yellow Spanish (Bigarreau) cherry, and the Early Purple. ^paman Mr. Allan would cultivate a cherry orchard, and prefers a light soil inclined to Mr. Arnold, however, does not like "a very warm, sandy, excitable soil for cherri s," but prefers " a sandy loam, inclined to clay. " Mr. Beadle steps in to harmonize this apparent difference of opinion :— " \^^\^i not found the cherry tree very particular as to soil. The Dukes and Morellos succeed well m almost any soil -clay or gravel. The Hearts and Bigarreaus are not so well could proceed and lundrea |)lninH, all oineof the feiualn." lerimont, and the Lrnold's romarkg, be other parta of ich Lindsay is an 'ith acclimatized lea as manures in ns in Ontario aa livided into two Dukes, and the e former class," d can bo grown is a well known lie that succeeds il, bears a great lorello is a good ) recommended. 3t cherries, they eon first, taking est in point of art or Elkhorn, rtarian, "a fine i speaks of the ihould cultivate lip." The May ) other people, th Mr. Arnold, kmed place, and ^r. Arnold says derich, which he some grafts after- e most promising ivood in (mes and y generally grow ge bearer, is of ?8, he believes, be shipped to 'ellow Spanish joil inclined to citable soil for 3n : — es and Morellos are not so well CULTIVATION OF THE CHEHRY AND QUINCE. 65 l-Icane.! with a "lav noil- -they prefer a lighter ioil, but that preference ii. overcome hv work- ing them on the \fahaleh Ht admtblt"VbTa^r:;:gS^ to the quince, it succeeda twig blight, is a health? troe-afthoLb n°« T ' *"^; ^^''^P* ^t times subject to a yields hSf a bushel o f/uit aLuallv ^Thf "^ * milder climate than some-and NAMELESS SEEDLINGS. eminent economical qualities We hp:; nTn^^ of which possess great merits and of apples, with a reasCable probaWlkTthf t^JHr^ ?P^'' '""•^ ^'^"™« *t Lindsay , after, in the United Counties of neachp« ?n J i"/ "^^T^ ^""I'^ *«"' ^^ ''"^y ^'^^'^ed plums almost everywhere ^d all tCAnl " f '^f'" districts; of seedling numerous others Cnd of whLh tt se Tr J the extreme likelihood that Beadle alludes to one^nltrShS^d "fie say'^s' - ^^^^^ '"''"^'^^"«- ^^- average^oTf^rSntti^fe's-Tn'tP^^^^^^^^^^^ tltVVZ ^r^^^l^'l^^ ^"^^^ «'- the seedhng trees they will jrraduallv ^p^ n rfl' t '^, ""'^ People will take the pains to raise Bouthem countriel Thfrfis Tgf^ j^^^^^ ? leam^vi ''*J '" t^'^u^'^''^^^'- '^^^ '^'^^ ^'^^^ quite a nu Tiber of seedlin-s mostWofVkl P.li f ^? '"^'t'^''' Kilborne, who has planted and found he had a numbt ^f ve^iie pSs-alW\^ and examined his orchard, fleshed peaches, and I think amnn/^f fh^fi fu ^n "^ V^V^' ^'^ "^arly all of them, vUow- pagation. I take this for SanTed ? thauf vou 7^ foun(some worthy ^f prl Its northern limit as may bo and if it nlrL'^?. if the seed of a tree that is growing as near grow a race of trees hardir than the parent TH.^'''^'fP^f^ ^t^ ?«"^ ^"'^ y™ "'i" gradualfy yitae. My father imported a tree years a^o • h^ «n "'*J*^^ • ^''^^ 'P *''« «^« "^ Chinese arbor iUf"ec^;iX^r^ '-^^ -^ -cinTi' htrr^:s^ArSeVLS ^eW:f s butl£ l^lVt'XV^ti'^,;'':;}^^^^^^ ^-^^ng an but unrecognized. lingH'ZtXVeStrdtren1;S^'tt.7'^':%^^^^ every farmer had a number of seed- testing a number of 3eedlin„3^",tme of wht h „?"^*'^' °'' ^^?° seedlings. At present we are Cox, of Goderich townsh p ha'^rown a ^Lf P™""^^ «f excellent results Mr. George among them he has four very suSronpVfnf^^^ °^ seedlings from year to year! and m size and flavour, and exce'^rtS n productTvenesT ^ThT^ ^ f,Y-'l °"T know/varieUes rich ; one has flesh stronk'lv resemhl n" frVri., /V r J j J ^^^ *^' ''•'^•^ coloured, juicy and free stoned and one cling ^Therbr"- S.-'^ ^-^^wford, and flavour fully as strong thrTe are they ripen from about Augult Ith SLmK^ "Z*^ ^"^ 1 our^best kinds" very hardy and heavy, and regular bSs I oonliHprfi V"" ^'^^^''^^ large and strong general cultivation, and being^naturallXdy^ ^y^^Z:::^iX:^r:^^i alluded r^Mr^We^tS^YHlii^P^"™ ^" *!?^ ^^-« «e°tion have been already his neighbourhood He says!- °''°''"' ^" ^'^"*' ''^''' *« ^ «««dling Peach in ^Ll^^h^^'^P'^f «««dling peach in cultivation. h„t wo have no r«r-- ' -f pcai^a, withrea cheeK and yellow flesh and i<,'^ffi^ "-^yo no namt; lor it; it la a yellow nee cornera, but I n their full growth one or two jjentle- ee will respond to ice, it succeeds mes subject to a than some — and ses who referred ved would prove 'requently culti- aed in evidence. are to be found 'eat merits and ims at Lindsay | I, if only looked ;s ; of seedling likelihood that iications. Mr. hardier than the 16 pains to raise than trees from vho has planted ned his orchard, t)f them, y.-llow- e worthy of pro- ■• growing as near )u will gradually of Chinese arbor ve by protecting its seed that are unrecognized, f fruit culture. as well as the pples superior lerich district, lumber of seed- i present we are s. Mr. George ar to year, and known varieties ured, juicy and 'ong ; three are our best kinds ; ■rge and strong, well worthy of Id where others been already ing peach in it is a yellow ery tough and several time.>i. NAMELESS SEEDLINGS.— THE RASPBERRY. 67 the wood is a dark black ; we^avet^^n ^omeaL\"^^^^^^^ are growing this particular seed ng, and there is one orchard in wbJnKfhlSf' '. a^trict been taken to let that body ^now oMtTexistence T 't^^^^^^ *^''* ^^^ «*«P^ ^'^^^ member of the Association^,ut I cannot sv whether hp madAh""''"!it'"'' 7''' ** "''\'^'"^ * not. The fruit ripens about ten daysKerThrn the E^TSatLd^^^ ''"°^° *° '^'"^ "^^ I Mr. Toll, from the same county, has also a seedling that deserves to be known and might be advantageously propagated. He says of it ■- have not brought the seedling to the attention ohheFruR^Grler^^^^^^^^^^^ • • I or.r.u% "^^,"'°"*'?"^^" ^'^ evidence that he is growing twenty-six varieties of Sne fruTts"' "^' ^" '"' '""'^^^ '>^^"'^^"> ^^^ '''^^-' *r-'' hel^y:, Ce ,u/p *^® •'^*'"''^® "^^^'^^^ inquiries into farming operations in the County of Lanark W^rrr ^"^t ^^ ''"^^^"^ "PP^^« ^^^ ^^^^^ hardiness and fine q^uaUty^ oi a aisinci as its own, and flourished , igorouslv for vears it mav bp aunr^r^acA +« have exempliiied the doctrine of the survival o^f the^fittest a^d^o be SScfal W deserving of a tention and encouragement. No doubt, too, i^ many a fence coS or garden plot, are to be found representatives of most of the fruL the vak^of TheVn.^ p""''" '?'r^ P'^^^T h^'-^'y '^""^^ *«' the fortunate possesloi of new viri tie^JfTultfand'f ''" ^? -^T.' " ^''^' ^^^^ *° P^«-«^« *h« «"ltiv*t-n or new varieties ot truits, and to ascertain the existence of seedlings of soecial mprif but, from the evidence before the Commissioners, it is only to7apparent t^^^^ valuable organization has, in this respect, been unable to secure TneSthe of the Znv of tb'' ^"""^^^'. ^"^*^ T'^'^y *° P°««««« «" «"«h a subject " Growers' AssLiatTon 'InV'tt.'^^'"- ^'''''' ^'^ ""* ^"^P^" *" ^' "^«"^b«^« «f th« Fruit urowers Association, and there are persons, too, in the world who are willinor enough o receive one hundred cents in value' for their doC/and yet whoTa t? enter into the spirit of those who conduct the Society's operations. ^ FrnJf rpP^^""^ '""a 907^'nissioners to be most desirable that, possibly throucrh the Fruit Growers' Association, there should be a direct inquiry by personal and com petent agency, in the chief fruit growing districts of the VvinLTall events asTo he existence of notable seedlings, coupled with an examination into the!? merits or 1 ;,? *1^^^'*{ ""i the fruits, and growth and productiveness of the tree Prizes for seedhng fruits have been frequently offered by the Fruit Growers' Association dlrTmeroT^.f"'^ f^/\' f^V'^^ AgrfculturarAssocSn it the fS department of their prize list ; but while these, no doubt, are inducements to the ioTeLrsTLTdli^Js f *°"' *'^^. n''-'^'^ ^ ""* ^ff«^^ indlviSuarand s'catJe ed fs cLariy desiraui! ^ ^^ ^'^^' '''^"'*- ®°'"^ '^^"^^ «^°^* *« ^^^^^ such cases CULTIVATION OF THE RASPBERRY. Raspberry cultivation, more than that of any other fruit is limited Kv fbo siiperabundance of the wild variety which grows ^in every ^art of t^ePro?^ and as ?h: bush^f .laduT/r' T^^",' '' "'^r^"*^ ^" ^^^^^ "^ rLpberiy cul ure,' ..A A, gradually cleared up, and waste or neclectod sooli are hroii^ht under tillage or ,,a.turago, the rivalry of the wild berry wmLdaaUvdiSh STr:ys'inT°'„vTdeSi' '"'" '" '"""°' "" '"",,„i..u.i:^isist. ea ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. SpoSed\\rXXre is nir^^ ^t'"'^ ^'7.^^%'' "^^^^ •"*•> -^P^-ry vinegar or ago, and hence thlre U a trrlt n!.^= "^f /^ *''*'""-'^ ^^^ Peninsula for a thousand .ome years Phi?a2?nMa^F™n'^ raspben-y among the red varieties, the most popular are the to the Antwern rwt H- J ^^^'*'^^ to these, reference is made in the evidence Arnoldt Sm Skn?^^^^^ ^"'"^.^ Brandywine, Belle de Fontenay, Market all rPd^panK' ««^8*»"e. burner, Niagara, Cuthbert, and Queen of the and Seneca of bK?l. " -'V' ^"^^^^ Doolittle, Davison's Thonde^s, Gregg, Ontario! 2re o?S ?f Se chl-otr- /T ''"^\^^u ^'^""^^^^' ^^^"ds, whifh partake although thev are vii^Tri-'^.f^^"/ °^ ^°*^ ''^'^ ^"'^ black, yet been mentioned, Of the fiT«f 1 ^ prominently referred to by some of the witnesses. ^ Philadelphia andXlo";^?. raspberries, Mr. Beadle strongly commends both the PhilSffiL''hi^.n?l ^"^J^^^dineas, and, if its colour is not so popular, the witness as S good quaHty^^ ?' Snclv J^' Franconia is spoken of i/the Lame Ph"?i:rrh^^^^?;^^^^^^^^^^ Sr rmpS^^Sdttt le'pltn'^B i'n:klt Mr. BealUt Lind^ grs'th'^^a! when the PhiladelDhfa a^Zr^.t?^ ^ "° ^^"^^^ wmter-killed until last winter however it will be rlmTA 7 ' ^'^""^^ ^,f " "'^^"^y ^" ^''^^^'^- The season, was theVder of tLTvTn ' ^^ '^''P^^"''"^ ""^*^""^*ble, and winter-killing Mr A^rnold nl.^.«?f. T^T,"^ branches of agriculture besides raspberry growing Mr. Allan aS(JoZllir^p\^? °" *^« ^'«* °f ^^^ raspberries? With Orange -"^ir" The i^^^^ '' 1',?^ productive," and Brinckle's what Tender Brincklp^ro.? •' «^«^"A"/'''essf uUy. Although reputed to be some- Bucke at Ofi^^o i- ^ T^t 'f ""® °^ *^« *^o or three varieties cultivated by Mr fhetlnter Xt dltrici' ^T^f '' 77!.*^ *^^ ^^^P «""-« ^^^^h prevSl ZrTng Mr Roy s — protect the canes from injury. very fin? but^fender""'^'^^^^'' '' '^' '""'* P^"^**^^^- ^^ ««"« *!»« ^e^*- Brinckle's Orange is Of the Philadelphia and Franconia Mr. Leslie says :— It is l^old rriftv7ndTometT''?.\PJ"*l**^l^>, *"i.!^,*^" /,?"°^ *^« Franconia the best yet. profitable It f^^rSr th^n hp T.>in*^'' ?""k ^ l"';* • ^« '^"'^ **»« Philadelphia reasonably T»,. A r '"'.'^^'^'^,**''*" *he 1 ranconia, but the fruit is soft and has not so fine a flavour. " genitorof"anZb«Vn 'r*^- *°>Mr. Beadle as somewhat delicate, but as a pro- ' B:^:::r^7^z:liss:i^^c;^:t'^ ^*«^"- ^* ^« ^— --^-^ byk ities and'irodicf?v?n '''^ ^I ^'' ^«^?« ^^^ it« ^olo^r. Havour, size, market qual- T1, IT- ,"'*"5 '^'^^ raspberries. Its qualities m other respects are medium." ihe Highland Hardy is one of the first, if not the very first, to ripen The Brandywine is also mentioned for its hardiness. NuiAr He'L7s°o?Sem':-'' '^P'"' " *^^ ^'""^ ^^«*' ^"^°^^'« ^'^^^^ -^ and Z':Lrc:;."S croBs^'l^t^^^^^^^ ever-bearing raspberries Number 10 hLri*^* *° "*''^' ^"'^ "^^ ?1f^ *'™ ^*« *» Produce I CULTIVATION OF THE RASPBERRY. 69 The Belle de Fontenay is only mentioned incidentally as a well flavoured berry Among the witnesses examined was Mr. A. M. Smith, of St. Catharines for- merly of Drummondville, who makes a specialty of raspberry culture. He has at the present time probably some twelve acres under raspberries As his experience ?!?/«' M^'i'ii'^^"^'.^ *he wieties he is planting in the order of their rSng'- lattefhe says ^^^' "^' Philadelphia, Herstine, Turner, and Niagara. ^ Of the rulVi^A ^i*•?''J^ T^^ * seedling of mine. It was grown from seeds I selected from thft tiSindf It hiS'fH^'"^'"^.!"^'*^''"- Th« variety is probably a cross between ™hese two Kinrta. it has a little resemblance to each of them. It is a red berrv a lifcHp Ha.rl/ W not so dark as the Philadelphia. It is not so bright in colour as the Clark!" ' Mr. Morris, of FonthiU, speaks highly of the Niagara, but gives a decided pre- ference to a new berry not mentioned by any other witness "«ciaea pre He says : — ' ' The most successful variety of raspberries is a new one called the Queen of the Market I would give the preference to this berry. It is red in colour. The kiladelphia Lnnot be compared wi h it in size at all. It is very large, firm, and of good quality There iTanother moS'vZ' ' ThP n''^*'"*V *il"* ^ ^y ^""^ *"°- I' '« ^ '•^d Berry^ad o iginat d fn Drum' mondville. The Queen of the Market is an American variety. The Niagara, I think is aa sCpef ' The Oue^enTth.*^ "i^'l"^'' ""'^ ''? '^"•'^"^y ^^^^i""^' but it fs hardly' as good ^ h Ee" th^an^Slwinia.^"'^'* " '^'^"'" " "^^ *° *'^ ^'*°°°'^''' ^^^ ^^^ »' ^er.^ut it THE BLACK CAPS. Mr ^Beadle sl^VoTiV- ^*""°°*^ ^^"^*^'" '^ "mentioned by nearly every witness. " Then there is the Mammoth Cluster which has a very thornv plant It is a mnfp vJcmr Zl frZZ'^r. '• ' ^«"'i^t^'^,^*^ *,}*^^" ^^"y- ^^ou^h it i7n?t perhap a more v f^ -' ous cropper. It ripens decidedly later than any of the others. It is hardy, showv has been widely disseminated, and is as profitable as any." ^' ^"""^y' °*^ °^^^ It is one of the two varieties, the Ontario being the other, that do best with Mr Dempsey. Mr. Beall cultivates the Mammoth Cluster at Lindsay. Mr Arnold regards it as "the best of all blackberries." Mr. Allan reports it as hardy m his district. Mr. Morris classes it as one of the two best varieties. The Doolittle is referred to by Mr. Beadle, who says of it ':—" The Doolittle is a good berry, and very productive when properly cared for." He adds the following caution : — * -I'li^ Pu'i!"" '^ growing plants and fruit at the same time, he may make a failure of the fruit, though he may succeed xyith the pla.its. They grow by ihe tops reaching over and tak! ng root m the ground, and this seriously affects the fruit-producing qualities of the plants • but If a person will persistently prevent them from taking root by piSchig off the tops the crop of fruit will be farge and juicy, and will be also comparatively profitable." ^ Davison's Thornless berry is described as the earliest of the black caps The berry is about equal to the Doolittle in size and productivene^bs, and has the advan- tages of ripening early and' being thornless. Mr. Dempsey, however, says of it : " Davison's Thornless is a fine berry and convenient for packing, but we find that the ends of the canes freeze in winter." ihe toeneca is one of the varieties Mr. Dempsey cultivates. The Gregg is mentioned by Mr. Morris with the Mammoth Cluster as one of the best of its class. THE SAUNDERS HYBRIDS. Mr. Saunders' Hybrids are spoken of in high terms by several witnesses. Mr. Dempsey says : — "The hvbrids arp vprv fino 'Kn i^K wjt-H ,i<. -a-m nr-nAti^^ ,- ! • i' ^i variety Ihav. ever seen,lh.;ugh th;- fruit doe. n:;t rti^^^^^^^^^^ 5ld\\em1orThrin:rre?-' ^"' '' '^ ^ ^'^^°""*^ ^"''^«'"« "«« ^ ''^^^ ~*- ^ ^^^^-^^^^ 70 ONTARIO AQRICULTUBAL COMMISSION. Hi ■J I Mr. Arnold adds his testimony as follows : — f i>» "5*'™^ hybrids of Mr. Saunders' are quite superior to them all. Thev are croasP« h«fw««n the red and black, and are very productive and hardy. The Havour is &een the two Mr Saunders' hybrids are getting to take the lead in that class." t>etween the two. Mr. Mr. Bucke, who tests the raspberry as well as other fruit under very severe con- ditions, gives a somewhat fuller notice of these valuable hybrids. He says ?!! "The colour is rather against Mr. Saunders' berry, but it is very prolific I do not thJnlr METHOD OF CDLTIV4T1NO RASPBERRIES. pUn"-^""' '° *° """'™"™ »' ""> raspberry, Mr. Ray gives the MIowmg a, hU Mr. Morns' plan is a little different. He says :— K u7\ planting raspberries T would recommend them being planted in hills sav thrpA «.nH a half feet one way and five feet the other; and only one plant in a hill wl^f. YJ a raspberries at all, just let thorn grow up, and tie tLm together " P'""* ""^ Mr. A. M. Smith, however, says :- '-My method of cultivation would be somewhat dififerent from that of Mr Morris T i\^ not tie up canes, but cut them back when young, and thev t )w Xokv PnT^aU }-° 1 usually ^t some of the canes come up between ^fh lis ' I re^ofe the otrlf^^PfP^'^'^^' as the fruit is off. I cut out the whole^ of the old w.^d immedTately S pS^^^ There is another point-I generally do my cultivating pretty early in the 8eLson*ln5/rvf; avoid cultivating them after picking the fruit. This !s to get the wood rijened ud for w nir Sometimes it is necessary to go through and weed them out after picking.^^ ^ " ' Mr. Leslie's plan differs from either of the foregoing. He says •— wit:t^e^eiTe;jo^:K:Vr"aLi^ra:r^^ i;he plants are placed eighteen inched or wo TetP^'patrSe di.Uuce^^^^^^^^^^ about five teet, so as to allow a hor.se and cultivato"? to'pass through The oTd canes I^cnt out, and the cultivator pansed through in one direction. Un.ler this system the nlants do v^rv nicely, and seem more h^rdy and more productive than by any other!" ^ Any person who may contemplatn raspberry cultivation on a lar^^e scale mav bn interested to learn from Mr Smith that it costs about $30 to provWe tSe plants^or an acre of raspberries, while the planting out and necessary preparation of the tSrLTays - ^ *° ^"^ "'''• ""^ *" """^"""^ ^"-i s^ubrequent cultiva! ^kJ: lT^l'nil'^r,,^l,^'^Fytr^^^^^^^^ ^^% %-« Pl'^nted. I use barn-yard manure and a^hr^i;;^:^;;;^p.rtia&^c^;;'ltSh^;^"^-^:^^^^^^ owing as his CULTIVATION OF THE STRAWBERRY. 71 planted is not very great. You have to keep the ground clean and keep down the auperfluous .uckera A man, with a horse, should cultivate four or five acres, doing the majoritv of ?he work with the horse and cultivator. My usual method is to cultivate them perhat« five or SIX times in the course of the season, and then I have three or four men to do the hoeing I I5 more.'- *" ^'" """^'^ ^ cultivated for $10 a year. The pruning would be worth"|i oJ Mr Smith was also good enough to go into some further details in connection with the production of Ins raspberry grounds and the cost attendant upon and mode of har^-estmg and disposing of his crop. He said :— "The canes last usually five or six yeart You can raise ahmif 1 K{\(\ „.,„ * average-I have raised 2,000 quarts-to the acre RaspberrTes are of ten «;^H =t'«* ^T-, °" *° but if they come in in very good condition they comZnd rom 10 to "2 cent' IZf ^ ?'"*'^ would not think it profitable to cultivate a raspberry bed aft^r five nr «fv ^^°'«|f.l«-. ^ costs about li cents a quart. We get the commorbaskets f or I cent Jtl^^ K . 7f " ^'""^W used a more expensivelasket, which is muXronS and the herr^^^^^^^ it These cast about 3 cents each. It would not partouLtSLSceMw^^^^^^ ^f'"''?' I find it is better to ship the berries in pints when carry^g them a long dfstaice." °''^- On the bksis of Mr. Smith's figures, the profit and loss account of his operations would, under a fair crop, stand about as follows :— operations Land at $100 per acre, say interest at 7 per cent «7 on Canes $30, lasting six years, per annum ... i n/j First cost of planting out, $8 to $10, or say per knnum l ^0 Cultivation per annum ,i Xn Pruning, say .' .' ^l^ Picking l,.'iOU quarts, at 1 J cents per quart 09 ka ♦Baskets, common, i cent each '.".'.".'.'.'.'..'.'.'." 7 50 Total costs of raspberries per acre ' ©kj, ka Return, say 1,5C0 quarts, at an average of 8 cents" '.'.'.'.'..'.'. 121 00 '^^''^^ ieslo It must be recollected however that losses often occur from damaged crons or from fruit that may not be disposed of in time to prevent a reduction ^fyalSrom profilanfloss" "'"""'^"" ''"'^' *" ^^ *^«" ^"*« account when estimatfn" so CULTIVATION OF THE STRAWBERRY. The strawberry, in its wild state is ubiquitous in this Proyince. It is in fact thoroughly indigenous to Canada that, says Mr. Bucke in his evidence •- Ontario!'' '°''' ^'^^ °"' ^'"'"^"'^ ""'' '^''°^ ^"^^^'^ ^'^^ ^^ -«» ^« it ^oes in Western Nor does it appear that the plant may not be cultivated successfnllv «r,^ profitably in districts least favourable to the growth of the lar 'e frii tf T^ fl ^?" home demand, the difiiculty of shippincr the fruit to Ion" di«tTn li: . •*"''^^y the great wholesale strawberry growing dSctr^nm^tsT^^ "^'^'\^ '''"^/ *'^ our northern, eastern, and norU^este?n coS, it 'w^^^^^^^^^^ '""'Vl th^s^ profitable strawberry cultivation h ave been rea£d ^r^even ap^r^JcS * If a more coRtly b\8ket is used it is returned or if anniB ho !«..♦ ♦»,» u perhapd cover such defl.jieuoies. rouuruaa, or ir some be lost, the above charge may 72 ONTARIO AORIGULTURAL COMMISSION. Attention will first be called to the evidence of some large strawberry growers, and afterwards the facilities for an extension of the industry will be noticed The sandy soil of a large portion of the front or southern part of the County of Halton and particularly the district surrounding the Town of OakviUe, is the most famous for Its strawberry gardens of any section of the Province, while the short distance between 1 oronto on the east and Hamilton on the west, with the moat convenient and speedy communication by land and water with both cities, gives to the growers the best of markets almost close at hand, and ready means of distribution elsewhere, as tar as the nature and condition of the fruit will allow. Mr. Jeremiah Hagaman, one of the largest Oakville strawberry growers, was goodenough to give the Commission very full information with regard to his business. The berry he, m common with most other witnesses, gives the first place to, as a market fruit, is the Wilson, or Wilson's Albany. Of this berry he says :— i„^ ''fel'Taii''"^"''*^'?!-*' wu ^""w? Wilson variety the best. It is preferable for market- ing. lake it all around I think the Wilson is the best berry. I think there are soma nth«r strawberries richer and better than the Wilson, and more plLaittoXte^^^^^^ lTLfJ\T *^%\k?",''Iu*T.^-{"' ^^^Pi"" ry ^ ^^^ ^''«°»' ""'• P'-^duce so large a crop. So far as I know I thmk the Wilson is ahead of all. It is considered a first-class fruit, but of course it is a little tart. It yields more than any other berry we have had to do with, but we f LTl^rV"" 'l**"' r^'il'*- .1^^ ^*^^ r "^ .^f •«! '"^"y «^ tl^« lately introduced berries. A ^u w^°y -^ ''®^" *,"?'^ ^^ °*®''« 1" OakvlUe, but they have not succeeded well. . J. he Wilson is a general favourite with all the great fruit growers." The V.ii.son is the chief variety grown in Prince Edward County. At Lindsay "almost everyone grows the Wilson." Mr. Arnold, of Paris, who has given a good deal of attention to strawberry cul- ture, as will hi-. .:een further on, says : — fho ^I^X '?"'* VroiytiM^ for the market is Wilson's Albany, and though there is one called the Ida that is a larger, finer, and better berry, Wilson's Albany carries the best of any." At Ottawa, "people generally grow the Wilson, because it produces a heavv crop. •' AtGoderich, says Mr. Allan, "we cultivate the Wilson almost exclusively for market purposes. '' Mr. Pettit, of market varieties, prefers the Wilson. At Arnprior, Mr. Usborne "grows the Wilson exclusively, and it does well." marke?^ ^'^^'''^'"' ^"^^ ^^' ^""^^ ""^ ^^^"^ ^''""^' " '^ "'°^* profitable for the Mr. Leslie says of it '. — "We have tried a erreat many varieties of strawberries, but do not cultivate them for market on a large sea e, growing them mainly for the plant. The variety which we have found best so far is wagon's Albany. It has rather an acid flavour as generally picked. It 18 not ripe when it is red, but must be nearly black before perfectly matured." Li Bruce, the Wilson " is the favourite with local growers," but the wild straw- berry IS a powerful competitor with the cultivated plant. The Wilson is the popular fruit in Perth. The same testimony as to its superior marketable qualities comes from Middlesex on the west and the United Counties on the East. The Wilson owes the favour in which It 13 held, first to its ripening, or at all events attaining a marketable condi- tion early, second to its productiveness, and lastly to its carryin<^ qualities Its tartness 1^ an objection with some, although not regarded as a drawback by many ±Jut, as Mr. Leslie points out, it is not ripe when ordinarily sold. When fully matured It would be nearly black, but then its carrying qualities would be dimin- ished. I he Wilson, however, is not without rivals in the field. Mr. Westland, of Kent, is of opinion that the Monarch of the West— "Produces equal to ihe Wilson, is as good a shipping berry ^ and equally hardy." Mr. Dougall says ; — • " ^^^ T.'u°" »*'''^7''«"y has been principally culti^•ated hitherto, but I think it is run- '''f^.K 't -w-f ^I«",^«'-=f ^« «« '«'\-' »'y the fruit se.alag that it i. almost iniposs bleTo get the true Wilson strawberry anywhere. The Col. Cher^ey is a very profitable itrawberry CULTIVATION OF THE STRAWBERRY. 73 ;he wild straw- with us. The Sharpless Seefllin}? is also a very line strawherry— one of the finest. The Crescent Seedling is more profitable than the Wilson. The only objection to it is that it pro- pagates too fast it has too many runners." Mr, A. M. Smith says of the Crescent Seeding : — "I don't think I would plant the Wilson exclusively if I were setting out any plants. At, present I think there is more money in a very early berry or in a very late one. Every one has gone into the Wilson, and if you could get a berry a few days earlier than the WiUon more money would be made. I think the Crescent Seedling is probably going to supersede the Wilson in many markets. I planted the Crescent a couple of years, and I am satisfied ^J'^^iir }^ *^®*'' "^ ^^^ Wilson in bearing, but it is not as good a shipper. It is not so acid as the Wilson, bemg a sweeter berry. This fruit has been very cheap at St. Catharines this season, probably not more than four or five cents a quart. The Crescent Seedling ripens about the same time as the Wilson." Mr. Morris gives his view of the respective leading early varieties as follows :— "For the market I prefer the Wilson, Captain .Tack, Crescent Seedling, Sharpless, and Monarch of the West. Ihe Sharpless is three or four times as large as the Wilson, and it has a better flavour. It requires troul)le to raise it, nor can it be shipped any distance, and another objection is that it lies flat on the ground on account of the berries being so large. If I were planting oat five acres I woulJ plant a good many varieties. Of the lot I think I would prefer Captain Jack. It will yield more than the Wilson, and carry to market better, and keep its colour bett»r. It is so much like the Wilson that they can hardly be told apart. In acidity itis about t le same as the Wilscm, and it requires moist ground. The Crescent Seed- ling, I think, is a v-iy profitable berry. For farmers I would prefer it to any, because farmers neglect their berrie:.. and this one will almost take care of itself. I think it will bear more thill the Wilson. I should think strawberries produce about a hundred bushels to the acre. I think we shall in time have a sweeter berry which may be transported, but we have not attained that yet." Of other varieties the Triomphe de Gand and Jucunda are esteemed the most, for home consumption, by Mr. Beall. Mr. Arnold, after referring to tlie popularity of the two last named varieties with some persons, and mentioning a small berry, called tlie Mary Fletclier, which has "the highest flavour of them all, but is not so productive," alludes to the Wilson's Albany in the terms already quoted, and then says : — " Next to it I would place one called the Alpha. It is a splendid grower and very early. I have made experiments in crossing strawberries. I have sent out four this year At the request of Mr. Downing, of Newburg, I have named one the Bright Ida, another the Alpha, another the Maggie, and another Arnold's Piide. Arnold's Pride is rather inclined to be late." Mr. Allan, of Goderich, says : — "For home consumption we prefer the Triomphe de Gand, Monarch of the West, Sharp- less, Green Prolific, Colonel Cheney, and the Charles Downing, with a preference for the first-named. Arnold's No. 3 is also well thought of. We have not had much experience with the Sharpless, but I don't think it bears out the claims that have been made for it as to its enormous productiveness. I don't think any of these varieties would be likely to take the place of the Wilson, as a market fruit. The Wilson is the only s.rawberry that is shipped, though some of our growers have been asking for thj Triomphe de Gand. Steadily through the season, the finer varieties command a higher price than the Wilson." Mr. Bucke, of Ottawa, says: — "The New Dominion is an excellent berry, and is grown a good deal. I have some of Mr. Arnold's varieties. Some of them are exceedingly fine. His No. 23 is going to be one of the best ever produced, I think." Mr. Leslie says : — " The Sharpless is a new variety, bears very large fruit, is a good grower, and I think is a very promising berry. The Jucunda is one of the very best varieties and ought to be more cultivated than it is. It is a magnificent berry for shipping, the fruit being large and beau- tiful, and the plant productive and good in every respect. The Crescent seedling is very pro- ductive and the berry rather attractive. " Mr. A. M. Smith mentions some other varieties. He says : — "There is one we have called the Nicanor, that, as an early berry, has paid very well aboutDnimmondville. I have a seedling of my ■^\^•n that is a little' ahoad of that 'in the quantity and quality of the fruit. It has not yet been out under any particular name, but ia 6 74 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. simply grown there by one or two parties. It has been proposed to call it the Early Canada J. 'JTrl't . """' ^''P*'"?"?^^^"' the New Dominion berry. For the local m ^rket it i« a very he berry to gr.,w but it is too soft for shipment. Tt i« later than the Wilson, and will oom- mand a much better price. It is a seedling that originated in DrummondviUe." Mr. HaKaman, in his answers to the questions put to him, gives what may bo regarded as a full code of instruction for strawberry culture :— "The soil most suitable for the growth of the berry is a sandv soil, or sandy loam. The ground should be highly manured, and if it were summer fallowett it would be preferable • or you can raise turnijjs, or something like that, and the next season raise strawberries. I would recommen"?""" "^ strawberries, we can We gr, w a better strawbLrvHvn^^ wl,ere they can ^row a far better sample than an.l the farthe,- we t'e back thrttter we find theTW 1"''M^-' H'i\^ ^'"* "'''' "!'«» l''^*"''. is common, but little of it is gathered" "''' ^'"' '* '' "*'" ^^t^""- ^he wild fruit Mr. Bucke, of Ottawa, remarks :— berr^ "^^^tnZ " W^ZSlr" w' "JStSf TV 'T ""* "?' "« ^^''^^ ^^'-^e for straw- there is no necessity fo doing so if the m.le on^rSeTir '"*" P".awa every year, hut sh-il^tt laS^i;^E.n,?:ion^ r X^e^Tof t^ S^S^^^^ mpsey puts it at W ONTAIilO AOIilCULTUBAL COMMISSTOS. CULTIVATION uF BLACKBERRIES. The cultivivtioii of the blackberry does not receive a great denl of attention from Ontario fruit growers. J'lie wild tliinibleb.arv i« a powerful rival for public favour. The new Hochelle or Lawton was the first blackberry to attract attention, but it has been largely supe'.v.l. >1 by another variety, the Kitti.tinny, a Hn.. berry, very produchve and woil esf,ieiued. The Snyder is a smaller i.ut hai.ly variety. The Early H ilson k. ai^o n, f,' .od berry and riijons earlier than the others. The black- berry requires a strung »oU. Mr. A. M. Smith say.s of the cultivation ■ f the black- berry : — I'u^ have cultivated biackberrien to some extent, ,ni,l (im! the Dorchester and Kitf itinny are the best, honietimea the latter variety are alf,;eto(l by winter. They are a profitable crop I intend P 'J'>tinR more extensively than 1 have done. Ulackl .eirie« yield more than ra.sp_bernes, pn.bably 2,001) or .{.(K).) rpiart. an acre. The average pi i e i.s liL'her than ras])- berries, while the price of i.lantini,' tl„ ■: ' a', ut the same. For .,ne or two vears there was a km.I of bliRht on one (,f i„y varieties. I coidd not discover an insect, but just before the tune of ripening my caues bli^'hted. For the last two years they have been exempt from it. •' ' CULTIVATION OF THE CURRANT. The currant is an indigenous plant, although the w Id variety does not, like some others, enter into competitinn with the cultivated fruits in our markets. The principal varieties of red currants are known as the Red Cherry, La Versailles, and the Victoria. Mr. IJeadle appeared to be under the impression that the two first named were identical, but this view was not acipiiesced in by other witnesses. The Red Cherry currant he regards as the most popular. The Victoria Mr. Demp.-'jy considers inferior to both the others mentioned, whih; Mi. Arnold gives the Red Cherry currant the tirst place for size and productiveness, but clainiw it for the Victoria in point of flavour. Of the white currants the White Grape is practically in possessson of the field. Of black currants the Black Naples i.s the most popular, l)ut it has a very powerful conii)etitor in Lee's Prolific, an English variety, which Mr. Leslie re^-urds as superior to the Black Naples. The latter sutlers too, at times, by its name beuig assumed for inferior and spurious varieties. The red and wliite are profitable to the cultivator wherever there is a fair local demand, although subject to some drawbacks in tlio shape of insect depredators from which the black currant is partly :ree. They will be noticed in due course. For black currants there is always iv market, and unless, now and then, a ^ ite frost nips the blossoms, the crop is a very sure one. Large quantities of black currants are used in confectionery, the jiricf! paid in Toronto being usually^!, and never known to be less than $3.50 per bushel. The average yiehl is about a ([uart a bush, or, at the rate of some 80 bushels to an acre, realizing at $4 the handsome sum of $320 as the gross return. Against this would, of course, have to be charged the cultivation and picking. The original cost of the plants would be about fl08 per acre not including planting. The trees are usually transplantcil at two years, and if reasonably well cared for will last ^'or ten years, or longer if skilfully and libi-i Jly managed. They may be planted four feet apart each way, or a little more space may be allowed, if room is not an object. The bhm. currant will do Wfll on almost any soil, but Mr. Leslie recommends that, if the soil be light, they should be well mulched the year round. They will 1 sar any amount of manure— good stable manure being preferred. From the evidence, more particularly of Mr. Leslie, there would aj)pear to be room for an increased cultivation of the black currant, with a prospect of good profit to the careful cultivator. THE GOOSEBERRY, HR AN BERRY AND MELON. OUI,T1VATION OF TFIE GOOSEBEURY. 77 The goosoborry ib i. native pliwit growing very freely and yielding in itH wild state ui some HituationF a very fair Bizod fruit. Of the cultivated varieties only the AiuenoHU sortH can be depended u[)on for a safe croi), the tondency to nuldew being a 81)1 K.ua and woll-niKh fatal objection to the European varieties. Cases have been known to the Ooinniissioners of the English berry of the Wliito Smith variety doing woll, whde in the same grounds, but, perhaps in a rather less favourable soil, the American berries were dropping mihowod from the bushes ; but such an -•'•ciirrence 18 exceptional. With regard to gocmcberry culture in Ontario, Mr. Beadk vys ;— "There iw no difference, I think, in thijonini.m of Ix.tanists. between KnirltHh and American KooseherneH, hut there in a ditterence in tlu-ir adaptability to our climate. The Aiiierican Kocweberry sanative of thin country ; it is found yrowii.K wild. Those yooHt-berries thai have Hiurceeded liere, so far, have heen developmentH of the indiKenouH phuit. The amount ot Halt in the atmoHphere of Ureat Britain-owing to its insular pohition heli)s to keep up the humid Htate ot the atmospher.-. I know that in Nova Scotia iuid New BruuHwick, within a certain (li,*tance of the Hea, there ih a helt in which the KngliHh «<• mebeiry can be raised in perfection. 1 he portiouH of Canada, where they liave heen cultivated with Huccena, have heen very limited I hey have always been nearest the shores of lakes or rivers so far as I know. So far as my knowledge goes, attempts to grow the gooseberry inland liave heen failures. The wild goose- erry grou m dry situations. Practically then the gooseherry of America i.s one that ought to be cultivatalile in every part of the continent. Very little h..is been done as yet in the wav of goosebmiy culture. Our Association distribnt.'d a plant of the Downing gooseherry to each inember, tor trial, owing to its exemptitm from mildew ; we have reports of results' to a imited extent. We have failed in the way of getting results of ol).s,rvations, and our members have been ( 'itented to enjoy what they received, and keep the knowleilge to themselvea too much. Mr. Beadle has found that, Ly si^rinkling a strong solution of salt under the bushes, the humidity of the soil has been kept up, and mildew avoided. Ho regards the culture of the gooseberry as still in it.n infancy, and this \iew is probably a ■orrect one. The English gooseberry is the larger and richer fruit by far, and if," by judicious t-'uiagemunt, a gooseberry can be produced approachini; to the English varieties m their characteristics, but, at the same time possessing the resistance to mildew of the indigenous plants, the cultivation of the gooseberry will be far more popular and extensive. For canning purposes, Houghton's seedling is probably the best, Downing's seedling, and Smith's Improved, being the leading varieties for general use. The Wiiitc Smith is the most favourably inclined of English varieties. It must be planted on a heavy clay soil. then, a ' \te frost THE CRANBERRY. For marketable purposes, the cranberry en hardly be said to be cultiva 1 ; the supply of the wild berries being sufficient for se demand. They grow in laarshes or situations that are flooded with water in the s, lingof the year. In the Dunnville marshes, and in the Trent valley, they are produced in enormous quantities. Mr. Dumpsey mentions in his evidence that in gardens at Picton, the cranberry was cultivated for private use, and they were the largest he had over seen. Whenever the tun.' rues that the draining of the marshes, or other causes, cut off tlie supply of the w t fiuit, some artificial means of flooding cranberry grounds will he found jiiotitable and e\ : necessary to (Hiltivation. CULTIVATION OF VHE MELON. With a few extracts from the evidence on the cultivation of the melon, the report on the s, bject of fruit culture will be brought to a close. Mr. Den'psey says on this subject : — "I have paid !-.. ^-on,! .loal <-.f r..t,tpnt!.--v. to the eultivftti-vu „f ':,nih v.-ater .and mu.^k nieiorm Among water melons I esteem the Long Island very highly, though it ia not so early as some 78 ONTAHIO AGRWULTUHAL COMMISSION, ttiKl the avwrage woiiM be peiliajm alx.ntHix tlie table I osteem tli.« White Jai.an an.l Hk IH more pr..fitrtl)le for the market. They rir meloiiM ..MR year, aiKl thev are inim) si. ,l.f .ffL ? closely, We may Krovv a fine on.p ..f yie... per acre varie«v,f;.S''Tr.t=tt:\:;~r;^ . al.,.nt H,x or e.Kht tonn. I al.o cultivate ,„„Hk ml\Z. For Mkellman'N f-ine Netto '. The Nutmou immk melon fiPHt oy^ept;m;l;rr:'^v;^;zir;manu% i\iz :!?f '"//'r "''""^ *!'« t'''i"« "^ AuRnntriho The'ZLrmel.m'iHTHo tSX hSly^r* w'' Nutme, an.) the Cantaloupe are eHteeme.l ripe melons about the en I o July or the Lin!rnf 'f *]"" ^"J'' ^nu'''''^" **'''>' »'«"•« = ^- h'^ve in potH. or on reversed ho'ih a Vh«nL ,1 *^f1 ^"^;"'*' '^'l^^ "'" ^f*""^" *» hot-be.ls, put out into beds o'lyTfeur Lu,tr „ each^^^^^ S'"l ""' *" ' " '?""/!:"" ^^'^'^ *'^«y "*••; them. SuHhes are then i at over tC,, fnJ i.. fV ^''if '"7"^ l"ad «f hot manure ilnder tin.e the seed i« sc.wnmt the autumn fr 1 ft Zl, ^''i' >'''%",* •''''^•""'' ■"" '''^««'* ^'•""' '»'« A dark. sh,Uy soil is .»•eferre'i^rSt"sInd^or^lt;';:'it'Sc^s th Ji'^^sVa';:^'^ ""^"*^- this^«'^;tn''An?h'"'''^T^^ '""'^h *» that already quoted in CONCLUDING REMARKS. The Commissioners believe that the review of tlie evidence thev havo now ,^o,. eluded, will demonstrate to everyone, whether the facia have been hitherto admitted not, that the Provnice of Ontario is pre-eminently a.lapted for tS/roS of fruit subject, of course, to a wise selection of soil und situat On and fh« nnr^ i description or variety of fruit best suited to eithe^or t " hr^aS^^t 1^^^^^^^^ consumpfon What has here been .said has b.^ /add esse.l not^^^ pomologist, but to the farmer, and it has been for his bcSS t'h- t tl. > n,.l« f ' dence has been obtained. The knowledge and .xperilncro t^e^ xTer : hive thus been grat.utously placed at his disposal. Hitherto it is .lui"^.^. able hat "iv nrSie'' "it'r T^""," Tf ''""-'''''^'^ "^ ^^"^t' ^^^ buiineLS.a m t b e a' n„ nl,^ 1 1 ^* ^'""^ '''',™ ^''"^'''^ "P"" '"^^ '^ '"«r« incident to the possession of a much and, or a means of supplying the wants of the family. Wh," hj bee planted has often been planted without judgment in the first ^selection ■ .^atha been grown has been inferior because uncultivated, and left to chance •' v^h • t las been marketed has been profitless because ill-gathered, or damaged by' insets r rnS.^b"?'! ^' '^' ^"r "'-''•' ^"("'^^^"tly evident that care and at'tention w 11 nv and pay handsomely Nor can the etlect of so interesting and del.ghtfu a usuit as fvu. culture, carried out ou intelligent principles, on tlie youn^r members the farmer s family, be unworthy of consideration' The laying "it ort le ore .rd the cultivation of the protecting hedges or tree belts of attractive ever-n-e mf the care and pruning of the young trees or bushes ; the occasional etforts at ol aini, " new var>et.,.8 ; the study of the habits of the insects that frustrX success nW etlorts to circumvent these cunning pests ; and finally, the repaymeiirfr t^ ^a care that l.as httle of drudgery about it, in the creation of LTorchL or fi garden, giv.ng beauty to the homestead and bringing substantia pecuniary etr besides-all this may surely be one moans of arreatin| tho tendency o? Sers" so ' CULTIVATION OF THE (lllArK. 7VI to Bouk other imrHuitH, ami, in ovurcrowdud oiHus, tiiul too oft»n a far luss certain, if inuro exciting ineana of omployrnont. On thi'uo points, 'jufnro they loavo this branch of their duties, the Commis* sionora desire to record a strong opinion : — Fititt — They rocomniijnil tliat a phm shouhl be devised for the periodical collec- tion and compilation of fruit statistics, and of such facts as sliow the state or pro- grOMS of fruit culture in the aovoral Hoctions of the I'rovinco. Secondly. -That a special means, shouKl as already suggested, be provided for ascertaining from time to time tlio existence of new varieties. Thirdly .—T\\nt a hand-book of information on Fruit-growing, as free as possible from technicalities, which would at the smallest cost instruct everybody who desired to know what fruits could be grown, what varieties are most profitable, and when, where, and how to grow them, should be prepared, under proper authority, for publication. CHAPTER III. CULTIVATION OF THE GBAPE AND NATIVE WINE MAKING. Although nature had marked out this country as the home of the grape, its cultivation on a scale of any magnitude has been a thing of quite recent date. As stated in a previous portion of the Report, the grapes of Canada are all descend- ants of the two indigenous varieties, known respectively as the Fox and Frost grapes, crossed together or with European wine grapes. The Fox and Frost grapes are found over the whole of this Province, except in the Muskiika and Parry Sound District, but it is stated in the report of the Com- missioners, who visited that section of country, that the wild grape (if one or other variety makes its appearance as Lake Nipissing is approached, where a somewhat milder climate prevails than in the more southerly parts of the district. The absence of lime is reputed to be one cause of the absence of the wild grape in Muskoka, and probably this defect has been supplemented by the action of spring frosts (jii the vines if any have ever taken root there. The cultivated grape, on t'le other hand, was seen to be flourishing vigorously in many parts of the district, and bearing a good crop. The Frost grape is the smaller and finer leaved variety of the wild grape, and it owes its name to the beneficial effects of frost on the maturing crop. Of this .,|)ecies the Clinton is one of the improvements. The Fox grape is the coarser leaved grape, its berries being larger, but more sparsely distributed, not hanging like the Frost grape in thick clusters or bunches. It is more sensitive to frost than the Frost gra])e. From the Fox grape crossed with the best European varieties Rogers' hybrids have been produced. The failure to fruit is common to both, owing to the plants in a wild state bearing only male blossoms. It is probably a grape of the Frost variety that is mentioned in the report from the United Counties, which says : — "Native wild grapes, some of excellent form and quality, prrow everywhere throughout these co\mties, and on the St. Lawrence islands on the dry limestone gravelly hills and riilges, the soil being dee)) and strong. Or. the edge of a large marsh, where the vegetable soil was deep and rich, a fine vine (native), heavily laden with splendid clusters of a grape, at least equal to the Clinton hi size of bunch and berry flavour, has been seen by the writer of these notes." 80 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. The European grape, on the otlier hand, wnatever its value as a cross on^ the native grape, has never thriven on this continent. Mr. Beadle, in hid «vidence was very emphatic on this point. He said : — ' " Many attempts have been made to plant the European grapes in Canada. The vinea will grow for a while, sometimes they will bear a crop or two, but in the end they will all sucfiumb to the mildew. During the winter I received an inquiry emanating from the Com- missioner of Agriculture about some parties abroad bringing in and planting European grapes and I replied it was utterly useless ; that the experiment had been tried and proved a failure' and that it always would prove a failure." A similar experience, nearly as unsatisfactory, it will be recollected, has at- tended the efforts to acclimatize the European gooseberry. It is, however a source of great satisfaction to know that, thanks to the skill and perseverance of American and Canadian hybridists, we have been supplied with grapes of great excellence and possessing most, if not all, the qualities necessary either for table use or wine manufacture, capable of cultivation, some or other of them, in all parts of the Province, and very free, so far, from injury by destructive enemies. Speaking of ohe area best adapted to grape cultivation, Mr. Haskins of Hamil- ton, who, with his partner, owns a large vineyard there, says : "I have been engaged in the culture of grapes for v. enty-one or twenty-two years, and have had a good deal of experience with such varieties of grapes as are suitable to our district Ihe district embraces Hamilton as its centre, and the area between Hamilton, Niagara and some distance round on the north side of Lake Ontario The area cf Canada adapted to grape culture is very large, and I think would include ail tliat part of 0^^lri(J south of the Great Western Railway, and some distance north of it. Taking from tuis city (London) westward, and south to Lake Erie, we would include some of the best grape growing lands in the Province. I understand that in Kingsville, Essex County, the Catawba may be ripened • and taking that as a test it is a better locality than Hamilton. A friend who resides in OtUwa, an enthusiastic grape grower, told me, that certain varieties of grapes ripened there and I was surprised to learn that the Delaware was one of them. There are very few points in the vicinity of large bodies of water where grapes cannot be grown. From my own obser- vation, and from what I have heard of Prince Edward County, I think it would be an excel- lent place to grow the earlier varieties of grapes. Grapes are a great deal cultivated in the district lying between Hamilton and the Niagara River, vineyards being attached to manv houses, and planting is going on yet." Grape growing is successful in all the western counties. There are large num- bers of grapes grown in the immediate vicinity of Toronto, and all along the line of country lying between Toronto and Gait. Nor is the suggestion that grapes may be cultivated on a large scale, and profitably, at Ottawa, at all beyond the limits of actual experience. At Arnprior, in Renfrew, the Commissioners' found a very fine vineyard in cultivation by the Renfrew Fruit Company. Their manager Mr. Usborne, says in his evidence : — " We grow grapes largely. We have fruited this year some thirty varieties. Among otiiers the Dela^vare and Champion a.re early grapes ; Rogers' Nos. 1^8 and 19, the Martha the Walter, the Concord, and the Telegraph, are useful varieties. I would not recommend the Clinton, We grow forty-one varieties altogether, chiefly with a view to fruit, thirtv-five of which we have ripened successfully this year. We have made some good wine -champagne and s.)ine light dry wines. We have to lay the vines down in the winter and keep them covered with soil to protect them from the spring suns. We already suffer from the curculio on the plum ; we adopt jarring as a means of checking them." Mr. Beall, at Lindsay, says ; — " As to grai)es, the Delaware, the Concord, the Clinton, the Creveling, the Rogers' Nos. 4 and 1.5, and the Champion, have all been grown in our neighbourhood, and have fruited" They do much better than any other varieties that I am aware of. The Concord, the Dela- ware and the Clint8 o"e of my hybrids. Its parents are the Clinton and the Black St. Peter's. 1 place It first because it is the earliest among the P'rost grape family. The grapes of this family hang until the frost comes, and they are improved rather than injured, while I'ox grapes are injured by the frost." Mr. Allan, of Goderich, remarks that Arnold's Brant is "useless unless it gets a frost." ^ Of most of the more popular and established varieties the notices are frequent. Of Rogers' hybrids Mr. Haskins snya :— "The varieties that have succeeded best with us are all of Rogers' hybrids, except No. 1, which 18 too late to ripen. Rogers' No. 4 is a fine grape, delicious and prolific. No. 1 is a white grape, but it would be of no use to try to grow it with us. No. A is a very early grape. It does not set a full bunch always, though it is worth growing. No. 9 is a very nice grape, hut It IS a shy bearer, and so is No. 3. T'^ii-e is a peculiarity about the young wood of No. 'A with us. It is of a red tint, and the same tint is carried ftito the fruit. The next one that I know of 13 No. 1.5, which is a very rampant grower. It will n j Another reference to Allan's, and also Rogers' hybrids, occurs in Mr. Dempsey 's evidence. He says : — All "y^l '^''^'^' *^^'' mildew last year to a considerable extent on some of Rogers' hybrids and Allans hybrid, and it extended even to a Martha which stood crop from them. They are in a v«ry exposed place, but I have a few^v nes in the gra,le" "" ^ ^^''"' ''"''*'""' ''"^ ""^^ Vr"dnco fairly. 1 believe it is a South Ca!roh,' a Mr. Beall, of Lindsay, as already quoted, finds the Creveling successful Ihere remains new to l,o noticed only the three groat i.rolific varieties-the Delaware, Concord, and Cludon. Of the Cncord Mr. Haskins says :- np.r ^'"^y'f ''^ ?^ Conc.prd grapes, well cultivated, will produce five tons to the acre I have ever seen the vines of that vari.-ty so overioad..! that the crop was too large to ripen but tlii.i will hapiion with d her v^Di.tiPs, ke the iJt'ijwire n„f ; i '"f'j/" "l ' ". uut the ConcoJ i. H„. .rape for the inilli^nrbeciuse i^';!^!! ^row anvw^^wfe;' ^^ll^V^J!^!';: mng onougi,, ,,„., ,ulllll^l aiiy.snii will produce a goo.l M)p." Mr. Hagaman, of OakviUe, who was called f-/ the purpose more particularly of 1 •< i 84 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. I'H giving information respecting strawberry culture, proved to be an energetic grape grower. He said : — " We find the Concord to paj' the best. ... I have almost invariably a good crop of Concords. . . . We do not use the Concord as a wine grape. ... I grew twelve tons of grapes on my acre and a half last year. They averaged me last year a little more than 4^ cents a pound. . . . The crop came to about sixty j)ounds to the vine. ... I attri- bute my good crop to the nature of the soil, and good cultivation." Mr. Pettit, of Grimsby, also grows the Concord largely, dence : — He says in his evi- "Of grapes, I cultivate the Concord, Diana, and Delaware. I find the Concord is the most profitable. I think almost any soil will grow good grapes if it is jjroperly cultivated and drained. I am growing grapes on clay subsoil, w'th a mixture of sand and ch^ on the surface. I undor-drained thoroughly before I commenced, and I have a splendid crop of grapes this jyear. My acre was planted two years ago last spring, being yearling vines when planted. Ihis year I had over five hundred baskets, twenty pounds to a basket. 1 shoidd say that twelve tons would be an enormous crop from one and a half acres, the vines being of seven years' growth." Mr. Morris, of Fonthill, while preferring other varieties, and speaking highly of the Pocklington, still admits the Concord to be the one there is " most money in." RJr, Toll, of Raleigh, Kent, cultivates the < oncord chiefly, and for table use. About three tons per acre is with him the average production of the Concord, and the price obtained from 3 cents to 6 cents y...- pound. The Concord too, Mr. Ti-li says, escapes mildew which affects some other \?arieties. '' Practically, " he says, " we have no difHculty in growing the Concord with ordinary oare. " M r. Girardot, of Sandwich, who with his family represents quite an extensive grape growing interest in that district, and whose vineyard the Commissioners visited, says, "1 hvve tried several sorts, but the most successful is the Concord. The Clinton and the Delaware are also good grapes ; but the Concord pays best. " He goes on to say : — "I can grow between four and five tons to the acre. Two years ago the crop was about ISO bushels to the acre ; last year it was 130. From four tons of Concord grapes we can pro- duce between .'iOO and ()(iO gallons of wine. I am manufacturins wine both for my own use and for commercial purposes. The value of this wire is about $1 per gallon. The Concord grape bears evenly year by year, and for five years tve have had no failure of the crop. I consider that grape culture in our part of Essex is a perfect success. I live in Sandwich." He adds further : — "The time when the Concord ripens depends a good deal on the season. Two years ago we had some ripe on the 7th of September, but las^t year it was m the 17th or 18th of that month. The later the Concord is pulled the better, but we have to pull ours a little earlier than we should, for fear of boys and birds. If they were loft lute" they would require less sugar when manufactured into wine. The Clinton grape makes very good wine, out it does not bear so well as the Concord. Not only does the Concord hear better, but the benies are larger and have more juice. The Clinton does not ripen evenly on liiy place, and there are always green berries upon the vines even when they are ke[it late. These berries spoil the wine. There are never any green berries on the Concord vines. The Clinton is susceptible to a disease under the leaves— a hort of leaf-gall which prevents the grapes from ripening well. " In additif '. to his allusion to the Concord already qu ited, Mr. Beadle says ;— "Concord grapes at four cents a pound will yield more money per acre than most other varieties." Mr. Dempsey says : — " We grow the Concord to a considerable extent. The Delaware brings about double the price of the Concord. If I were plant'ng a vinevard I woul,! limit myself to these two varie- ties. I have planted a good many of Rogers' red varieties on accoiuit of the high prices they command ; red and white grapes have commanded about double the price." Mr. Arnold "thinks the Concord is perhaps the most profitable for market, because the public have little taste, and it lool-.s well." Mr. Beall, as already noticed, finds it one of the earliest lo ripen at I iudsay. n CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE. 86 3 in his evi- Mr. Bucke, of Ottawa, makes it the standard for his district. He says : — " Any variety that will ripen before, or at the time of the Concord, will succeed with ub ; anything later will not do." Mr Allan, of Godorich, gives it as being, with the Delaware, the most profitable for market jiurposes. But, in addition to the rather equivocal support of one or two of its friends already quoted, it is repudiated altogether by Mr. Hoskin, of Toronto. He says :— "I know the Clinton and Concord are grown exteneiively for wine making' in Canada, and that has given the wine of Canada a very bad name. . . I had some of the Concord and Clinton vines planted, but I plucked them up. . . I don't use the Concord at ad. I con- demn it for wine making. Of course you can make wine from it, but you will never touch Concord wine as long as you have Delaware in the house. For quantity the Concord is to be preferred, but it does not, with me, ripen so early ac the Delaware ; tliat ia another thing to be oorne in mind in the cultivation of grapes. Your grapes ought to be gathered by the 1st of Octol)er, for after that you are ne vjr safe from frost. The Concord is, if anything, a little better for a little frost. The frost doe^^. it no harm. Slight frost will not hurt the Dela- 7\V'''to^r'^* ^'^^ '■'t'® ^* *"® *""'^' ^'"* '^ *h«y ^^'^ w"*^ >''Pe and are attacked by the frost thev fall off. ./ rf There is not much difficulty in putting the Concord in its proper place, not- withstanding .Mr. Hoskin's very low estimate of its value. The Concord is ad- mitted by all to be a hardy grape, and, with the advantage of not only bearing an early autumn frost without injury but actually bettering by it, it is extremely productive. It yields a large quantity of juice, and, consequently, as a grape for making wine on a large scale and of ordinary quality is cultivated, while, as a market grape, it always sells well. Mr. Arnold, as a connoisseur with the choicest grapes at command, thinks little of the popular taste for the Concord, and Mr. Hoakin, revelling in the manufacture of wines of the highest class, and command- ing top prices, can atford to use the choicest of wiuv.' grapes. In connection with the Concord, the Clinton and Delaware have both been more than once noticed. Mr. Haskins says of the Delaware :— "The Delaware is a grape that I would not be without. It resembles the European varieties, perhaps, more closely than any otlier grape we have. We sell five or fix tons of Delawares every year for table fruit, and it commands the market well. We sell them in Hamilton, and m this city (London)." Mr. Hoskin says :— . " A-fter rearling all I could on the subject, and making personal inspections of some of the yinoyarvls of Canada, I came to the conclusion that the best grape for wine makin- was the Delaware. Ihis grape m the first place is very hee from what is called the ' fox.' "aU tliat are interested m the cultivation of grapes know what that means. What we mean by the foxy' grape is, a mousey flavour, such as maybe tasted in the Concord and Clinton- for instance, the taste is similar to the smell of a cup in which a mouse has been. The Delaware IS also very free from disease." Mr. Beadle says : — "Occasionally we see some mildew upon the Delaware, but not often. For amat^u- growth I would like the Delaware." " ' Mr. Dempsey says of the Delaware : — XI, ^^y*^ ^'™^ "*"'"'' varieties of grapes very successfully. The varietv that succeeds best is the Delaware, and it appears to be one of the most profitable for market and for home con- sumption. We arrow the Concord to a considerable extent. The Delaware brings about double the pnc ; lie C ucord. If I were planting a vineyard I would limit myself to these two varieti! ;. Of the 0'!.itun Mr. Haskins says : — "The Clinton grows very freely, and is very prolific ; the most so of any wine grape we have, and that is all we use it for. Last year we had about twenty-eight tons of Clinion grapes and they ripened perfectly, better than for some years before. There is a peculiarity about wine made from Clinton grapes. It niakes excellent wine, but it ver-'sirps ,■!. fpw -r-^.-.- to mature it : while other grapes make a -.vine that will be ready for use m a year. It fiolds so nmch and in solution that it requires a longer time to precipitate it. The Clinton irives 200 gallons to the ton. " ° 86 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. w Mr. Toll had no demand f«)r the Clinton grapes and dug up his vines of that variety. From the evidence it would appear that tlie Clinton is chiefly esteemed as a wine grape, especially adapted for tlio preparation of liglit acid wines. Some, how- ever who like tart fruits prefer the Clinton to some of the sweeter grapes, after its acidity has been mellowed by a frost. THE MANUFACTURE OF WINE. Wine making is so <;x(remely simple a process there is no very great room for disagrocment as to tlu. lut thod. Probably Mr. Haskins is the largest wino maker at the present tune in Canada. His process is as follows :— '' After the grapes are gathered they are generally put through the mill so as to puncture the skms a little without cru.shing the seeds. If we a>-e making one cliis^ of wine alone after we have put the grajies through the mill, we put the whole mass, includiMg the skins, into an open tank \Ve have tanks which hold about two tons each made of oak staves. Thp mill 18 set over the tank, and th ; grapes are put through until the tank is nearly, but not quite, full-sav, within seven or eiglit inches of the top. A li.l is then i)ut on the tank, anil the mass 18 left th.re f.)r a fevy duy^, care being taken not to allow the grapes to mould. In case we fermcnf Uie grape.s with the skin we get a red or da.-k wine, that is, if we use a dark coloured gr.ipe The Concord grape makes a very good light wine. The grapes are put immediately into the press, and the first run is put away as the best wine. After having pressed the reir-undei, and added sufficient sugar to give it proper strength and keep it, the seconil I'lality ui wuk- is made. In making the second grade, water is put in to diss.dve the pulp. Ihe hrst run i; put away in barrels, will make good wine without the addiniim of anything, if the grapes have been well ripened. Before the second treatment we allow uer- hajis about a week to ehpse, but the tanks must be closely watched for fear of moulding I uiKlerstand that in trance there is even a third pressing, which makes the Vin Ordinaire. Vou mus^ have 10 per cent, of saccharine matter in order to have enough natural spirit. All the light wines contain 12 per cent, or more of spirit. . '^Vh<^n t'*^ ^,'"*' '* '", the, barrels, you must leave the bung loose while fermentation is going on. the sedime.it should be taken out about Christinas. We generally rack it off with a siphon the tube being put down within four inches of the bottom. The Clinton wine requires longer to mature than the others, and should have at least three or four years. The ditlu'ulty with some who make wine in this country is that th.^y think it sho.dd be Ht to use m three months It should be kept until it is quite bright, and the fermentation has alto- gether ceased. If you look into a vessel which had contained Clinton wine, you would find crude tartar deposited :n the f<.rm of crystals, in large ouantities. The suhseq'uent treatment IS only a question of racking off, and keeiiing the vessel bunged, etc. If you .Iraw off half a vessel, and leave^ the other half, you will find that the wine will be injured if a very li-'ht wine. 1 think the Concord grape wines and the Diana will mature earlier than the Clinton. "There is no radical objection to the addition of acertain portion of sugar for the purposes of sweetening and maturing tiie wine. Sweet grai)es should mature if properly vijA^'d but producers are apt to put m all together, and then the mixture is fortified with the addition of sugar, ihere is no reason why we should not raise grapes here with a su.fieient ouantitv of saccharine matter to make wine as good as tlie import-d. I am satisfied that we will vet be able to raise wine that will rival the best imported article." Mr Girardot supplies one or two additional hints on the subject of wine- making : — ' ' In making wine I generally use a cid3r mill, though I could use anything else that would answer the pur|)ose. \V e throw the graphs into the mill and grind them, and we then throw the luice- skins and all -into a tub hoMmg one thousand gall.)ns. If we want to get a white wine we dravv it off before ,t begins to f .rment. Tlie rem under we leave to ferinnit from eight to ten days, and that makes the red wine. We can generally guess how much sugar to put in. We use only the purest white sugir, as the l)r,)wn imi)arts an offensive taste to the wine. The grapes themselves will give emiugh ' l;ou the inLure l"ea,, The fermentation goes on probably for a month in the cask, which is bunged m, I don't use anything for rehnmg the w ne ; it come, out as clear as crystal ; it is w ne a ter it is run out into the casks. 1 only inake one description of wine, and do not mre (^,y fr„„ 'sec^^^^^^^^ pressing. I never put spir ts into the wine, because in the first ,.lace it destrovs what vou i av Se L'l£lX,f a rt' the S '' ^"" ""^'^ '^''''' - ^'^^'-' - -'- tlfe^fitta^yoJ had ^i^;!i;3S^^^^^f i^^:ij:f ^^ %^s^^^'^^^^^-^ S c.mpared with the ordinary li«ht wines is stronger. I don't make a bus ness of seHiL the wiiie of cou.se, but I have realized $7 a dozen bottles, champagne quart iTnS In who^v Siate' whaSnn fe'' '"* ''''"' '' ^'^^ "^ " "'''''''' ""'''' "^ P— '^'i-- -" I oterved'no The question whether Canadian wine could find its way into the foreign market was pretty fully discussed. That it would stand the voyage had been fuUv and s^ractorily tested in Mr. Hoskin's evidence. ^ ;" Mr. Hoskins says^on the subject of a foreign trade :— " In view of the fact that a large nun.ber of vines in France and other European countries are be.ng dest. .,ye, I by the 1 hyl oxera, I think our prospects are good. I never'^had an v view of sin, nnig the wine t,. England. I remember showing one wine to a gentleman from 137 mingham, and when he tasted it, he said he would take all we had of that k id, C l.amJ, ed only t.. have a littie. It is asortof wine which wo are endeavouring to pr.. luce from ou^ow' see. ling grapes and I am satisfied that if ue can produce it in .lUiuitity we will fiml a reidv market in hnglan.l for all that we can make. I see nothing to prevent Ontario fmmleco.S a xv,ne-p,.oducii g and wine-exporting country. . . I thfnk the duty on wine in Eg' if ' half a cnmn (60 ceu s per ga Ion J am satisfied that I could sell winea,f the kind T n entio Ld t. almost auy ex eiit m Eugland. It is ^vhat might be called a light port. I do ot k^ lovv whether w.^ shou d sell it as pr.rt or ghe ,t a new name. If we were introduci our winel into England I think it would be betle,- to name them after s,.n.e por on o m.r c,. ntrv Eiiand.'"' '" '''""''' "°* "^'^ '' '"^"' '^'^ ^ '^'^'^"•J ""* ^<^ '^We to sell i^ i^ Mr. Girardot says with regard to his experience .— "I was born m France but I don't think there is any part of France where grapes lieir so much or ,lo so well as in Essex, l.v^. acpiainted with the culture of thrvTne it^Fr nee e«ec.,minghere. In that part of France I came from, vines are cultivated up m small M ' ;' "h '^'? '"i^'' ' ^"? "'" ^i'ltivate ou trellises. I p.-efer the wine ma.le f rom thrC^mc" r grai.e to that which is made in France. I think the clarets and other light wi, es wh ch we inport tmm I ranc.> are inferior to our Concord wines. The latter would heT medium wine between N o. 1 ,an, No. 2 In 1878 1 took out with to me France samples . .f nat ve w" ne n a^.uf.e tu. ed in .Sandwidi, and connoisseurs there .leclared it superi,)r to the Vin Ordinate Xh is sol. in that country un.ter the name of Bordeaux. Witllout the duty we c. ulT [mport Vin 0. bnaire ata cost ..f from oO to (iu cents a gallon, but that wine would not be t u f to ,mrs iiS t;?itz:s, z^^^r7^^^^ pt^:;:^-^- w:^alr{^i-n anything like' so wholesome as" oui;;-i;ca;;e ^tL"Sgn ^Sf is^'^ieS^^ d^ctoi^^ 3 t«S 88 ONTARIO AOmCULTURAL COMMISSION. COST OF PLANTING AND CULTIVATINO A VINKYAHD. Mr. Hagaman, of Oakville, gives the following as the cost of planting a vineyard an acre in extent : — ;i()0 posts, at ten cents each $30 00 DiKK'ii'tj liolea for jJOHts 5 00 Wires for jmstH , 15 00 Working tho land first year 20 00 Putting in puats .■ 4 00 I'uttinfj uji wires ... 3 00 Staples to hold wires 2 nO 800 vines (Concord), at $8 per 100 24 00 Thirty loads of manure .f 3e», or, if the ground be thin, well rotted manure 45 00 $148 r)0 Of the foregoing some $83 is chargeable to capital outlay. But it will take two years before the vineyard begins to bear, and then, »)nly in small though gradually increasing (juantities. In three years the grower may have a paying crop. So to the $H'S must consequently be ailded, not only the S45 for manure, but also three years' rental, say, $10 per annum, or $30, and tliroe years' care and cultivation, say $00, making altogether, an outlay of about $218, n(jt allowing for any casualties in the meantime, or interest on capital. Once establislied, however, a moderate amount of manure and cultivation is all the land will need, the pruning antl tying up the vines, and picking the fruit, being of small account, compared to the results of a paying crop. Mr. Haskuis thus describes his method of working his vineyard of some thirteen acres : — " I put about four men on in the spring to prune about thirteen acres, and they get through in two or three weeks. Then comes the tying up of the vines, which is done by women. We cultivate with a gang plough, and the soil which was ploiigh'-d up to the vines in the fall is hoed out when the first weeds begin to come. When the vines grow out, we find there are many straggling shoots, and thu women go through them and tie those up which we want to save, and any hmg vines growing over are cut off. Wo just keep back the tops. We never thin them out. In picking time we employ about twenty-five hands — two men and a number of women with baskets— that is when we are picking for" wine. Picking market fruit is done by two or three careful hands, who go through and select the best. For wine, the vines are picked clean, and the fruit moved to the cellar every night, and put through the mill the same niglit." PLANTING THE VINEYARD. " The first requisite in planting vines, unless the land has a gravelly sub-soil, and is naturally drained, is thorough tile drainage, (iood, deep ]'OUghing is the next thing, and it woidd be all the better with sub-soil ploughing, although that is not absolutely necessary. I think that is all the preparation required if the ground is in proper condition. For planting I would select vines two years old as being better than those that are either older or younger. No matter how large the vine is when planted, it is set back for a year, and I don't think anything is gained b.y purchasing vines older than two years. If the ground is in proper conditiim, and kept cultivated and free from weeds, and wire trellises are used, there is very little (iitticulty in growing grai)es. Cuttings with two eyes, put in sandy soil, and proi)erly shaded and watered will usually grow. I would shade them till Sei)tember. I first take "a frame like an old hot-bed frame, then a few light lath frames, covereil with cotton, which can easily be lifted off when you want to water the plants. They require a thorough watering twice a-week. Very few propagate young vines for themselves, but I have rooted thousands of them. On Navy Island they are grown in a cultivated swamp, covered or mulched with swamp grass, and they succeed well. Of course they don't require watering there, as the ground is moist all the time. I think growing them in a swamp is as good a way as any. liut they must be raised in the fall, and trans] >lan ted in the upland. If left in the swamp in the winter the roots would perish. Vines treated in the way I have spoken of, planted the second year in rows on dry land, would be ready to plant in the vineyard, if well taken care of. Those in the frames need not be transplanted. In the vineyard I would plant the vines ten feet between the rows, and eight feet between the vines in the rows." Mr. Haskms adopts the following mode of training : — " I prefer growing vines on trellises. We use cedar posts with four wires. The vines are gcncnilly j^laiitcd running :;;;rtii and south, and I find that if the wires arc £xcd on the east sida of the posts the prevailing winds from the west are sure to blow them down. It is there- THE VINEYARD. 89 fore better tn fix the wires on the side from which the prevailiriL' winds cnm« T,. -,vo„ the (lilficiiltv of t iH wiret. poiitnictin" in the wintpr tL'«n.l f .1 • • overcome the postH. notches are cnt n,,o„ ti e T.u er u f ce ofe , 'u e'noi,rwr"" .""""^^ pass throuKh. an.l pieces of' oak lun.l.er, one oot lonj an two i tl^.^^^ s^^^ rollers to winch the wire, are respectively attache.!. When they arrn,,t t ! ht\ on 'if h^' oak rollers are turned and dropped into the notches on the posts, !vml thus th^ wires are hSd His system of pruning is as follows : — the :iz S^t^^:' wj'lizr^..^5L:!:'^'c:S'" ;;;.v?r i:^n'';;j ^^'^^^ '' '^ "- - -« retain them, and the old ones as well On pn nin«' Ih X a^ "^'"l we cnt out the old wood unless it is very viu( r ous an 1 ,ro.n ^in r^ ^ r . *''" ^""1'- '^"'"* they ..:hould he renewed whenever the7e i' yo m j w , .' re.'ew S^ rq.r tSh -t^. ^jf szK iz kia^i!£iFh:ri^I^^ rtr^im. ^csiiS-:- ;^tt;tSrn- sHiS^ nis.st on cuttmg Lack to one eye. hut would say, cut oS eitl.er t,. Z\,r T; eveJ T « grai)es are m a garden the liest time to prune is ii \,)vember a,i,l if n IWZ 'I r ,, prune in March, leaving them on the trelli es th rouu tl e win ■ T u ,?1 '-^''"''l^ '^"".•'* As to the aspect of the vineyard, and the manure best adapted for vines he south. If you start the vines at two years old thev will take root th^ Hr^l " '""^ cane in the second year, and in the third vear vm/^I iV. ,,1 . rfn / •. -P, •^•^'"■' *^7"^^' ""«' woo.i, and in the foLth'year .?ou should hre/lullTillp.^"^ '' '"''' '^"" "'"' '^ ^"""' ''''^^^ "^ For the mildew on the grape, the application of sulphur in powder in verv small quantities, IS a curative. "' "i powucr in very l.«<.\^"r''"'r *^l'' 1T^'°'* is, for and in the interest of the a0 I J '! ■ "' ONTARIO AGlilCULTUliAL COMMISSION. CHAPTER IV. FORESTRY AND ARBORICULTURE. In dealing with the large and very attractive subject of fruit-growing, the Com- missioners have had occasion to use only the language of encouragement, but, in connection witli the topic they have now to discuss, they have to utter words of warning, perhaps even to give expression tn some alarm, for, from the day that the first piimeer settler entered Upper Canada until now, a process destructive to our forest wealth has been rashly, recklessly, wastefully, and it may even be said wantonly, going on. No one seems to have stopped to inquire into the relations which, particularly in such a climate, the trees of the forest bore t<> the operations of the husbandman affected the rain and snow fall, protected tlu crops, or served any other purpose than to supply fence rails or cordwood. If the farmer who entered the country fifty or sixty years ago were told he might have secured for himself at this moment, in timber alone, an lunount equal to the value of his farm at the higliest given price, and that he could have obtained this without sensibly diminishing the area under cultivation, he might be incredu- lous. But there are, nevertheless, many districts where such an a8sertir)n would hold good, where a fortune which might have been saved has been split up into snake fences or sent whirling in clouds through the stove pipe. Meantime, while men have toiled early and late to shelter themselves and their families — and let us hope their cattle too — in comfortable buildings, and to pro- vide the necessaries of life, they have deprived the " staff of life" of its natural and necessary shelter, and seen, time and again, perish before their very eyes, the wheat and clover on which have depended much of their prosperity. Small blame, it is true, attaches to the pioneer in a wooded country if he does cut and slash at all obstructions somewhat ruthlessly. The early settlers in Upper Canada often found themselves in circumstances almost desperate. They had neither roads, nor markets for timber if they preserved it, and, surrounded by what seemed to them an illimitable extent of forest, they naturally took small account of what might be the state of things in the days of their grandchildren or their great-grandchildren. But it is surprising to see that, even with the bare facts staring them in the face, our farmers who are- practically to-day the owners of the remaining timbered lands of the Province in all the settled districts, are in a con- dition of profound lethargy or innocent unconsciousness of tlie dangers they invite or the losses they incur. Still there is time even yet on many farms in not a few of the counties, for waste to be prevented, danger averted, and money saved, if men will only shake off the apathy they have hitherto exhibited, and see the true state of affaurs in the light of self -interest, not to say self-preservation. * How little idea of providing against the continued depletion of the forests many of them have, was well illustrated by an incident that occurred during one of the early sittings of the Commissioners. The witness before the Commis.sioners was a gentleman enjoying beyond most the confidence of his brother agriculturists — an admirable specimen (jf an ii telligent and substantial yeoman. To the question whether anything had been done in his district in the direction of replanting forest trees, he replied in an almost surprised manner :— " We do not think that we have reached the miserable condition which requires us to face that difficulty yet. We have more bush than there is in many parts of the West. " But it happened that, just before, this same gentlenian had told the Commis- sioners, that his crop of. fall wheat had been saved from winter killing — by what? FOEL'STIiY AND AmiOTmuiTVRE. uds !■' ft ihj 91 ifiDuious value, m the cl«aruig pii.oeHH ; not only have thev deiiiuU.! th«if ;iic™7;,';;:.ur::';r= ""* ^"'^' 'r ^'^^^^ •''•'''! "i^ thei^ st™. Ss' t m li; be^n aS^^ '' """*' '"'^^^ " ^'"'""'''^ water-po.er ; but of fuel rnX,;.?. I "•' u .'" r^y ^'''* *'^''^ *•»« cle8tructi<.n of their 8i pnlv 1 iho .ru buB^r knTthlSi" *'"' «^«--""" «f *^ C..n,nm..on.r8, w!;S tin.he. that .,,i ! ^H:^ K », ^S Std ^Sl? ^.^Il^l^SJilT 1 1 is proposed, therefore, now to notice :— acres in exteT'"''""* "" *^''''"' ''™^ ''^ *^« ^^^h' "«"«"y f^^- Ave to twenty 2. The ecinomic uses of the several varieties of timber. 4 m^^ "larket value of various woods. 4. Ihe age of trees matning, and conditions in which they are merohantable 5. Tree planting nicludzi,.^ choice of trees, methods, and cost '""'"'^^"^^b^^- 6. The cons ruction of w ul-breaks or shelter belts in iields ai d orchards 7. The planting of trees and shrubs for ornamental purposes °^''''^''''- PRE.SEUVATION OF .STANDING TIMBER ON FARMS. The usual treatment of the standing timber on a farm unless clpnrpd f.. v. I IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V. // f,/ 4' #?^ ///„ #I^- A C/j ■¥s 1.0 I.I 1.25 ■- ilM I JO ""'^^ •^ lilM .'if 1^ 1.4 M 1.6 VI ^ /a /a . %' '/j. '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 4? V ^\^^ :\ ^ \ ns <^ ^v- ? ^ i^y ^^ ce % i/i ^m ^ 6^ 4^^ 92 ONTAUIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. Ill maple, elm, etc., was carefully protected; and the result has been, that these comparatively flmall reserves have continued to furnish, under the same management, sufficient firewood for the wants of their owners, as well as much useful material for repairing fences, gates, and out-buildings. " On many farms in Ontario, however, not an acre of wood is now left, and on many more, the small reserves are rapidly dwindling away, so that planting would seem to be the only means of providing -at least in country districts— a supply of firewood for the future, unless our farmers nre to burn coal, and become dependent in a great measure for their fuel on a foreign country. " By selecting (1) such trees are in demand for mechanical purposes, and (2) those of an inferior class, for fuel ; carefully cleaning up iiU mere rubbish, and encourag- ing the development of seedlings and second growth by judicious thinning, the timber crop will be literally perennial. Where too, it is necessary to clear, belts, or clumps of second growth, may be profitably left to form shelter belts in the first instance, and timber-yielding plantations in due course. In the course of his address to the Commissioners, Prof. Buckland menticmed a little incident within his experience, bearing on the last suggestion. He said :— " The question of raising trees from second growth is a practical one, and I am. aware of at least (me instance in which the plan was successful. About thirty years ago I was staying a few days with a farmer in Prince Edward County, who was clearing up eight or ten acres of bush and burning it. Three or four acres were covered with second growth maple, and I persuaded him to leave that for the jtnrpose of a sugar bush. He did so, and now it is one of the most beautiful little sugar bushes ou can find in Ontario. This, of course, could only be done where the maple is the predominant wood." ,COPPICES. The subject of coppices, or the cultivation of young timber from the stumps of a former growth, is discussed in Dr. F. B. Hough's very able report of 1877 to the United States Bureau of Agriculture. Some of the information given by Dr. Hough under this head wir. be of practical interest in the present connection. Dr. Hough says : — "The coppice is a growth of timber of various deciduous kinds, from the stumps of a former growth, and is usually cut before maturijty, at intervals of from ten to forty years, according to circumstances and the uses to which the product is to be ap|)lied. " This mode of cultivation is in great favour for the growth of firewood, and the smaller wood used in various industries, and is the means by which tanning materials are often produced from the oak, where reliance is necessarily had upon this means for supplies. "The coppice of short period produces hop-poles, and the stakes nnd vine props so much used in vine-growing countries, and in many parts of this country may be able to supply, with but little care beyond protection, the fencing material and other woods required for farm purposes. It is destined to be in future of great importance in the growing of poplars for paper-making. "Tlie trees that sprout best from the stock are the ashes, elms, oaks, poplars, eottonwoods, willows, chestnut, linden, mount.ain ash, maples, sycamcire, birches, alders, and hazel. The beech will reproduce but slightly, except in very favourable conditions, and the conifers not at all, with the single exception of the California redwood. " Whatever may be the effect upon the durability of the timber by cutting at particular seasons, we have, in case of coppice growth, no alternative choice, and must cut in winter, and, by preference, toward the apprt)ach of warm weather but before the sap starts, as at this time aione will the stumps be in best condition for sending up a vigorous crop of young shoots. The months of February, March, and first part of April are generally best for this labour. "In cutting, with the view of reproduction, the stumps should be left low, and the tops sloping and .smooth, so as not to admit water. It is sometimes the practice to dress off the stumj) in a convex for n with an adze, taking especial care not to separate the bark from the trunk. It is along this line of union, between the wood and the bark, that the young shoots start, and if separated they will not sprout. . . . " In the cutting of coppice woods it is often the pra.Mce to leave a certain number of choice trees of the more valuable kinds to grow to full maturity, and thus acquire a much greater relative value than if cut small. These reserves may be kept through two or three periods or 'revobitions.' They influence the young growth by their cover and shade, and when properly distributed may be, on the whole, benefauial rather than injurious to the future crop. They should not cover more th!\n a twentieth, or at most a sixteenth, part of the whole surface. As the same stocks will be weakened by repeated cutting, care jhould be taken to secure new roots from time to time, and one means of doing this is to bend down the tops of some of the FORESTRY AND ARBORICULTURE. 93 aprouts and bury them i^artly in the soil, by which means new roots will in some species form, anji when fairly estahliahed they may be separated from the stock. Such sprouts should be held down by hooked stakes, and the tops kept in jjosition by a piece of sod." It will be seen from the foregoing hew important a source of wood supply, and of income too in many cases, the gradual and judicious removal of the larger trees, and the careful and intelligent cultivation of a second growth may become. If in clearing up land a strip or belt of timber were left on the north and west sides of every ten or twenty acre lot, and intelligently handled in the way suggested, not only would a very excellent wind-break be maintained, but the farm would yield two crops annually in place of one, with very little loss of space, and with, probably, a gain rather than a loss in the value of the grain crops. ECONOMIC USES OF WOODS. N^Tiile pine has, in everybody's mind, a certain recognized market value, other woods are often regarded, or at all events treated, as though they were all but vyorthless, or, if marketed, handled and disposed of with little practical intelligence. Since the sittings for taking oral evidence closed, the Commissioners— impressed with the importance of the subject — have put themselves in communication with Messrs. John Oliver & Co., of Toronto, a firm referred to by Mr. Hay in his evidence as large dealers in hardwood lumber. Messrs. Oliver & Co. have been good enough to supply the Commissioners with a considerable amount of additional information, and their statement will be referred to in the Report. The value of timber in an economical sense, must of course depend on the purposes to which its several varieties can be profitably adapted. The principal uses, in general terms, of Canadian forest woods, exclusive of pine, are ac follows : — The Elm.— "Rock Elm," says Mr. Hay, "we don't use except for building purposes. Soft elm makes a better seat for chairs than basswood." Carriage making, heads of barrels, and hubs of waggons, and agricultural implements, are also mentioned as utilizing elm in considerable quantities. Other classes of elm are la limited demand, but chiefly used for the manufacture of common furniture. The Ash.— Of the white ash Mr. Hay says :— "White ash is a very valuable wood, ^d makes excellent bedroom furniture. It may be used for house fittings. ^ prood many offices are now titted up with hardwood, and also rail- way^ carnages. Ash is : I largely by carriage builders. There is no wood will stand like ash m that respect ; it is next to mahogany. It is a shame to see our valuable wood cut down and wasted as it is and as it has been." The ash is now being used to a very considerable extent in the construction of the mterior of railway passenger cars. Bent stuff for tools, agricultural implements, hay-forks, hoe and broom handles are also manufactured from ash. The use of ash| for the internal fittings of buildings, alludec" to by Mr. Hay, as practicable, has accordmg to some other reports been pretty extensively adopted. Mr. Beadle referrmg to his own experience, says : — ' '' When building my own house I found I could obtain chestnut and ash wood as cheap as, or cheaper than first-class pine, and I used them. I think they aie much more handsome than pamted woodwork." Black Ash is more plentiful, but its uses are limited. The Maple.— Mr. Hay says of the use of maple in his business (furniture manufacturing) : " You can get any quantity of the hard maplo, but it is the soft maple that is the most valuable. It is the more valuable for furniture as it stands better and does not warp. Soft maple is not so plentiful as hard." In the United Counties soft maple is sometimes used for house-flooring ; it is also in some demand by agricultural implement maaufacturers. Mr. W. C. Caldwell, M.P.P., of Lanark Village, says ;— " Hard maple is used for waggon axletrees as well as several other purposes. I had an order for some from Manitoba, but could not supply it in time. " Maple has also, according to one report, been used for paper pulp making. The Oak.— Oak is used for a variety of purposes, the manufacture of barrel I 94 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. staves being one of he largest causes of demand for this wood. It is also used to a con^derable extent ni agrxculturai implement manufactories, and for ship building. Of oak, (say Messrs Olner & Co. "there are considerable vaiietes- white, red groy, and blue. The former is the most valuable. It is found in several part of the Province principally in the North and West. A large quantity of it is made G^7d^'CnV P^'' ^"^ ''T''" 1 f'\ ^rr^y "^«"*'""« ^" 1"« evld'Lnce tkl the cZtvT fnr i!^^'""^ ^'"^'^ ^7^^ ^^''^.?^ ^h'*^ °^k from his section (Prince Edward iC^l^ ffi -P J'"'^i of making railway cars. Ties are also made of oak, where and^' wtri?k 1^*^^ ^v" ' ."'• ^^- ?"y ^""^'''^ *° °^k because it is hard to work, ThJZ of R ™f ^i^^f ' nevertheless it is not unfrequently used for furniture nitiS wrl« « f n'" ^'^l-' "^ ^^"'^"1' ^'^""focturers of church and school fur- niture, writes as follows with regard to the use of oak :— but wJLr olfislaluabSor ^anV^fh"™**"'"'- ^^ ^^'*f """^ ^*« '"^^"t ^"^^^ ^*« «""ect ; out wniue oaK is valuable for many other purposes, namely, staves, bent ware and carriai7« Th Jill "* '* 'f ' ''"l ^r ^'""' •"" ^.^"'^l''^' ^^^^ '* '« ne^'-ly as scarce as wanuUn this country and will soon have to be imported in the same manner as walnut country, 1 here are, however, other varieties of oak, black or red, and yellow of which there are StUlT*.'^'"''"-^" P'^/*' r^,.*'l^ '"""^--y- "^"th of which are well adrpteJfor f^Sure behie fr,d S^VV^^^TIV""'^.""* "*^^".*" ^^•■P «'• change its shape, besiderbe m/easX w%St vLleSn? whit^'aJh!" " "" "''"'^ *° ^'^"'^^ ^* "' appearance'except walnut, ^nd perhlpssSe " ^f^^'^ht state that we use it entirely in church furniture and school work and it is to ttoffitorant """' °' "''^* " '^^^"'"'^ *° ^^''^"^ ^ -^-"^^^ wtd isXTng'dllroyed "As you are probably aware, fashions change in wood like in everything else Twentv hve years ago It was all mahogany and oak, then walnut; at the present "f fsimitSn of valuaw'wooT"^ '"'"'"^ "' "'**^ " ^"''''''' ''^ "^'^ *« ^°"°-' ^ ^^Lh else oak wiTl bocomel The Chestnut.— Of this wood Messrs. Oliver & Co. say :— Prov'i™\r"s''warnuI '^'its'nrvlTnl'/"^ ^^"^ remains is confined to the same limits in the prTvate r.tficos " P^nciple use is in the finishing of churches, also public and The Poplar.— a considerable demand has sprung up for poplar, the wood of which IS used for making paper pulp. In the Niagara district, and in Prince Edward County as well as elsewhere, it has been eagefly secured at from $3 to S4 per cord for that purpose The demand for poplar for this branch of in^'- try is likely to ncrease rather than dimmish. Poplar is also used to manufacture charcoal for ^melting purposes. "^ ■a7^^J^^^''^:~^V^'^?} .*^^ "^^P^"^ disappearance of the walnut, the black birch wood - ^l*«™^*i^« ^itli furniture-makers. Mr. Hay says with regard to this " Black birch will be the only wood you can fall back on in a few years In the north tW IS a great deal of it. It is an excellent wood. At present it is not C because it i" not ftiR r^^fi """IV^^* ''"J ^"|,"*'*7 "^. 't north, and it can be purchased at the mill readily at from $15 to $16 a thousand Black, birch is to be found in all the northern regions l^ereis^ great deal in the Manitoulin Islands, and in the Peterborough and Haliburton district lUs to be fonnd also m Muskoka. They have been shipping biroh from Lower Canada these many years back. It ,s quite an article of export there', ^lack birch is mixed wU. the dTf ferent woods of the country in large quantities. It is very easily detected aiioter trees I don't use so very much of it now, but it is on birch we shall have to fXback after tl; walnut is gone. It .s rom b rch that these perforated chair bottoms are made I think there orb"rch\ha;"5irwo'ir '"^'' '"* '' '' '''' ^^^'•^^- ^ "^^^'^^^^ ^^^ ^^ for that'ktl Messrs. Oliver & Co. say of the birch :— The Beech.— Beech has no standing in the market except for fire- wood. FORESTRY AND ARBORICULTURE. 96 The Basswood. — Basswood, like poplar, is in good demand for paper-making purposes. Mr. Caldwell, M.P.P. , also refers to it as used for furniture, and for boxes in starch factories. All that can be got is shipped to Oswego. Mr. Hay uses it for furniture. It can be used in some cases in place of pine, and is cheaper than clear pine. Mr. B eall says : — "Baaswood, until lately, has been largely used for buggy making, but it is not so much used since the Introduction of bent wood for the bodies of buggies." Thk Whitewood ok Tulip Tree. — The whitewood or tulip, which grcws exclu- sively in the warmer sections of the Province, is used largely by carriage-makers in constructing the bodies of carriages. Messrs. Oliver & Co. say, about the white- wood : — " A few years ago there was a large quantity of this wood growing in the western part of the Province, bilt owing to the great demand for it, it is being rapidly consumed and is now very scarce. It meets a ready sale at good prices. Its principal uses are for car and carriage building, and in the manufactuie of Ti'miture." The Wild Cherry. — A large demand for this wood has sprung up, chiefly in the United States. Mr. Hay says of it :— " In supplying the place of walnut, cherry is a very valuable wood. They are using it very extensively in the United States, making ebonized furniture from it. It has a very close grain, and it is very fast disappearing. I am speaking of wild cherry. That tree grows to a fair size. We get some lumber twenty and twenty-two inches broad from it. I never saw a cherrj tree growing, so that I can't say how much lumber there would be in one. I can't say whether they are high or not, but some of them grow to nearly the same girth as walnut. "The wild cherry forms a resource to fall back upon in the absence of walnut, but it, too, is fast disappearing. We are exporting wild cherry largely to tlie United States, where black furniture is very fashionable, and cherry lumber takes the best stain. I think it is as endur- ing as walnut." Cherry wood is a''<«o being used largely in the internal fittings of cars and public buildings. The Walnut. — The Black Walnut, so far as it exists, is the staple article in demand for cabinet work of all kinds. Mr. Hay thus refers to this wood : — "When I first came to this country there was very little walnut used, but one or two years afterwards it came to be used more extensively. I think it was Sir Peregrine Maitland who fist introduced walnut here, and who was the Srst to make it fashionable. Previous to that they had used cherry, or any of the common woods. Since its first introduction, walnut has been the staple fashionable v;ood for making furniture. " When we first commenced making walnut furniture we got the wood from Canada West. A great deal came from about Port Stanley and the banks of the Thames, in Kent, Essex, and south Middlesex. We now obtain very little walnut indeed from that part of the country. "Lately we have been getting our principal supplies of walnut from Indiana. The walnut grown in that State is as good as that grown in Canada, but as you go south of Indiana the walnut is of a lighter shade. The dark walnut grows best in a climate such as that of Michigan or Canada. I don't suppose the supply in Indiana is inexhaustible. I have been told, in fact, it will not last a great many years. "When I came to Canada first they used walnut for rail fences. . . . _ The principal value of walnut is that it is an excellent wood for furniture, and is handsome in appearance. It is universally admired, has a close grain, is not liable to be much affected by changes of temperature, and at the same time it is not hard to work. It is a very valuable timber economically. " I couldn't say exactly what time it would take for a walnut tree to f^row to maturity, fifty or sixty years at least. I don't know any other part of Canada wheve walnut is to be found except the district I have mentioned. There was a little once in the Niagara District, but that has been cut down. There is none at ail north of us. I don't think any careful examination has ever been made of the walnut region to ascertain how much of the wood may still he remaining ; but I am sure there can only be very little left. I have never appointed an agent for that purpose. Walnut is admitted free of duty into Canada ; it would be a desirable thing to replant walnut. There would be a great market for it." Black walnut is being used in the manufacture of sewing machines; organs, and car building, as well as for the purposes already mentioned. The Butternut. — The Butternut is mentioned as being used in many cases as a substitute for walnut for cabinet work, since the latter has become scarce. Mr. Hay does not, however, utilize it to a large extent in his business. He says : — I 9« ONTARIO AGRWULTUIiAL COMMISSLON. Sycamore.— Of the Sycamore, Messrs. Oliver & Co say ■— being used as subsiitutrs!' *= ^'^ *" ^® ^"''^ for it, soft elm and basswood are or onToTotL^nTZ'"' '^/^•^^^^^^«- "T^^^^ ^f --^ «on«tant demand for these woods, or one or other of them, for rails, posts, railway ties, and many other DurnnRP« Hendock bark is also largely in request by tanners for tanning hJes P^'P'^^'^^- COMMERCIAL VALUE OP WOODS eje2£;s.Tf !sia= SITS £^-ru„t s^L^z^ to the miUs. The prices given are, per thousand, board measure ._^'"°^'* "'*'^'*^ Walnut, best quality, according to thickness and lengths $60 to $70 " cv,ii3 ....■;.■;.■ 50 B^S^Sf^' '^"^*^' "'^^^ '' ^^ff*^' I'^'^e'knots and-Bhakes: : ! ! ! " ! : ! ! ! ! ! ! ] ! g Whitewood " " «« << « „ 22 Chestnut " " << i< <> <, 21 White Oak " <« << « « ,< 18 White Ash " " <« « << „ 17 Hickory " " << n i, ,, 17 Eock Elm " " " u « ,, 16 Sycamore " <' « << <> i, 13 Balm of Gilead " " " " « « 12 Birch " " " << K ,, 12 Black Oak " " " «< << u H Grey Oak " »' << « i< „ H Black Ash " " « < « ,, H Basswood " " '• utternut is a very fine tree, and a quick grower, a little more rapid in its growth trian the black walnut, and is useful in many ways. It makes capital wood for veneering, i he hickory is hardy i s far north as Peterborough, but is a slow grower, though it can be used tor many purposes when three-quarters of an inch or an inch in diameter." Mr. Caldwell, M.P.P., says on this subject :— "I would plant elm, maple, ash, and basswood, all fast growing trees, mingled with spruce ami cedar as evergreens, as well as i)ine. I think an elm would be forty to fifty years in attaining to ten or twelve inches in diameter. Tlio soil would have some etf«ct on the growth, but 1 Uo not think that either ash, maple or basswood would grow much faster than the elm. A maple eight inches 'n diameter might be tapped for sugar ; I think it would then be twenty- nve to thirty yeart old. I have not experience enough to speak positively on that point, fiombardy poplar? twenty-two years old, measured by me, are from six feet to eight feet four mches m circumference. Mr. Henry Ives, quoted by Dr. flough, gives, in the spring of 1870, his experi- ence in a communication to the New Vork Farmers' Club. He says — " i'ive or six years ago, I planted two acres with four-year-old seedlings of white elm and sott maple into forest rows sixteen feet apart and three feet apart in the row. Now the best ot them are twenty feet high and twelve inches in circumference, and, for thinning out the rows, 1 sell trees for more money than wheat would have brought grown for these years, and can continue to sell so until they are so large that I can take them for firewood, and I am growing a good crop of orchard grass between the rows. So that these trees in forest timber are paying as well, and are likely to pay as well for years to come, as any other acres on the larm. lam cutting now the second crop of wood, where the first or original timber was taken off about twenty-five years ago, and last winter 1,000 rails were taken by a neighbour trom one-third of an acre of growth, besides a quantity of timber from the top, and timber not making rails. Another neighbour used nice black walnut lumber in building a fine farm house, sawed from the trees he had helped to plant when a boy." The value of ..e white ash has been specially noticed. In a paper, published in the iransactions of the Northern Illinois Horticultural Society, it is shown that, in a ten-acre plantation, raised from seed, at the end of twelve years, with good culture tor the hrst four years, and proper soil, the grove would have 12,000 trees on the ten acres, averaging eight inches in diameter. REPLANTING AND ORNAMENTING FARMS. The method to be pursued by the intending tree-planter, as well as his outlay, will depend much both on the particular object he has in view and the money he has to spend. As respects deciduous trees, farmers will generally look to the threefold object of planting merchantable timber, finding shelter and shade for cattle, and beautifying their farms. The deciduous trees— those that shed their leaves annually -are not the most useful as wind-breaks, because it is just when they are bare of leaves protection for the crops is most needed. Nor would the ornamental designs of the planter be attained without recou se being had, to some extent, to the most graceful, in an artistic sense, of all trees, the members of the coniferous family, such as the Norway spruce, Scotch pine, and others. It will however, be convenient to notice first the deciduous trees in view of their genera utility for the purposes above referred to. FOliKSTHY AND AlxHOliKWLTURE. von "I would locominend," BiiyH Mr. Boftdle, "for fnreHt plantinj;, the hivrd maple, partlcii- livrly an u tr«e wliiih will hv. very val\iulile yt^t in niir country. ... 1 am not particularly paitial t(. the Hilv«r I'-aved nii'.;;''j, thi)\if{h it in a moHt p,'ely tised yet, but I think it will eventually be the leading tree. I thinit our native basswood would i)e a very useful tree for xrovving at the sides ot roads particularly in our bee-keepin({ sections ; it is rather a rapid grower." Senator Allan says :^ "The maple, both of the hard and soft varieties, bears transplanting remarkably well, and grows rapidly. " Mr. David Smellio, of Vaughan, County of York, has gone somewhat extensively into tree planting on iiis farm. Ho says : — "I think it is a very good thini? to have trees planted extensively about a farm. I have planted more trees on my farm during the past four years than any one else in my neighbour- ho.xl, I suppose. I have planted them along the front of the pluce, up the lane towards the hou/ie, and aroinid my orchards. I should like to have more of them planted. I have l)een planting the silver maple, but if I were going to |)lant again I would plant the Norway maple, which is a much nicer tree. It doesn't grow so fast, hut it grows a closer and prettier top, and swells out faster in the trunk. It is a pretty rapid grower." In Kent, the Commissioners noticed that the maple had been very extensively planted on th j field sides and concession lines, a circumstance tliat was the more remarkably from the fact that the original wood of the district had largely consisted of the elm. Mr. Cochrane, of Kilsyth, County of Grey, another farmer, says in his evidence : — "I think in the matter of tree planting we are in advance of the rest of the countj. The planting by the roail-side and along lanes is becoming quite general. The neighbour who lives adjoining my {dace has planted out, I dare say, 1,000 shade trees. The trees planted by him were chiefly silver maple and rock maple. The first he planted was ten years ago, and they were planted fourteen feet apart. They now meet." Mr. Beadle says on this point : — "For forest planting I would recommend mafde, taking of course into account the variety of soil. The hard maple (loes not succeed in all soils, Iiut where it does succeed I ()refer it. It flourishes in a dry soil. In wet soil I would use the soft maple. . . . Some little blocks of forest have been planted with maple trees, with a view to their sugar-producing qualities, and some of these have attained a diameter of six or eight inches and a height of thirty or forty feet; They have been planted some years. I do not think they received any cultivation after planting." The elm is strongly recommended by Mr. Beadle. He says: — "I know of nothing more beautiful as a shade or ornamental tree than a well-grown elm. In New England, and especially in the towns and villages, these trees were planted very early in the settlement of the country, and some of the streets are just arched over by these elms, and walking under them you can imagine that you are in some arched Gothic cathedral, built many years ago, with the columns only left standing. They certainly make a most beautiful sight." The elm, it will be recollected, is stated by Senator Allan to have matured ear- liest of the several ti'ees included in his list of experinients. Mr. Leslie also men- tions the elm as a tree very desirable for planting. The cultivation of the black walnut is universally recommended, Mr. Leslie says :— !M: 102 ONTARIO AGHICULTURAL COMMISSION. In th« nut tre^H, th« biftck walnut jfrow* very rapidly in \U yountror Htaf{en- alm.mt m rap -lly an the Kn^ i«h »«h an.!, at Hftemi yearn, ti.e woo.l c.ul.l he u Jl f.,r rimny S "mr mr icularly for cahmet-makiuK I thinic th« black walnut w.u.l.l have to he o m7ni Xefly b'tl::^^.::!^:^^^^::::^}^ ' "-^^^ -"^ '^ --^ •>' ^'™". »•"* "- ...uth.we,t portion' That the wiiimit •« »<)t a troo mjiiirii.K an oxcoptionally mild climato is proved by tho oxponoi.c« of Mr. lioall, at LimUay, already quotod. Mr. Rov t-w at Owen Sound, Hiiys ;— ^^ , v^..«i. "Tliwro is an Mm, that black walnut will not jfrow m far north an Owen Sound. Ten yearn a^j I planted black walnut needn and nt the prenent titne two or three of the tree, bear nutn. They are not only ornamental, but oowdn^ t<. be very useful treen. The diameter of two or three of thein now will be an much an nix inches. They were planted in a «tronK ,oiL" If the Hoil is at all good, Mr. Arnold roooniniendB the {)lttntinK of tho black waljuit on lands that may, for any other reason, be unavailablo for affrioultural purposes. ^' The buttornut, as already noticod, is recommended by Mr. Leslie for plantina Senator Allan says of it: -" The butternut if transplanted young succeeds well " It IS somewhat more hanlv thaii tho walnut, and, as previously nrentioned. is often used as a substitute for that wood. The hickory is rather a slow grower, but can be used profitably at so early a Btago in Its existence that it is a profitable tree to plant pretty freely with the view to tlie sale of thinnings as the trees mature and cron ' one another. Mr. Beadle says : — " I have not the Hlightest doubt that plantations of hickory will pay in the near future." The ash can be easily transplanted, and, as a fast growing tree, for the wood of which the demand 18 certain to incroase with time, is one thai should bo cultivated Mr. Beadle says of it : — "The ash will always be valuable, particularly the white ash." Mr. Leslie recommends the English ash as preferable to some Canadian varieties He says : — "For tree planting on waste landH. or hillsides, with an economical view, I would recom- mend the Englmh ash a^ a mo.t useful tree. I think it would come into the market earC than any other tree that could be planted. It is largely used for handle-making, and abS ten years' growth on ordinary sod would produce a tree that could be split infeffour pieces fri"fr*.r„:!!ff!j2..ir^.?„e_^"J^^^^ EngUsh ash is not the s^ame as our cJmr,; 111 I, Vu r \ \.a "•"• ^-'o ^"Kiiou asu 18 noi tne same as our com black ash ; there is as much difference as between the European larch and our tamarack 18 a more rapid grower than the black ash, and the wood is better in every way. It The Lombardy poplar, which is an exceedingly fast growing tree, may be utilized for other purposes than shade, as will be seen by the following quotation from Mr. Leslie s evidence : — "Some people like the Lombardy poplar and some do not. It does not harbour inspcts on the contrary it is a very clean tree, but in this climate it is apt to ,lie, and to bec.une ragged at the top. In the lattet case however, f cut every few years it will grow more hand- some with each cutting. It is being largely used for shelter purposes "The Northern Railway hav-e ordered some thousands, and are putting them up alonR the line instead of fence posts, and using barbed wire to form the fencing. The wounding of the tree does not do it any harm. ""umg m . "^,S,*^t prairies of the West, they are used, too, to a great extent without the barbe.l wire. The trees are planted six feet apart, and when they have attained a sufficient height the top IS cut off and nailed laterally from tree to tree as a barrier. By the time the too thus placed, has decayed, a new one will have been formed on the tree _ ' ' I think the height at which poplars for such purposes should be pjanted is immaterial • it 18 merely a matter of expense, as the tree has undoubtedly great vitality. They seem to grow as well if planted when they are as large as your arm as they do when they are the size of your little finger. In seven or eight years it becomes a tree of thirty feet at least 'Our balsam poplar is not yet a very handsome tree, but it makes a good shelter. In localities where you do not want to cultivate anything, it can hardly be recommended for ornamental purposes. The basswood, growing rapidly, and being in demand for various economical FORESTRY AND ARBORICULTURE. 106 the near future." nadian varieties. oils economical irposes, is now aUo boinn cultivntod in connection with bee farming, itH flowoni ^.elditix au cr.^raordiniiry crop of lumoy of the Hnest (jmility. 'I ho tulip (or whitowood) tree, ih strongly CMiiiiondod by Mr. Readle to the attention <.f ..il who may live within the area in which it can bo ■uccosBfullv culti- vated. He says ; — "We have alio the whltewood tree, which in uwd by carriage-n akeiH in making ».o,li«« „f carrlaKen. The rnont ..f that tree khcwh i„ the N'iaKara Dintrict. Ther. are l.eautirul treen of it in our diHtrnt, many of tlit-ni \mt\a nearly an large in diameter at the top where the liranrhe* come out iw at the t)ottom ; Kouie of them niuMt be fidly forty feet hii'h. I think it Ih one of our Hii.«t haiulHome ornamental treeH, and I have often wondered why planterH of oinamentnl ph'-ntationH have paid ho little attention to it. It makon a very Hymnietrical tree on a lawn atH about thm time of the year it comeB out in tulin bloHmuuH which have a pleanant fraKrance Ihe leaveH are remarkably br ght and green, and free from insects. Though it iH .iitHeult to trauBplant ttie tree, if you begin young you can accu»tom it to tranMplautatioii. The root lit verv unlike niOHt of our forest tree roots, it is a very fleshy root, more like that of a vegetable. " The tree is found in liirgo (juantities in Kent and Essex, and can probably be prohtably grown m the whole of the southern half of the south-western peninsula excej)t, perhaps, in a few very exposed situations. ' The beech and birch are graceful trees, and some of the varieties of botli such as the cut-leaved birch and the purple-leaved beech and birch are extremely beautiful For black birch there will bo a futi re market for cabinet purposes, while if onlv for fuel, the beech is useful. *- . , j The willow is a tree that very quickly supplies ' ' '\ need of shelter for cattle and a protection, if chisely planted, aga-nt cold winds. In Iowa, the wiPow has been used to a large extent in the construction of wind-breaks and shelter-belts on the Krairies, and with great success. The willow has its economical purposes besides Ir. Oalusha, ahaady quoted, says of the use of the willow :— " I regard this as probably coinbinim? more desirable qualities for cultivation in (rroves 1 l"^i rif^'I'T'' • *•" ''1 f u"-"" ^""^'^ "^ r/' ^°"'^' ■■»?'*• Jf"^'"*?. 'lecLluous trees, ami am leculedlv of the opinion that this and the golden variety are the beat deciduous trees with n my knowledge for wind-breaks or screens, but wish to be distinctly understood as not reccm- mending this tree as a hedge plant, or the planting of this or any other sort, to the nedecf of other desirable varieties Strong cuttings of this tree seldom fail to strike root at once hi mellow soi. and will make a growth of from two to six feet the first season. Ft thrives in al kinds of soil, making as much wood in a given number of years as any other known sort n. k even excepting the cottonwood, growing into a large tree sometimes four feet in diameter The wood 18 of rather fine texture for a light wood, making a fair article of soft lumber which bears a high polish. It is also valuable for making wooden-ware, bowls, trays, etc It also splits freely, which is a desirable quality in making fence posts, rails, railroad ties," and fire? "The g<.lden willow is similar in texture and growth to the white, but I think it does not make so large a tree. I have measured half a dozen trees of this variety (golden) which were planted on the roadside 1.-) years ago last spring, and find the average circumference of the trunks at three and a half feet from the ground to be 5 feet 3 inches. A white willow which has grown from a small cutting put in U years last spring, now measures 6 feet 2 inches' near the Rround, forming a head on top 30 feet across. This variety, when planted in trroves grows tall and almost perfectly straight. I have carefully computed the expense of raS ten acres of trees of this variety and converting them into lumber, and find the entire cost not to exceed $10 per 1,00( feet This estimate is based upon actual' measurement of he growth of the trees. The land itself is valued at «40 per acre, with interest upon this amount, together with expenses computed as before at (} per cent., compound interest. I take ten acres in fhM« estimates of fjrowing artificial groves, because it is desirable to have trees enough together or in close proximity, that the cost of putting up and removing a saw mill would be but a trifle upon each thousand feet of lumber sawed." "'" "« out a tnne Of the coniferous trees none is more beautiful, and none can be planted of a more certain economical value, than the native white pine. Mr. Beadle savB nf this tree ; — ^ .1, " ^.u®u'®^® *''** plantations of white pine will eventually pay when our timber retrions to the north become used up or burnt up. llhe white pine grows rapidly." regions to Mr. Dempsey says of it : — " Pine makes rapid second growth in sections of the country where it flourishes." I 104 ONTARIO AGRICULTUBAL COMMISSION. Mr. Beall sajjs of this tree :— " Y^ ^*lu''^ , ^"'P*^ °"'' "^'^'^^ J''"^' ^o"" ^^^^^ "» no more beautiful tree we can have if taKen from the woods when very young." Where, however, it is desired to plant in uncultivable ground, few, if any, trees will be tound of greater value than the European larcli. Mr. Leslie, speakiiia of this tree, says :— ' t & _ " I do not approve of our Oanadii^n tamarack at all. The timber is poor, and if people desire to go to (■'..« expense of panting f,.r timbar, I would recommend them to plant the Jiuropean larcli, vyhich is a splendid tree, a rapid grower, and will grow in any part of this country. It is not an evergreen, but it throws out a great number of small branches which are a great protection. It is a very rapid growing tree, even more rapid than the Norway in w?,1'r"''''"v"'"''*' *^;v" ^""^•' iT^ -,■? ,''" ,''^*''"*S.'^ ^^*^'">' y^'^'"' ""l-^ss the ground is very poor, fivror tWH %"eet hT'ir ^ *''''" ^""^ "'' ^'"^ ^'^'^'''* ^^^ *''*'^ "'''^^ ^^ twenty- After mentioning it as an ornamental tree for lawn planting, Mr. Leslie says further : — °' ■' „,ni,'I ^^'u f '"■°P«^'^ ^'^'■^h ^""I'l 'il^" 1^'e i"'itable for this purpose (handle-making). The latter makes the best railway ties of any wood in the worl.l, as it is almost indestructible. It is a very rapid grower, and in ten or twelve years' time the wood is of merchantable proportions, and M.yful for many purposes. Of course it would not be lit for railway ties bV that time but suitable for manufacturing purposes. o^Sl^r Z'^'^lf' ^^ •,^'''=i'^«'Vy profitable to railway companies, as well as beneficial to the country, it the waste lands connected with their il.rs were planted with European larch. 1 m tni.s source they coul.l in time obtain an almost inexhaustible supply of railway ties, much superior to the kind now in general use. ^ ' . " Another use to which the European larch can be put is the production of ' ships' knees,' as it can be trained when young to the desired bend. " It was the European larch with which successive Dukes of Athol carried out r^in nnn'^"^'^''' tree-plautu.g operations in Scotland, extending at last to an area ot 10 000 acres, and inv(jlving the planting of no less than 14,000,000 trees. Mr. Puoy, of Owen Sound, says of this tree ;— "I have tried the European larch which is much more pendulous [than the pines]. I have had no diffieulty in establishing it here. It is a most beautiful and ornamental tree. I obtained it from Scotland." T1-T larch is not an evergreen, but, when planted in groves or belts, several trees deep, otters, from itsconformati« ^ l^^"- years ago, oF which I C^t the t„l fii 5 "^^^ 'P72^ *^°"*'''^ ^ '^^^^ *^ee8. planted twelve high. I do not Sow how%hrrJl^^*''*»''' ^ndthey are now eighteen or twenty feet mtchantable value It wm SL. 1^1?" '^T' ^o^Parea with the Norway spruce in pine on hillsides o^ockyplafes.^ anywhere. I would plant it along with cedar or Of the Canadian white and black spruce, Mr. Leslie says :— sheltirbtus'^but it^fsnotTo'^ii^niTn"''' ^ "**'?u ''l*^'' *'°""*''y' ^ '""^t «-^°«»ent tree for superior Wfave a WacKu^^^^ Norway, ..d for that reason the latter is the bottom • thatis in rv,™w .' , il""*^ * ^^'^'"^ variety, as it is apt to become poor at frpi!^!,.?'''*''^ P'"m' *x^^ Norway spruce, and the Austrian spruce are all beautiful trees, and very easily transplanted. Mr. Leslie says of thein •- Of the Arbor VUcb, Mr. Leslie says :— +},v "^^ evergreen trees, the most useful for ornamental purposes is the ^r6or Vitw in if« whlTr v' '' •' •" A^r'''*"' the Siberian, and the Tom TlmmbTakir^Ihe Province as 1 transplant -^''^'"'*" "'^^^ ^"'^ '''''^^^' ^*'" ^ *=^'^ ^^^^'^ recommend it, as it Ts difficultto He adds further : — ""^ ' Mr. Beadle remarks : — '^^^'^^V^i^'^ir^^Z'n.i^f^^^^^^ bea-ty of its own. The will thrivi T^en there Ire some of^theRo?^^^^^ '' tender, except where the peach tree promise of being valuable ;thersTemt„ be S-fectlI^hT±'" f "'%T^'f^' ^'^ ^''''^^ ^''"'^ pSef:Jith""'^t *!'?•"•' '* ^' a "uttta^u«?uf l\'r t w'e have' fteV^Ln^^t TZ " A good hemlock hedere can hn c-ot >iv foirJti™ .-niTo' »--t-i--!-- f ti. v i. i ing them two or three tim^ 'vu^ ^ J"''^'g "nmlui;k3 from the bush and leplant- B « iiwoortnreetimes. . . . The younger you get the hemlocks the better." After sucrgesting the Mountain Ash, Maiden Hair tree (Salidmria) the lindens (European and native), the Cut-leaved Alder, and the fern-leaved Sumach as vcny I 106 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. useful trees for ornamental purposes, and alluding to the Arbor Vitce as above quoted, Mr. Beadle gives a list of other evergreens and shrubs that may be used tor beautifying rural homes and gardens. He says :— r.laJf'Jfi'^*''^ ""i* *^"!u ^y^^ American yew to any extent ; I have seen it growing after trans- ?„t^^o^ -M " ^^ *•" T^^.' '^^"•, .^^^ Mahonia aquifolia suffers from our -/inters if it is not covered with snow. It is not killed, but the leaves are browned and the beauty of it wllfZli " iri^*''®'rS?"'t.""t to hide them. When it is protected by snow it does rnti^ fK ^^ t^ *''^^- . ^^^ Retimi^poras, or Japan cypress, I have not had much experi- ence with, though some trees of that variety seem to promise well. There is a large list of flowering shrubs valuable for our planters, some of them native. The Florida dog-wood 2r« r.rf!rwh i" fvf^",^y ^""^f- I* '^* ^^'-y P'-etty t'-ee while the bloom lasts, and it nfnhlf i?f ,1 ' *¥ ^"u-T »"f ^a'-t IS very pretty. In the autumn the foliage turns !fviff,f ^K fl "'^'' '" ^hich scarlet and purple predominate, and the berries are also very pretty. The flowering thorns are beautiful trees, belonging to the hawthorn family. When Hn w !f ff'^ '"'"^r'^ -1^!*^ bloom the air is filled with fragrance. As to their hardiness, they do not suffer much with us, and if they suffer at all it is not from the cold but from the sun. Liforf f>ffii t"*^ ^^^ T""^^ ''^^ ""^ *'^\*'"^^ ^"^^ "P> *»^l I -"upposed it was from the ^romd !n 1 fK. ; i,'^? "°* Pu"1^"? "? *^"™'' ''"* ^«* *h« branches grow close to the fwo^rZi^ -T^ ^/Vl^ 't^'''^^'* ^^- *^^* x™^'^"«' ^^^ *"■«« g'-o^^ finely. Then there are uUr. TJlli ^*"«ti«'*' '^f the Japan quince-I prefer the scarlet-flowered variety ; there is Se ver*^ beautTfn?. fhtvlL"^'*^ ^/"'k T' «"'««*hing like the apple. Both of th/se varieties ITaIZ 1^' ' ^^It^^'^^l ^^I^^' ^^^T *^^ ^^^""^^ «<''"« o"t' and are an interesting sight ~ f i^*'°"' After the flowers drop, the leaves come out; they are bright, glolsy whfch k nrU'tvTn'r^ 'T, ^I'^T ''^^^"*^:. ^'V ^"^"•nn the trees are'laden with golden fruit^ which IS pretty to the sight, but very acid. I don't know that it is of any use. The slug f Kreat vf^t^v of th- ""th"'' ^°"ther class of flowering shrubs are the ^ptra.^.,; there"! IS ^ ul ™j The most prominent is the plum-leafed spiriea ; the flowers are double, pure white, and in the autumn the foliage becomes purple" scarlet and crimson S f L n '"''"'*.'"' °^ ^«T"»o"'"^^' «"°^ a« *« Camperdown elm. They are made by graf" Zh ,^*T"'''r" on .f\ Scotch at standard height. There is also Young's weeptng S«' y?",^^^t *° &''*f*.^t at standard height, and then it will grow horizontally^and down beautiVnl &t "^'f^'^l *^' Weigelias, which are perfectly lardy with us, and are ve y UmP <^ L Wn± « '^7^"*T^' which some of them possess is that they bloom the second Sount'rv Z J^/ir t''t '" -^r^' A"1 *t'"/" ^"u»"«* "^ September. In some sections of the country the Althcea makes a beautiful shrub. The Dcutzias I also esteem very highly ; some of them are very low shrubs, and can be used in the smallest city grounds ; others are argTr and grow to the height of twelve feet. The Beutzia a-enata is very pretty There are flso rmW?,n*nfl^"'^'"°''^''.T'^ clematis which are very beautifulfand nfake fine plants or c t down ^t^ilf ' "' verandahs. Some of the clematises die down in winter, but if they are Thpv W K ^ crown thev will grow up again next spring and flower all summer long! themcreer. overX Ifp/^fr** ^*"' ^^f^ding purposes by pegging them down and letdng are^Pr^ n?pHv^ Xl ^''^ u '"'^ ^T' °.'' Ti'^^ varieties of the Lonicera tartarica, which are very pretty ; they are very showy when in bloom, and are easily cultivated. CULTIVATION OF FOEEST TREES. The mode of cultivating forest trees is the next matter to claim attention. This may be accomplished either by raising trees from the seed, or from cuttings, or bv transplanting them from the nursery or the woods. RAISING TREES FROM SEED. If it be desired to raise trees from the seed, attention must be paid to the time of gathering, management, and planting. The soft and silver-leaved mapies and elm mature their fruit in June ; the sugar, Norway, sycamore, and some other maples, ripen their seeds later in the season. Acorns, walnuts, chestnuts and other nuts ripen in the fall. All seeds should be sown as soon as gathered, but the fall seeds may if more desirable, be k€i)t in a box mixed with sand until the following spring. Acorns and nuts being liable to be disturbed by squirrels are often nre- served m this manner. They should be kept in a cool place, and where tliey will not become too dry. The elm and maple if favourably situated will make very good growth in their first season, when sown immediately after gatherin^^ Red cedar berries should be bruised in March, and mixed with a quantity of wet wood u — i,"'i~~i — '/" '-••-"•'"•''' -.11 navD CuL uiu rcsuioas gum, when the seeds can be washed clean from the pulp and planted. when Uit» ueeds FORESTRY AND ARBORICULTURE. i^ SEED BEDS. plied. The .3 should be laS off aSI; T f ^. '^^^'^ '°"^ ^"^ ^^^^^T s^nd ap- occasionally watered, ke drills 2>udh-' ^^^' '"'''""'^ ^""^ '^ "'°'^'*'^^y At the end of from one to two tarriccorZ^In"^'^ ^' *f "^'"^* °^ cultivation^ •nay be transferred to nurserTrows andTn a Pm,n^ circumstances, the young trees their final position. ^ ' " * """"P^^ °^ y^^^s more planted out in TRANSPLANTING :fR0M THE FORESTS head :— •» « »■ "ir. Buoke, oi Ottawa, gives some useful hints on this trees I know of._ I planted them in nursery rows about ^fv in l^ *'^ '■'^.^'''^* ^°* "^ y°"ng have succeeded in raising a laree numbpr wffwfnf i " '"''^?^ ^P*^'* "» the row, and I l.lanting. There are both ha,^ andsoft mSleLlZ'^Vfl I trrmmed the roots before thmk birch could be propagated in the samrway " " *^^ '''^'''^'y "^^P^^ ^ush, and I sam^wa?"afth/"nSpr: te:dlt f^eest^tt ^"' ^^/^^ ^'^ -^"n-- in the kept in the nursery rows for a SLle of v2^^!f .f'^^ !'''"' ^^^ bush should be to the spruces and'other coni^erouTteesf Mn Leslie T^/s'^L*^' '^"*- ^^*^ -g-^ it is'Z'p^a m\"t?i?of te^^^^^^ tor^^'X^^Z'T^'''"^ ^'^^--^^ -^- ^oung; mend that they should always £e Ranted i^nursw-vrow^V'f ^^^«^P^^' .r. Planted th. are planted f would cultivate the soil the iamras for Cn . f P''«Pa'-ed. After they rees at first with a view to thinning them ,m" As to ZoZ P"*^*""'" J ^°"'«1 P^^nt the be supplied for five dollars per hundred The pl^tin^wonlH. P"'',^''''f ' j^e small trees could dred that is, for nurserymen's trees, ab^ut one and a hllTfelJ hLh T* ^'1 1'^""*''^ P^'' h«»- the planting of such small trees, but I would have/btm .1 *^i " ^ ^""^'^ "o* recommend they wore two or three feet high. TheT would tLnn^uf'^'?P^''i^. prepared to plant when when planted. Some varietief ^f iS, walnuts etc coSrl*""'"'^ ^^'^''^ =* hundred farmel^s If they attended to the matter, buUXd it more "r^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^ '""'^ ^^ my trees one or two years old from those who ,nnt! "^f'^e . Profitable for me to send and buy of forest trees from seedlings sTbusTners bv Self ir''' ^i "^^''"^ them. The raising from France and England^than to grow them as ihev hZHo^^^ \''f}' '™P°'-t ^'-^e should be grown in a seed bed, before being Xn'ted onf- ^« W .*° ^^ ^^^'^^'^- Young trees re-transplanted every two yea^s until thl^^ettitretTy ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ «h?uld be ^^^ OHrees of a larger growth than seedlings in their first or second year, Mr. Roy youmi;*r;7aSt'b^ut my%teS^^^^^ Ji^^ ^\^ *- fo- or five feet high the better. I usually transplant fru?t and other1reernhr;',f %\*'' transplant the treS only reason I have for transplanting them then is that T tJ T-^^ strongest and almost I thmk It IS a good thing to*^cultivfte around a tree I don c . V w! ^-"^ '^^ ^^^ "^""'^ then! aruun.l a peach tree in a rich soil, because the tree lets too^n 1 "'' '^^ '■' ^^"^ *« cultivate fr..st comes on and kills it before the vvood hardenf A« r ™"^*' ^""^ '" the fall, and the ^vou d succeed better for a few years if cultivatedTro^^^^ Tl' /r^'* ^FT-' ^ ^^'^^ they uon't think cultivation would be required." abound. After they get fairly growing 1 Senator Allan, on the replanting of forest erown tr«n« ..rw.v^.. ._ carriecl^rioX^;^^^^^^^^^^ , ,„ ^ and the farmer must rely upon what he can obtain from the ireetwoods!''^"''^^' * '^'^' 108 ONTAhIO AQRICULTUBAL COMMISSION. ■ J : !^ ftn« I'lT^®*^'^ careftilly transplanted and in the case of evergreens more especially, of not mall^r^nta^e of kir '""^®'^~°"8''*^ *° succeed perfectly, or at least there should be a very Idl be eLny%"ranriany ^"'' ^^'^ '''^'*^ '''''®' ^'''"^ *""* ^^'^"^ ^P""""®' ""'^ ^^^^^ ''®'^*'' "*" .,•n.,l!7o'J.^'"®'•lu'■ ^orway pine, than which there is no handsomer tree when allowed to grow S?n Lt ^»*'{,Pl«nty "f room for the spread of its branches, is very difficult to move, and "m,8®f'^''7'y ^"<=<=eed, unless taken up with great care when very young. ««f „1!*® 1 Pu™''®^"•"^•l*^^ noblest and most picturesque of our native evergreens. iir vf-7 7 growth, and IS difficult to transplant, except when very young, but both it and the white cedar make most excellent hedges. j' / u b, uuo uu^i «„c.n',',^L°"'' '^uP''^"^u *''«e8' the elm, ash, beech, oak, and maple, are the most generally and ^M**'"n''''-^^^^ maple both of the hard anly transplanted. The secret of them'stand for two yea s take hem t HS et ilem^'frb*'''^ '''t ^"^'^^ T""^' ^^^^^ 1«» more and then tran.srdant them a.'aTn Tf ..vprL ^^'^ ^^''^^' ^''7^ *h«™ t^^o ye*" they came into the hinds of the purchaser the v won IH ^ly transplanted four times before men would sooner pay a few centrauieoe for ^Ll V ■ i*^'^'-^ 'T*'* "^''^^^ ^ ^«**h. But most pav a higher price for treeTwh ch have be.n fZ ^^1^°^ have been transplanted once than .vet been ed-itod into fkTo^S ^^^Z^^^X^^^^^ ,X^' '^^"^ "«' Mr. Lrfsi 3 makes a very similar suggestion. He says :— ,.,,,' '?J,y:_*.'^^'<^,V^"»^'^ ^'^' M"l«««,the ground is in extraordinarilv <,ood corditinn to t,V. tl>« permanent position. They would re.uiret"^ ^^^Z:! ^^I:!";^^^^^^^^ ^^^ 110 ONTARIO AORICULTUBAL COMMISSION. would then be a good size to transplant. After that their ordinary growth is two to three feet per year in good soil, and fully two feet in any soil, so that in six or seven years the farmer would have a good shelter." PLANTING WASTE LAND8. For planting on waste lands, either inaccessible to cultivation or of a soil too poor to repay cultivation, the European larch has already been mentioned. Mr. lieslie, referring to tJiis tree, says :— p^^jI'^* »9 suited to our climate, being perfectly hardy, and very easy to transplant in the Xnf^"i ""^-TTl ^''^^y transplanting, though later in the season it will thrive if trans- as the frost is out of the ground, or as late in the fall as possible before the permanent freezing ot ttie ground. It can be imported at about the same price as the Norway spruce li,oh^« nr f w. ^rV^.r""^"'^ V.'f "*".>» ^^^^ after they attain a height of more than eighteen «ri™T!;°»i?."!;i'l' I'""!''"* C!°- WMkeegon, in the Statei, grow them by llio million. The r^dU" »^ff =Sel; ir;o*rt'e5'h.'™. """ ""■" ■» "■° ''""'"• "■' » "*" ■^ '•>- For belts, Mr. Leslie would plant European larches three or four deep. »..„r^'*i^®'i*r'"* ^.^ ^*y^' "*he tree has been used more for shelter than anything else. I tWrtyfeeUn height. '""''"'' ''" ^ nianagement. In our own place we have stme trees COST OF TREE PLANTING. With regard to the cost of trees purchased from the nurserymen Mr Beadle says : — '' «f t-i'^^ *" ^^^ *^"** pe- acre of such forest planting, young black walnut trees can be bought of the nurserymen who have been growing them, at about $12.50 or .$15 per hundred for trees about four feet high. Chestnuts could be bought at about the same %ure I know of no plantations where the hard maple could be bought at any figure. Nurserymen have confined themselves mostly to the horse chestnut and mountain ash for tree planting. " Mr. Leslie says : — Thnl^^t A™k"°*" ^^™i T^^ Scottish elm, and the English ash are also very desirable. Those that I have named I regard as the very choicest. In large numbers I ima-ine these trees could be got for about twenty-five cents apiece, when about eight feet in hdght whkh I regard as the proper size for planting. They would be trees raised in this countrf, but they would have to be nursery grown, or transplanted from the woods." Of the cost of Norway spruce Mr. Beadle says : — i.„,JLf**^^ grown by nurserymen both in Europe and America by millions. They can be boulhJ foTsliuTess?'- ''* ^''^ ^"" ^^' *° ^^' ^ ^""'^^''^' '^"'^ " *"^^" y"""^^^ ^^» ^' Mr. Leslie, on the same point, says : — "We sell these imported trees at from $30 to $40 a thousand- three or fnnr cents apiece -that IS to say the 15-inch ones The 18-inch ones would be transplanted two years in this country, and cannot be sold for less than $60 a thousand. If large ntimbers were taken they could be sold at a much cheaper rate, say 25 per cent. off. If we could depend upon getting them every year m the same condition, they could be sold cheaper still, but we have to take all SkVQTSk^Qt The difference in age and size is, of course, an important factor in calculating the cost. Dr. James Brown in his evidence says, with regard to the cost of im- ported trees : — • "-^ have been just now at Le.slie's nurseries, and find there that such plants as the Sc.teh pme and other sorts of pme would cost about fi /e cents each. To plant an acre at that ratP would cost ^50 for plants alone, independent o' planting them. This rate is reckoned when planting the trees six feet apart I think I v.-ould advise planting them as close as that I don t think there is any reason why the pri-? could not be greatly reduced by having extensive nurseries, m fact there IS no doubt about it. « k cAueiisive "Mr. Leslie said that if he had extensive orders for them he cnulr' affnrd to sell th.-u. cheaper, but at present he has no encouragement to do so. In the matter of reclothing the men Mr, Beadle FORESTRY AND ARBORICULTURE. m . country with forest trees, the first thing essential is to establish large nurseries for thp nur *i, " T«" c**" *^^j ^^^ **'"® P^*"*" '" Scotland for a third of that. The difference between E;rp^re^t:d?ere";tlethey S~„g'»' "'^"" °" P^''*^""""' "^"^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ -'*-- In referenco to the question of cost, Mr. Leslie in his own evidence repeated the remark he had made to Dr. James Brown. There can be no doubt that trees W Jr fi! """"^^^^ ^f ^"^"^n at '^ very small cost indeed, but, so far, in Canada, between the very limited amount of planting that has been going on and the accessibility of woodlands affording a cheap supply of trees of some^sort or condf tion the nursery demand has been comparatively insignificant, and no sufficient encouragement has been given to induce nurserymen to raise forest trees in great numbers. As to the actual cost of planting a given area Mr. Leslie says :- *v. '"^^u *''®r would coat about 5 cents each, say 6 cents with the planting. In other words '^^nl^iTZ^;^:i^l^^''' ^^"^'^ '^ ^-'^^'^' ^* ^ -«* <^^ ver/a JvertLTcS: In his evidence on general farming and other subjects, Professor Brown of huelph, gave the folhjwing as his estimate of the cost of planting out forest trees, and his opinion as to the mode of planting. He said : — " Upon the subject of forestry, I will show you what it costs per acre to put down voung trees taken from your own or a neighbour's bush, a method of replanting which cCbl adopted at the least possible expense, and I think with the greatest possible success ,v,;»foi;rf' *'-"i^ •''^^' for replanting, it is best to keep on the small side. It is a great mistake to go into six or eight feet trees if you want rapid success. Two or three feet trees Will ultimately do much better. I think it is an important point gained if we can show the Canadian farmer how he can be his own nurseryman and do llis ow^ replanting. him r,nHn-nl W Vlf""""^' ''^ r",1" J-'"""'^ I" ^""''K ^^^^^-^'^ neighbourhood which need cost him nothing but the expense of collecting them. If he has to pay ten cents to a nurseryman for every tree he plants, he will do very little in that way. uuiseryman I have been in the habit of planting one and a half million of trees a year and thev did n^H?pff f"w>,*^^" ^""^ shillings and sixpence a thousand, and if our Government or prlvSe a^tt^\h:n^tht"dEs a thoSd"* °' ^"^' *""' ' *''"'' ^'^^^''"^^ ''' P'^^^^^^ '" ^"^t-- I ha;e^ord£?oltTo\Trs'Sws'pTr S :- ^"* "^"'^ ''^ '^'^'' ^"^ ^' ^"^^P'^' -"^ Clearing and preparing the ground $9 44 Digging pits s M Fencing ? °5 Planting ! • !' ! !" ! ! ! l! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ' ' ! AH Pruning ^i ^" Mulching ::.::;;:: 22? Taking trees from the forest 18 50 Heeling v^'^'^y^'^'■v^y.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. o so Total cost $56 57 "If the farmer does not estimate the value of his own labour, and of the labour of his horses, you may reduce that about one-half. "1 do not believe in manuring forest trees— I have never seen any good effect from it am expressing not only my own experience, but the experience of others dating fifty . , " We have had evidence of great weight that trees should not be planted less than six or eight feet apart, and that gives about 900 trees to the acre. We planted that number this season, and there are now 715 alive and doing well, showing an actual death-rate of one fifth Ihe tleaths, however, occurred principally among the pine and spruce ; apart from these, the deaths were comparatively few. r- , i , o "In planting strips of wood for the protection of crops, I cannot recommend anything but standard trees. j a ORNAMENTAL PLANTING. For ornamental planting, taste and good judgment must be the planters guides, as well as the means he has at his command. Enough has been said to show that, 112 ONTARIO AORICULTURAL COMMISSION. I) : in our n«tive wood, we have enough to add a charm of beauty to every rural home w° rk'°„f'ram.SLf """' '"' "«''*' "'=™"™ ^ ">"»» »"» '"«««« '" "^i EFFECTS OF FORESTS ON MOISTURE. ^iJJZf-''^^ ""^ ^T^*' °° '■'*'" *"*^ ^"""^ ^''" »" * «"^J«°t th"^* has attracted much rr„o?,V«n„"n''T^^?'■''P®*" countries, and is admitted to be one that is being Eh «v!/ '""f '•'^*«d m our own experience, although, up to the present time, no lo^lLT expenments or mquiries have been adoptftd as to identify, with Bcientihc accuracy, the relations of the clearing of the land to diminished moisture. btiJl, everybody mentally attributes the latter result to the f,.rmer cause. Some- thing more may be Haid in regard to this matter when the evidence on meteorology ij ™;"!? *f ^«"'="'^"'-t '' T'^%' ^«^i«^- Meantime, the following extracts from the report of Dr. Hough, already referred to, will describe, in a few words, the part played by forest trees m relation to this branch of nature's economy :— INFLUENCE OF WOODLANDS UPON STREAMS. aw J \Vtff^t^*f °^ common remark that our streams diminish as the woodlands are cleared l^A^'nl • "**«"*"y "'J"'^ ^^^, manufacturing interests depending upon hydraulic power, urtJ^eidr;iKis;^^^^ and cif inroff'frnm ^>!'l«^!;'"^ ^^^ season when in foliage, is constantly drawing from the earth, fs vefv S tT^« litfr'' f °"7'derable amount of moisture, and in some cases this amount and tKr L Jhl % '^^ "l •***^ from a fluid to a gaseous condition, is a cooling process, meais so hn^tl Jlf„? « ^'^^"'"^ 'f'T^ ^'■°'".*^" """ ^"^^••«"> ^^e winds, becomes,V this S^Lm ,1 ^fu * """l^' «HCC".lent vegetation often springs up and thrives, which in an cooled ioP^"ni rif '' "f ^''''^ '?-'^" ^Z""'- :^^^ *•'■ b«'»K *^us charged with moisture and Siv alZv^ fL i^ f"'']"^ eva,x.ration the rains which fall, and the soil, being more open, whencHf.?rf;in .r*^'^-"™'^^^*'"'^'!,"."^ «"'^ ^'""^ ^^^^^'^ *« «ink into the*" earth, f?om Whence a portion appears in springs and in swamps, which give rise to rills and streams. doin^ «n I L^iti J™®^u" *' """"^ I"" ^^^? "^^.^^T ^*P0"'' '" suspension, and its capacity for ra3v .« f ^aT^f^ ^ ^^^ temperature is raisedf, not by a steadily gaining rate, 'but more mSp i-f ^Ta '".f «f «<*•, There can be no evaporation when the air is saturated with "f saturation Tf l'n"V* °l T?*"' •" "^^ ^*''''? ""*i^ ^^^ temperature is reduced to the point a ./rove ^Lv ^vfpV^ Tf^^* determined as to how far the cooling and moistening influence of oUhrSmiA 5- ""'i?* ^^^/l^ upon many circumstances, and especially upon the slope f reshLTof f ht 1. Ji ' **' •^°*'r "^ ^h rj"^'- *^« *ff^°* '« «f*«" apparent to the eye from t&e treshness of the herbage in adjacent fields for many rods in width." WOODLANDS AND THE SNOW-FALL. ^ " The eflFect of woodlands in retaining snows where they fall, and in delaying their melt- ing in the spring, has been everywhere observed in snowy countries. In such localities the snow cannot be drifted by the winds and when it melts it disappears slowly, sinking into the soil rather than flowing oflF upon th^ surface. The effect of this delay in checking a too early appearance of fruit-blossoms cannot be mistaken. The result is in fact quite similar to that of considerable areas of water, such as our northern lakes, along the borders of which and especially on the lee-side, fruits are found to flourish with the greatest success. In a country interspersed with clumps and belts of woodlands, the snows drift less and their melting more evenly over the surface cannot fail to be beneficial to the interests of agriculture, and more especially to meadows and pastures." .... THE TREE PEDLAR. _ There is one more point to which it may be well to call the attention of the intending tree cultivator, and that is the necessity of great care in the purchase of trees. The tree-pedlar, while he has doubtless done much to stimulate both fruit tree and forest tree growing, has an almost proverbially evil reputation He has It 18 asserted, not only deceived his customers, but too frequently cheated his em- ployers by taking orders in their name and executing them with inferior trees pur- chased elsewhere. Mr. Arnold remarked to the Commissioners :— .u ^ t" ""I ^""^J"! *'■•"•?•'"'•« *o «^" my trees. I have been very unfortunate with them, as they have been dishonest to me and the public too." nate with thera, FORESTRY AND ARBORICULTURE. m who had to tell ui a highly recommouded choice apple tree turnini? out a very excel lent balsam poplar or of an attempt, frustrated by the a. ion of ihe witnLs^to pasB dtsignation It is idle to suppose that where there are rogues there will not be dup.s or victims, bu it may as well be understood, ,mce (or all, that 00^ bv satiV «flS.f'r^ ^W^'' ^'^r " -^^'"^"y *" be executed by sorne nurseryman o 1 rSi ion bo'^^^^^^^^^^^ 't:^'"" '^''' T ^'^PP'^y ^ l^'-g^ "»'"ber. can thJ isk o imposition bo avoided. The mere presentation of a card or trade list bearing a well e^^XJe'^ToSc'L^f ?rp' ^-'.^^*hecard or list be genuine, the oX'ma^to elsewhere. It occurs to the Commissioners to suggest that every nurseryman should provide his travellers with forms of orders and envelopes wiS^H#ad7re3?l)rin"ed nresTpo'sf X^Thi *° the c,3tomer added to ma'il the order SisK^^h^ nearest post ottice. This would ensure the execution of the order by the ritrht man CONCLnDINQ REMARKS ON FORESTRY. h.2^u ^"'"'"j^^'O"?". during the progress of their investigations under this head tude of ?Kbrt W^ '^l^ r^*^ ^^^ importance than with the marnt S tLir vari Aft«l" '*' ^''^- *^ ^.h«'«.*™« devoted by them to the discharge many asnec ;^i?t,.hf r ""'u^'^^ m inquiring into the question of forestry in its many aspects, It might have been well spent. They feel that the evidence thev ThfaTrlnll^'T^'^M^^^^^^ of tJee nkntin^n "f h \f -^i^^^f f "8. *« f^f^^try in Europe, as well as the pro^-ess ot tree planting xn the United States, in which direction an active movement has been going on for some years- would have been matters well worthy of doTeobaer! s^tuTdbTobtaine^J b'"'"r ''Tf'"''' recommend that inforSion thereuron SrvitierittreffectJar"^ "^''°'^ " "^y ^^^^'^ '^ *^« Government to be m'ost P^saibly such information might assist in the solution of the question frequently raised in the course of this inquiry. By what means can tree planC by indSaU or corporations be most successfully promoted ? ^ ^ mmviauals Government assistance in the shape of money grants, exemptions of planted lands from municipal taxation, and the establishment by the Government of Lri forest tree nurseries have all in turn been suggested government ot large forest The Commissioners would be reluctant to advise the expenditure of any consider- able sum of public money without having before them sLe scheme SdeS of which had been carefully examined and worked out. ' The subject is a new one to the minds of most of our people, and it is rather by wi h r'Sto if^W Ih""* "i^^ question, and a sense^of 'pe^onal responsibUitJ with regard to it, that the ground work of any future plans must be laid. A.»^f. ''^/i^^''"","'''™''''' '''''' Slad to be informed that the Fruit Growers' operatTorrnd fh r^^^ ^P included forestry and aboriculture in its programnTe of operations and that the Government have given some encouragement to this sten while a the same time experimental tree planting has, under Se auspices of the Association, been commenced at the Model Farm at Guelph. A few 3nshiD8 and cltron"S'Vtr •'^l- °ffr'/"'"f "^"*^ ^°*^« Plantinlorsjrtr^nd ma3i!u !^^ facilities that exist in all parts of Ontario, for obtaining a supply of ^iVpn ii°'^ ^/^"'*' "fg^."'^^tion« in townships or school sections for plaSK svrMrt^eTffic^it'" ^ ^^^^'^ p"^"' ""^ ''''''' ^"^ ^' *^^ -^"-' p«-bi: bare and' uli^nvrHn/'"^"'"^ *^'''* t'^'^?'^"^" ^"*^' "°^ "^"''^"y presenting a most Dare ana uninviting appearance, should be Tilanted with forest treos inrf i small premium or reward be given to those schoofs. in a district wLetreerLrS^^^^ most successfully cultivated and best preserved for a given period 114 ONTARIO AORICULTURAL COMMISSION. It has further been suggested that interest might be excited, and information unpartod, by lectures delivered by ci.mpetent persons on forestry in connection, per- tiaps, with entoniolo^ and ornithology, so far as those toi)ic8 atlect the farmer and iruit grower. Such lectures mii^ht be delivered in school-houses, under arrangements made by tno county inspectors, the senior classes in the school, and the public generally, being invited to attend. f » jt In treating of these subjects, however, pictorial illustrations would be indispen- Bible, and a knowledge of the colours of leaves, insects, and birds would also have to be imparted In order to accomplish this, and as the lectures would have to be delivered in the evening, the "magic lantern" might be brought into play, the ^^\l,y « "'^ exhibitions assisting to ensure to the lecturer an audience. 1 ho hrst cost of preparing transparencies would be considerable, but the other expenses of such a scheme need not be large, while the preparation for the work, ot young men of ordinary ability and culture, would not be a difficult task, in view of the materials already at hand. The objection raised to any proposal to add such studies to the already rather overcharged public school curriculum would be avoided, while parents, tea«Jiers, and children would, at one and the same time, be interested and instructed. , ..f J^'ommissioners, in conclusion, may not travel beyond the bounds of their duty If they respectfully urge upon the f]xecutive the propriety of steps being taken with regard to tha preservation of the timber lands of the Province still in posses- sion of the Crown, and not subject to the regulations affecting the pine timber Only by some action of this kind can waste and destruction be staid, and the stern necessity— which m other countries at this moment has to be faced— be avoided, of replacing, by slow methods and at enormous cost, what has been recklessly and unreflectingly destroyed. CHAPTER V. INSECTS, INJUEIOUS AND BENEFICIAL. The ravages of injurious insects upon field and fruit crops, and the part played by birds in relation to both crops and insects, were very frequently referred to by witnesses representing either the farming or fruit growing interests. But, while much was said respecting the injury inflicted by insects, and a good deal both for and against the assumed usefulness of birds as insect destroyers, as well as much respecting the loss sustained by the attacks of the latter on the orchard and fruit garden, it was clear that, in many cases, the ideas of the speakers were exceedingly vague on all or any of these points, and that opinions had frequently been forined ui)on very inconclusive evidence. Entomology and ornithology have, it is evident, made little progress as vet as popular studies ui Canada, although it is gratifying to know that the Province pos- sesses men who have applied their minds and intellects, with considerable success to both subjects. ' The evidence specially taken in connection therewith, and some extracts from testimony incidentally received from time to time, will be found in Appendix E of the reports of the evidence given before the Ontario Agricultural Commission Its mam features will now be presented in as concise a form as possible, thfi insects injurious to gram crops and their parasitical enemies being first noticed. INSECTS, INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL. lift The inBecta roferml to in the evidence hb injurious to the whe>t crop are — The nudge, the HeBsmn fly, the chinch bug, the gr.iin aphis, the angounmS nuiih the anny worm, th. wire worm, the Bpri,:«-l.ack beetle, and'the dSy , g.'leg * ' The insects mentionod as nijurious to the p(,tato are :-Tlie Colorado beetle the lie insects stated to bo injurious to green crops are :— Tlie locust the red- legi,'ed grasshopper, the seventeen-year l(.cust, and L thirteen-year locust The insects named as injurious to the hop plant are :~Tho Imp aphis, the hop- vine snout mn% two butterflies-known respectively as Qrapta inteiSti -nis ami Grapta comma, a butterfly known as Thecla hunfuli, a n oth known aipiusia balluca, and the lo Emperor moth. •v.iuwu u» x-iusia Tl!! llll^ 'r"""* ^f^^'^jly ."mentioned as injurious to the pea is the pea weevil, flia liBt of insects mjurious to the cabbage includes :-The cabWo butterfly caterpillar, the cabbage plusia, the harle.iuin cabbage bug, and the cut-worm. IN.SECTS INJURIOUS TO GRAIN ANI. GRASS CROPS. J s" Betliune' fir^t^nir'lfi'"^"''*"*^""' "^'^r'^'^'S to the evidence of the Rev. 0. J. b. "ethune, hrst made its appearance m Vermont in 1820, ratndly spread itself over the Eastern and Central States, occasioned In the St^teTf New York in 1854, a loss to the agriculturists of not less than »9,000,000 by its ravaged anneared in Canada in 186G, in which vear th« ininrv if ,iij + ti "^ "'"' '"^"s^^) ''■PP**»r«"' «»? in lii» late examination before the C„„,nn»i„ners He iid '"'""'"' "When - - which try. bv theVirn; my wh;;?wa'rread;rintroducT™t^ '^' l«"°- though I believe it has reappeared siLe in some loc'aitL™ *^ ^^ disappeared everywhere, Other proposed remedies are thus referred to by Mr Bethune •— c,aSysra,fryi;:e^nhX»n^ra,nhr.Xi:rot^ff It u 116 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. f^ T.^ rr ^^ '^'■*i*" *""* !'*•"? •t*««'«'l. »"'« wher« th« InnectM w..ul.l naturally b« nhaken Su«he wUl/trV.L:?"^*'''.''^'' '"'? ''"' '"f""^*"* *»"'** «el,lB Hh..ul' be Very rleepi; [niurv FW 1 « l"-«'lm.!lty their appearance would he t..<. late to be folh.we.l by any k eat p«S ^ »'"*'• *""""■"' '""th*"'" they would, in fact, he ntarved out. . BMideH thZ, T" ly r*' J::ir.Thi":"n • r't* .**"*?."!;'•!? wheat nhould be Hown a. late. andtlTwh U w Jd.ul'!'n"^""l "^ ^'- ""*^'""'' ^''*' "^'*'^ '^•'""^ "^ *h« disappearance of the pest I?.,rv T '*"";*•'"' ';r^""5 upon the nudge, but »„ minute as to have escaped dis- T.^" .. I '"'" ^""Jl'^'.y "'""''*« *'*'' "*hers will be noticed later on. belief from l'l.?il^ ^""*' *7«-.^^ '" "r ""PP"""'! t«^ l>« a" indigenous insect, the ttl^lltl] \ ''"'T'''^ '^? '"'f'"''''' '""""' ^'"'t 't *•« introduced into the how«;«/ ««««'»» troops during the revolutionary war, being now dispelled. ) Us, OZL in IKW • ''l' ■'* r" i"* •"''*''^*^*^ '" *'^" «*'^t«« '" 1770. If was seen a .rrnf 1 i '""^ T ^^"'^ Province in 1846, since which date it .,.. , been a fre- quent and unwelcome depredator upon the fall wheat crops, few years passi.c, with- sirrdVMr:'BxrastrLr- "^*^' '^"•" ^'"^ ^i"'"-'''^- ^* "^^^^^ ^^^ Z !f;L.i^ ^^"""^ appearmg in the spring. There is a Hecond brood in spring w^cT attacks the stalk, where tlie msect is mont generally noticed. Farmers harcfiv ever observe th! msect at the root but every one who has observed it has seen itJmthe staUc. * '' It attacks the stalk just above the first or second joint from the root whpr« if i. break it, cauHing it to fall down, thus ruining the grain. nnany to ♦».» < fl the larva has fed for a considerable time upon the stalk, it assumes what is called the flax-seed state, resembling in colour, size, and general ai pearancT aTrtin of H.« the'fielT^A,'"''^- ^" *\"', ''^'ll^ *=""",""«« ^- ^ consicferable jwE'rul 'itlsSed from tHs ' ii'^^eed .'sTaT/LaS Is '^^^ -T^^'T '* '' V^ '"""^ ^^'^'^'"^ poinH to whS inis nax-seeu stage exactly is. It is looked upon as the pupa statre but how it ih nporli.no^ being so different from the form common amon^ insects-^as no^?^een det^r nnnertm bT entomologists, some thinking that the ' flax-seed ' covering is the nuprsta^r and otherlthJ^ It ,s an exudation from the body. The Hessian fly attacks^he sLL^solSfneveJ tt elr " ' *'n«; l""^'*""ir™"'*^' **A^^'' the Hessian fly, and to them is probably due, more tnan to any other cause the curtailment of its ravages. As means to the same end Mr. Bethune suggests the following artiticial remedies :— ' "The artificial remedies I would recommend would be the abandonment of fall whpnf pro tevi. or to sow as late as practicable in the autumn, in order that theTrv» mav ml find the p ant sufficiently advanced for their attacks at the roots before winter set^ in An a.ldi tional remedy-.f it may be so called -is to practice thorough cultivrt on in order'to make h« plant as strong and healthy as possible, tl^at it may the Ltter wiSand tlS attLtt fly. I have not observed that the Hessian fly : tnu ted by moisture iTtLsame^nnn;. the midge. Its habitat in the summer is a very . - .,„«, oeing under the close en^elone ^? leaves which protect thf stalk above the first or !.ec( ,k1 j<,i.it." envelope of The Chinch bug although found in ' , . , is ., arcely known here as a destruc tive insect although a great pest to the farmers of the Western States. The insects represented m the illustration (see Fig. 6) are largely magnified, the lines belowiV dicatmg their natural size. It attacks various kinds of grain, is a persistent and incessant feeder throughcmt the whole of its existence and at ' every stTi of Tts thP,wVn.?r W .'' ^"?^^ ^PP'r ' r"^ "" ^'"^"g ''''''^' "f vegetation is safe from their attacks. Wet weather is a check to its mischief, "a heavy thunder-storm " sayB Mr Bethune, '< being worth millions to the farmers of tL Western Ss .ring the season of its ravages." It is, however, assailed by lady birds aS winged flies and syrphus flies, veiy effectively, and thn«. t. «nm« o^^-it ro"'-4^Pd in Its depredations. " ' -''.-nt, rc»..amed ce of the peat fa oRcapcd dis- re laid, and the thev remain all : which attacks ^er observe the >ot, where it ia their exibtence, attack is made > sap, the result ^r BIX encircling n and finally to i what is called a grain of the is carried from oint as to what t is produced— nined upon by .nd others that 'er the ear. " i of fall wheat > may not find in. An addi- ler to make the J attacks of the ame manner as se envelope of Itj rGSi/rdiiicu INJURIOUS INSECTS. THE MIDGE, Cecidamyia Tritici 117 with 11 ^i^::ztS::izi^^^ ^ri=i^^r«%"^^«"' --^"^ri: cloHed wrngs. Fiu. S, the e^gs. Fiy. 4, the outline of the llrva!, higidy inified. "™'' ""^ THE HESHIAN FLY, Cecidomyia destructor. THE CHINCH BUG, Micropua Le^tcopterus. Fig. 5. Fig. 6, Shows, on the left hand a 8i)ecimen of the true chinch bug, on the right an ordinary bug, magnified. THE APHID^ OR PLANT LICE. 7. "^'^* '• Fig. 8. The above figures will serve to illustrate the insects beloneine to this famiW i^.v, 7 "?y muchlJaT*'"^'^' ""^^' "^^'^ '^"^ ^""^'^'^ femair!?it tt XL fSale i im 118 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. inse^L' al.FSnnn/^''"* ,"'' ^''' u^'^% ^, ^"^ ^^' ^^« * ^«" known family of insects, and are found on a large number of plants. As a rule the AohidiE are n of IZ tZT "' r ^'"^'v^ K "r -« ~-- -hen their propensittes for mTschie take that direction. Mr. Brodie, of Toronto, says in his evidence on that point •- Of the habits of the Aphidfe, Mr. Bethune says ■— consequently are not required verv frennpntlv nnrl fJ!I„ i ''^^^ "^' -^ females, towAthe^closeof thes^eai ThUal^poLrwIngs. ^ "'^' *'"^ appearance usually „of J^^""'^^^T °^ *^^^^ '"f^*^*^ P*^* *h« -inter in lading places out of doors The itnnrP^ nated females lay eggs m the autumn that survive the winter and these hatoh nntTn^?£ needs a constant supply of food to live, and if it were detacLd it wouW die This doe« noi petratrthrL*d*''""^"'^P^""^'^^' ^^^'-^ °^^-*'« to establish nit clnS'andto pel: Happily not only such casualties as storms and climatic changes reduce the mtfwS braifhSS?' ^'' ^''^ '-''-' "P«" 'y — parafitr 'oTtht's: The Joint-worm (see Fig. 9) devotes itself chiefly to barley and rye, occasionallv however, directing Its unwelcome attention to oats."^ Its last appLSnc^ 0^^^ Je Sect !- ''' ""^^ ^" *''" ^'''' ^^^' ^""^ 1«^^- M^- bethune says of tSs aboul'tiiVK^Sid joint™ortit'in%tf £iS.Tv1i^^^ «^' '^^-'^^PT^^^ i£^^to%Strs?^i-i5.s^^ st?r " Tt^aSslLVsS oTlJ^n^tlrf^^^^^ He ac' ^.s : — of the risk incurred by the use ofTre. » however, are dangerous remedies, en account The Angumois moth (Butalis r .rMelUx), with its caterpillar, has been seldom seen, to any injurious extent, for a long period. aeldom :nown family of Aphidte are not ities for mischief an that point: — 5le-aphis, and the oat crop in North weight of oats that 1." lit abundance, and as been found, hy nee during a large last through the ions. The males, )pearance usually 1 that each female s and able to pro- alculated that, in ir accident in the IS checks imposed 8 earth would be obably no kind of •rs. The impreg- hatch out in the 3s of females con- ance. dies— it has, as a juices ; in fact, it . This does not, lonies and to per- inot assimilate it the surrounding and other sweet - ifter the aphidae, im a cow. They lomen, thus forc- iately make use. regular pasture. ly, are deposited sometimes been the stock of the iseot lives inside lion of the outer been seldom INJURIOUS INSECTS. THE JOINT WORM— /sosoma hordei. 119 Fig. 9. THE ARMY WORM — Leucania unipuncta. ^/^Sf. 10. Fig, ii_ Of which Fig. 10 shows the caterpillar, and Fig. 11 the moth. THE SEVENTEEN-YEAR LOCUST. THE RED-LEGGED GRASSHOPPER —Galoptenus femur -rubrum. !«^^^^sss»s^sii^M''»^s 120 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. The Army worm (Lencania unipuncta)—Bee Figs. 10 and 11— has a terrible reputation and is more common than many suppose, not often in such force as to produce very serious results, although it is sufficiently destructive. Mr. Bethune says of it : — .f ..I'lSi"^^"?' '" ^*J*«'t8 '^'^bjts are thoroughly known, feeds chiefly upon wild grasses ^Lfnlw '^.''"P"'.'*'!^ F"''. °^ '""'?* meadows and marshes, at times bdng exceSy hnJ if '^l.^ K n?T'^ri'^°'' ' sometimes become in its own locality that, like the chinch ferdeJtodoSh^ in^^'r^'-^^i.^^^y "*^f '"««''*«• '* ««*« out tolind fresh supplies. on™nrH ;„ . .1 f^ i"'^°.*? assenjble in very large numbers, and they all seem to go with Cv ™ - Of "'" ''"■f^*"'"' a? if they were a regularly marshalled army, hence the name rnvt^Lri ren?r T^ *v '*".?"' •^.^''"* ^^''' ^^'"» ^^'^ "^ '" battalions etc., are purely fence or a hSn tht^tr^T^'''^' *''^^/" r*.*"";" ^"'« ^"'- ^"^ obstacle; if they come to a It^ ti, M ' **>ey ."^"^y *" S« over it instead of around it. They will stream across roads «.?! i '^^'^fy K''''^' '" ^"?» ^'^*"''' *"^ lately i" ^"^'ew Brunswick, have been covered to reL/so'?eafed\harrr' *^!,'"":T«'^t "^ th« trains, the driving wheels of the locomotive If the Army worm has up to the present time done no very serious injury to the CTops in Ontario It still must be regarded as an ever-present and possible danger. Mr. Bethune says on this point:— ^ ta,-n'l^P^nl"a?.ffhi?, ^^^^ "^''T ^e^" ji^it^d bjr such numbers, but we have had them to a cer- meetin? hem toS h! T^^ destructive. When they appear in numbers the best method of ^!!ol ^, -fK T -, *' &v^>^^.^ "^^.^P iarrow, or dig a trench, in the front of their line of ^Jttl f > f fi'^P ^'i^ '" *•"" direction in which they are going, and when they are trying get out of ,t, to throw .traw or shavings or something of that kind and set fire to it, or other- r.?nf "'^ *.'?'°' with earth. It is an insect to which we are liable at any time, and any sort of vegetation, whether grain crops or anything else, is food for it. It is a very common insect, and I suppose all our gardens have a few specimens at all times, but it does noTpro" p^-ate very rapidly ,n our climate, though if the checks upon it were removed, it would increase enormously m numbers." ""»cii, »i, wuum kee^'it'^*'^^ h^^k^ ^^^^^ °^ ^^^^ species, and several parasites and friendly insects V, "J*'^^'''^ worm M.«7nofes mancus )," s&ya Mr. Bethune. "is sometimes troublesome to S^rvVH w'tbf/'* I'ves alto^^ether out of sight, under ground, and hence it is not much ftenf ^n.n f'"""- ^* " * n""^ '^^'"^^' *'"■"!'' ^'^^ «'^ l«Ss under the anterior portion of ^hi^h /; ff}^ l^l "I" "'f ^^ y^""^ "•■, t'^^^'y ^"l""""' an'l i« very hard, unlike our caterpillars, which are soft to the touch, consequently receiving its name, the ' wire worm. ' It feeds under ground upon the roots of vegetation, and is looked upon in England as one of the very worst foes o. wheat In Ontario we have not been able to estiuiate its ravages as resulting in any fbseJved'ik ploulhing!" ""*'' " *^'^ "'' '"'"'^ on out of s^ht. It is frequent"? The wire worm, however, does not cease to be troublesome when it quits its larval state, and appears in the shape of the spring-back beetle. • u'J^': P^.^'^^t "^f *i'.''^/" ''""y? ^''- Bethune, "is very familiar; it flies into the house at f^&r anything sVeet."'' '""^ '"'^ ^' ^"""'^ "'''^""^ *^°"'^ ^^^ ^''"'^•"^ ^^""^ *^'««" '•?« He recommends employing children to follow the plough and pick up the wire worm, or to turn turkeys and ducks into the ploughed fields, as remedies for the too great numbers of this creature. The larva of another very familiar insect, popularly known as the daddy lon^- legs {Itpula), IS more injurious to timothy and ordinary grasses than to grain. ° "Its larva," says Mr. Bethune, "is a grayish, dirty-coloured caterpillar that feeds unon gram, and vegetation of a si,„ilar kind. It has the faculty of surviving iXense cold Some years ago specimens were sent me that were gathered at the close of%vinter in a field n^r Cobourg ; they seemed to be perfectly hard frozen, and apparently as brittle as ifttle ticks ^Inir *^ fPPl"=at'"n of warmth, they became quite livel/and prepared to feed. iTattacks the roots of the plant, and meadows and 'awns are often seriously iiijured by its ravages " The Province of Ontario has never been afflicted by a visitation from the Rockv Muuiitani wcusia [(;aiopie,ms »pretm), altliough, in other parts of the Dominion, that calamity has been experienced. The history of this pest and its migrations is INJURIOUS INSECTS. 121 1 — has a terrible 1 such force as to e. Mr. Bethune r upon wild grasses 8 being excessively hiat, like the chinch find fresh supplies, all seem to go with ny, hence the name ms, etc., are purely ;■ if they come to a treara across roads, ve been covered to la of the locomotive ad to be thrown on 0U8 injury to the possible danger. t had them to a cer- the best method of ont of their line of len they are trying fire to it, or other- any time, and any ; is a very common ut it does not pro- removed, it would friendly insects THE COLORADO BEETLE— Dor^/p^oi'a decemlineata. ¥ig. 14. Shows the Colorado Beetle in its various stages of development. lea troublesome to ce it is not much mterior portion of f e our caterpillars, a. ' It feeds under of the very worst 18 resulting in any It is frequently hen it quits its into the house at ig from trees, ripe )ick up the wire •emedies for the the daddy long- n to grain. ' that feeds upon ense cold. Some ;er in a field near le as little sticlts, feed. It attacka ' its ravages, " Tom the Rocky the Dominion, ts migrations is THREE-LINED LEAF BEETLE- Lema Trilineata. THE STRIPED BLISTER BEETLE- JSpicauta vittata. Fig- 15. Fig. 16. Fig. 17. Fig. 15 represents the larvae of this insect ; and Fig. 16, the beetle. 122 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. interesting, but as, for reasons given in the evidence, there appears to be no reason to dread it in this Province, it will be sufficient briefly to notice Mr. Bethune's description of its habits. He says : — "The life history of this insect in a few words is as follows :— They are hatched out in the plains in countless numbers, eat up everything before them, and consequently become desti- tute ; instinct compels them to move on, just as in the case of the army worm, and being winged insects, th'.y fly up into the air to a considerable height, and are then borne along^by the wind, alighting when they reach a country covered with vegetation. Z^ __; " Not being able to fly against the wind, their flight during the latter part of summer has been found to be invariably from the north and north-west towards the east, this being the direction of the then prevailing winds. They then deposit their eggs, from which are hatched out next spring, new insects. In the spring the prevailing winds are in an opposite direction, and the new insects, having obtained their wings, are carried back towards their origin: haunts, whence, in turn, fresh hordes are borne to the east. "They have never come much east of the Missouri River, and I think the Mississippi will be found to be their extreme limit eastward. This was the conclusion Professor Riley came to, so that we need never fear them in Ontario. The insect devours in all its stages." We have, however, often a ver3' disagreeable experience of the presence of the near relative of the locust, the red-legged grasshopper {Caloptenus femurrubrum), its powers for mischief being limited, and only limiteu, by its incapacity for flying more than a few yards at a time. As a matter of fact this insect is a locust and not a grasshopper at all. (See Fig. 12.) "The grasshopper, properly so-called," says Mr, Bethune, "is a grayish-green insect that feeds upon grass and foliage, and is never sutfaciently numerous to do much damage." Mr. Brodie, in his evidence, refers to the great injury done by the insects to crops in the County of York some twenty or twenty-five years ago. Since that date the loss sustained by them in that district has been considerable. They were, some seven or eight years ago, so numerous in some parts of Muskoka as to inflict much sufiering and inconvenience on new settlers, and the evidence taken by the Com- missioners in that district shows that they are Etill in places exceedingly trouble- some. In the County of Lanark they have more recently done much mischief. Mr. James Donald, in his evidence, says on this point : — " In our district the grasshoppers attacked the crops severely about four or five years ago. They had been numerous the year before, but did not hurt the grain crops. Four years ago they ate up everything but peas. They even ate the corn in the ear and the potato vines. The next year they were as bad. That induced people to raise rye, which got ahead cf their ravages. " The wet season at harvsst time in the next year diminished them. Since then they have continued to decrease in numbers. They still do harm in the pastures. The years they were most troublesome were very dry years. The plentiful supply of grass crops is always a pro- tection to the grain against their attacks. " Of 24 acres of hay that should have given IJ tons to the acre I did not get a load ; and of 11 acres of oats I had none to thresh out. This was ;n the worst year — I think 1877. The spring wheat was also destroyed. Their ravages extended over the whole country, less or more, ex- cept in some of the good farm lands." Other witnesses from that section of country fully confirm Mr. Donald's descrip- tion. The grasshoppers' favourite breeding grounds are old pasture lands and meadows witli light dry soil. To the parasitical enemies of this insect we have to look almost exclusively for its destruction. The Cicada, often spoken of as a locusv, " known by the peculiar shrill whizzing sound which it makes in the trees during the heat of the day," is hardly to be termed destructive in its habits. The seventeen-year and thirteen-year locusts of the United States are members of the Cicada family. The seventeen-ye.tr locust is represented in the accompanying illustrations. (See Fig. 13.) INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE POTATO. Some notice of the insects injurious to the potato come next in order. First of these is the too well-known Colorado beetle, of which an illustration in its various stages of development is given. (See Fig. 14.) Having its home originally in the rs to be no reason ice Mr. Bethune's e hatched out in the lently become desti- ny worm, and being hen borne along^by part of summer has east, this being the n which are hatched 1 opposite direction, vards their originn hink the Mississippi sion Professor Riley in all its stages." e presence of the femurrubrum), its apacity for flying s a locust and not sh-green insect that ih damage." by the insects to Since that date They were, some as to inflict much aken by the Com- 3eedingly trouble- 9 much mischief. lince then they have rhe years they were 3ps is always a pro- ar shrill whizzing ," is hardly to be 3n-year locusts of ;een-yeAr locust is ; in order. First tion in its various ! originally in the INJURIOUS INSECTS. THE SPHINX QUINQUE-MACULATA. 123 Fig. lii. Fig. 18 shows the lar.a partly grown, the perfect moth, and the chrysalis. 124 ONTARIO AfiRICULTURAL COMMISSION. Ill « ! Rocky Mountains, it travelled eastward as it found itself within reach of the culti- vated potato plant of whicli it is so greedy a consumer. Mr. Bethuno thus des- cribes its arrival in Canada. He says :— " It kept moving eastward, still increasing in numbers, nntilit covsred the whole of the htates west of us. In 1871 1 found it very abundant at ChicaRo, and on the shores of Lake Michigan ; it was then unknown in Canada. I wrote some articles in the daily and weekly Globe, and Canada Farmer, callinK attention to the insect, and warning the people of this country of tho invasion which was about to take place, and proposing that some measures should be takf :. l)y the Legislature to ward it off, if such a thing were practicable. Nothing, however, was clone, and the following year the insect made its appearance, crossing the Kiver " We supposed that it would have gradually come eastward, but, to our surprise, it tf)ok advantage of the railways and canals, and spread itself with great rapidity, even to the re- mote parts of the Province. Having once arrived in this country, there was no possible means olrepeUmg the invasion, and the only plan was to keep it under as far as possible." At first its appearance created a feeling of some dismay, and a want of acquaint- ance with any effective means of destroying the pest occasioned serious loss to the potato crop. But public attention having been fully aroused, action was taken, and now the potato bug, as it is called, is not the cause of very much alarm. Mr. Bethune says with regard to its suppression : — "As the result partly of the experiments i)f Professor Riley, and partly of those of Mr. toaunders and Mr. Reed, who were appointed a committee by the Department of Agriculture 1 ans green was found to be the most effective remedy. The information being communicated to the_ public by the Department of Agriculture and the newspapers, our farmers at once be- came informed of the best mode of attacking the insect, and ever since it has been kept in tair check. At hrst the crop of potatoes was short, and the price raised, but, since the first two or three years, it has not been looked upon as a very serious pest, simply because every- body is on the j/tZj-wi-e against it. I am certain, however, that if the community were to relax their efforts, It would soon eat up all our potatoes. There is no doubt that it ia now a per- manent resident of the country, and that we shall never be entirely free from it. "It lives upon all the members of the solanaceoua family ; it will occasionally attack the tomato ; it is very fond of the egg-plant, and of the wild members of the family, such as the bitter-sweet and the deadly nightshade. "It is a disputed point whether Paris green pred judicially affects the potato plant, but there is no evidence, so far as I know, that it does. It is a question whether, if used year after year on the same piece of ground, it would not affect the soil somewhat. I think our fanners are not sufficiently careful in handling it. It is excessively poisonous, and there are every year a number of cases of poisoning arising from its use, which ordinary care would be sufbcient to guard against. "There are a number of insect parasites which attack the Colorado beetle, but, of course the application of Paris green kills these as well as the beetles. If the potato were not grown to sucli an enormous extent, these parasites would keep the beetle down to the dimensions of an ordinary plague, without artificial remedies." London purple is another remedy very similar in its effects to Paris green. In using these powerful poisons where potatoes are grown in large quantities, the best way, says Mr. Bethune, "is to apply the poison dry mixed with lime, ashes or earth, but wherever there is a danger of its being blown on other vegetables the better way is to mingle it with water and apply it with a whisk, it can be done just as rapidly in this as in any other way." The careful and persevering daily destruction of the eggs, a work in which chil- dren can be very well emiiloyed, is usually the means of greatly reducing the num- bers of this pest. The three-lined leaf beetle {Lema trilineata)~-aee Figa. 15 and 16 and the striped blister beetle {Epimuta vittata)—see Fig. 17— are also enemies of the potato, and may be destroyed, if they become damagingly numerous, by the use of Paris green. The potato or tomato worm, feeding on both these plants, although preferring the latter, is thus described by Mr. Bethune : — i- fa "When disturbed, it raises its head in a very threatening manner, and altogether look, so teroeio-us diat it is popularly supposed to be very poisonous, which, however, is not '„ne case. Its bite being so feeble as not to even penetrate the tender skin of one's h J-d ,»• arm When connected with the Canmla Farmer, I looked into a number of cases in which the bite reach of tlie culti- ethuno thus des- Bd the wliolfi of the the shores of Lake 16 daily and weekly r the people of this that some measures cticable. Nothing, , crossing the Kiver INJURIOUS INSECTS. PLUSIA BALLUCA. 135 want of acquaint- lerious loss to the ction was taken, luch alarm. Mr. tly of those of Mr. ent of Agriculture, eing communicated farmers at once be- lt has been kept in but, since the first iply because every- unity were to relax at it ia now a per- )m it. sionally attack the family, such as the f potato plant, but 3tner, if used year what. I think our lous, and there are nary care would be tie, but, of course, tto were not grown ) the dimensions of Paris green. In antities, the best 1 lime, asJies or : vegetables, the it can be done rk in wliich chil- ducing the num- lougli preferring d altogether lookj lowever, is not tne one's ha,vA :,i- arm. s in which the bite Fig. 19. THE 10 EMPEROR. MOTH AND CATEUPlLLAn-Hyperchiria VCIV la. 12(5 ONTARIO AOBICULTUEAL COMMISSION. ttorv^„nL,n!lp? ..1 r I'Tc' *° ^y"^- ''T^*' Poisoning, and found every one of them SLp« « H P i; «wTA'.' ^''I conclusion tliat tl.e atoriea had been cauaecl either by the wZ w ;• f iV. ^r*"- J.*''!u''"S^ 'r ^*^" Mcertained to be identical with the tobacco- wonn, which la so great a pest in the Southern States." The Sphinx moth (^^linx quirujue-maculata) is the mature insect of the tomato worm, ihe ophuix is described as livine through the winter in its chrysalis state : the luotli, a handsome creature, derives its name from five orange spots on each side of its body. (See Fig. 18.) INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE HOP PLANT. The hop aphis (Aphis humidi), living on the juices of the plant, attacking the L?b Mr Bethu"ne -^'' ^^'g^*^"g ^""^ withering up the plant, is thus referred " In England the growth of the hop is almost dependent, from vear to vear unon thp appearance or absence o the 'fly,' or apiis, known as Aphis rumuTthCgh.irthi; country! we are not troubledby it to the same extent. It is not necessary to give an account of the bltrV'L*'^ *^'' T'^°^• "'' *''** 8iven <.f the grain aphis will also apply to thfs variety It wJLtk ^ "T^ *°iv' ''"""'•■y from England, though the hop is an indigenous plant here, as I have observed it growing on the Kaministiquia River, where it is not at all provable « ftrJZ pJT "''• ''"i"' ll^h^J"^'"'^ »'"°^"'? ^"^ •» many' parts of the North-West. It Engknd."^ niHKJssible that the insect may have existed here before its introduction from It is to parasites we are indebted for a defence against this pest The hop-vine snout moth (Hypena humuli) is described as follows:— "There is another insect very destructive to the hop, viz., the hop- vine snout moth, or SfrvXife"l'ivt;. tSr/fr-rf ^■'' ^'r"" '^t^e county of Peel to a considerable extent and while living there 1 found this insbct very abundant indeed Occurring in large numbers, it destroys the foliage of the plants, and so injures them S TnnTl™'' ?h ^"P' ^- *" • '"?'^*/';« produced. It is a Dale green 'worm, whidi appeals i iT; . ?;PP«|"."8 '» J^^y *" '^y its eggs, and anotlier brood appearing later on, so ^hnl rl^ ^ two broods in a year. When disturbed it lets itself down by a silLn thread a short distance, and if let alone, climbs up again." "iiiwn micu,u Strong tobacco water, lime dusted -on the plant, and hellebore, are useful remedies against this insect. Some cut worms and a caterpillar very much resembling the cut-worm in appear- ance, but not very precisely identified by the witnesses, are also found among the nop s assailants. ° Two butterflies (Ch-apta iiderrogationis and Grapta comma) also feed on the hop and are occasionally so numerous as to be a nuisance. They are described as— ' "Of a reddish colour on the upper surface of the wings, and dull on the under surface TJi^^,:^'Z7inX^V^iS;h °^ ^ ^^'-''^'^^^'^ ^''^ ^--^ ™-^ «^ interrogator:; Their parnsites will be noticed with others in due course A smaU butterfly, and its caterpillar {Thecla humuli), and a moth (Flusia halhica) with wings of "a very bnlhant metallic green colour," and of which an iUustr ion IS also given (see Fig. 1% feed on the hop, but not to a damaging extent. ihe lo Jl-mperor moth (Hyperchiria varia) and its caterpillar are also illustrated. oi '"I oo"^° mv '"S *^® smaller and the female the larger insect. (See Figs 20 21 and 22.) The insect remains in its chrysalis state during the winter and the moth appears m the spring. They are not so numerous as to be destructive. The cater- pillar has a curious faculty, which is thus described by Mr. Bethune. He says:— "The caterpillar has won some distinction over our other caterpillars by being possessed of a stingmg property. It ,s covei;ed with bands of bristles, and when they pierce tKnder skin of theTjody they produce an irritation similar to that caused by nettles. It grows to a considerable size, and when coiled up somewhat resembles the burr of a chestnut. It has a fe± "'^ri'i'^i""'' H "^^^ '}^^' "^ "^^^ ^9^y throughout nearly the entire ib^fo=^Jhp »««iitVLlffffil^'""Tw" j"^" '■^''^ yeiiow spine-ruig«, a remarkable insect, and one amongTt StVersf ^poSe tp. "* '"'^ "P°" ^ ^"^ '''''' ^^"^^^ '' *^-«' «^-^« -^ ?'-*«' INJUmOVS INSECTS. 127 i every one of them caused either by the f a wanp gometimea cal with the tobacco- [ant, attacking the it, is thus referred ar to year, upon the ugh, in this country, 'e an account of the ' tothis variety. It m indigenous plant is not at all probable he North-West. It ta introduction from THE PEA WBBVIL, OR PEA BUG — BrUC?lU8 Plsi. vine snout moth, or considerable extent, md so injures them 'orm, which appears spearing later on, so by a silken thread a ebore, are useful t-worm in appear- found among the ) feed on the hop, 1 escribed as — the under surface, of interrogation), or th (Flusia balhica) ich an illusti ion extent. re also illustrated, !t. (See Figs. 20, nter and the moth ctive. The cater- une. He says :— by being possessed ey pierce the tender ;tles. It grows to a chestnut. It has a It nearly the entire able insect, and one , shrubs and plants. THE CABBAGE BUTTERFLY — Pieris rapOB. Fig. 24. Fig. 25. ■> • Fig. 26. I'ig. 24 shows the male ; Fig. 25 the female ; and Fig. 26 (a) the larva, and (bj the chrysalis. 128 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. inhe<;ts injurious to thk pka. The pen weevil (Brnchus pini) is a comparatively recent importation, and at the present time a source of great loss and injury to the agriculturist. It has not only rendered the pea crop nearly valueless to tlio homo consumer, but it lias well nigh destroyed a profitable trade in seed peas carried on with the States. (See Fig. 23.) The following description is given of the pea bug by Mr. Uethune :— "It 18 a very remarkable creature in its habits. The parent insect is a little beetle, which (lepoHits Its eg|/8 in the bottom of the jwa, just before the petals fall. The eg^ hatches out a Jittle worm which penetrates down inside of the growing pod, fastens upon and enters the young pea. The liole which it makes when entering the nea is completely filled up by the 8Ub8ef^uent growth, conse(|uently when the pea is ripened the insect is found inside without any visible aperature at all, ati.l the wonder to the ordinary observer is, how the creature ever got there. The pea devel , < in the ordinary way, and seems to grow as lar',e as usual, but, of course, is verv deficient in weight. The insect docs not eat away the whole interior of the pea, but simply a hole in it, in which it goes th. jugh all its transformations. When It arrives at the stage of the perfect beetle, it gnaws its way through, flies away, and ar)pearH again to lay the eggs for the next crop of insects. I have no doubt these insects are eaten very often m peas which are brought to the table, but having fed upon nothing but the nea they have no taste and do harm to nobody." >- » t . Numerous references have been made to this pest in the course of the inquiry Mr. Brodie says of it : — •'' " Tha pea weevil is rapidly moving northward and westward. In the vicinity of Toronto in favourable seasons, there are two broods. From close personal observation, I am quite sure of this. I have been assured by careful observers that there are two broods in the townships south of London, so that the expedient of early or late sowing is of little avail. So rapidly is this insect increasing in the county of York that unless some remedy is applied, farmers will have to give up the cultivation of peas." Mr. Hobson, of the County of Wellington, says : — "We have not grown many peas lately, on account of the pea bug. There is a bug to each pea. The only remedy I know of for this pest is to stop growing peas altogether for two or three years. I was told by Mr. Kenton that it was very bad in Wentworth about twentv years ago, and that the farmers generally gave up growing it for two years, and the result was that the bug was destroyed. I don't think there is any other remedy." Mr. Drury on the other hand, from the neighbourhood of Barrie, County of Simcoe, '* had never seen a pea bug in the district." Mr. Dickson, of Tuckersmith (Huron), says : — "The pea bug seemed to begin its ravages in the southern counties, and it is gradually working north. I have no doubt they will get a taste of it in Simcoe by and by. Last year the pea crop completely failed with me, and this year I have not sown a bushel, in the hope that the pest may die out. . •. . . The farmers in my district have ceased growing peas almost altogether. I used to get /50 per cent, more for black-eyed Marrowfat peas than for any others. Before the pea bug came I raised thirty bushels to the acre. Latterly the bug became so bad that there was scarcely a pea that had not a bug in it." In June last the bug had not made its appearance in Lanark when Mr. Matheson, of Perth, was examined, at Toronto, nor had it arrived when the Commissioners visited that district in October last. But in Kent the consequences of its attacks have been yery disastrous. Mr. S. White, of Charing Cross, Kent, says : — "Peas have gone out of cultivation because of the bug. A few are still sown, but I think the Legislature should prohibit their growth until the bug is killed out. They used to grow well in this county. I think the blue pea is as little liable to the bug as any. The only plan we had of avoiding the bug was to sow very late, and we sowjwl later and later every year but now we cannot secure a crop even by that means. I think it is nearly twenty years since the pea bug made its appearance. Before that the pea crops were both large and profitable. We used to sow wheat after peas, and it was a crop that answered well for that p\irpose. " I don't think any decisive steps were taken at first to prevent the ravages of the bug. Some are growing peas yet, and of course that is sufficient to keep the pest in existence." There has been no concurrent effort made to take action in the matter ; the Agricultural Rndrtjcs have dono nothing in particular to get rid of the- insect. There is no hope'of getting rid of it, in my opinion, until the people are compelled to quit sowing peas. I don't know of any who are raising peas successfully. I think I have heard of its being got rid of in other ttle beetle, which eg^ hatcheH out a n find enters the y filled up by the id insiile without low the creature an lar',e as UHual, lie whole interior mations. When yay, and ajjpearH insectH are eaten iiing but the pea, inity of Toronto, , I am quite Bure in the townships 1. So rapidly is ied, farmers will Chere is a bug to together for twr> th about twenty 3, and the result rie, County of ^r. Matheson, Commissioners rous. Mr, S. (vn, but I think ey used to grow The only plan iter every year, inty years since and profitable. t purpose, ijesof the bug, at in existence, le Agricultural hope of getting don't know of rid of in other INJURIOUS INSECTS. THE ZKBRA CATERPILLAR — Mamestra picta. 199 Fig. 27. THE CABBAGE PLUSiA— P^tts/a hramkoB. Fig. 28. THE CUT-WORM— ^(/rot in other jioruotiM ot tne co.inty w») could raiNe them profltably Imt for the \mu» n>ean. ad'o 2l LTt'ri.! Z/* '."""' ^"> ^ *'"'"''• ^.'"^ *" '""ea-inp year by year. The only TenerX Etfl?l'^ r f iIVL I'T.^" '"T**^ Krowii.K ,P«aH. an.l tHat ineann ha« been pretty Keneraiiy adopted. 1 think that in the only way of KcttnK rid of them The \mit in troul.l/ ""kTlliiV\Z nr''K.,/ *'*'";*, ''"'r *r 'T^ ^^^^ '•«'" «ny coIopLtlTm ^''^hVprpt b«!"i'n;t!r;;ow'i"t ;: Tn'otff pi:;?::';/ tr l^ntyT'" ^^^'"'^ »'"•"• '^ «•'""'''• '•"««"*• Mr. Ketcham Graham, of Sidney, County of Hastings, nays:— our '^eldVZ ti;i?.if.r't& *" ^l,"- "*""'?"" f'f ^ '^*'« ""'y I'^»» *« talte *« "^^^ «» » t» get our seed trom tlie northern townHhips, where it Ih not so prevalent." Mr. H. Middleton, of Clark, Durham, says:— the frJn't'*,!f%h?l-;lwl!!rr"f^'''''"* "^i.**'^ P"" '"'«" *^''' •'«'^""' *ho»Kh they were common in bushK. the acre/' ^*""'" ''™ * ^^'^ profitable crop. producinK from 20 to 40 Mr. Smellio, of Vaughan, County of York, says on the same subject :- almolt^ZwlfV^ "^'^ "^"^L '^'*^ "' until the last two vearH, and since then the bug haH & el ™ bf I. JIT- •^''"'^ Pe..r>le this year sowe/ their peae very late, after every. In the neighbourhood of Owen Sound the pea bug has not yet arrived. The growth of peas in that section is very large, and the crop, usually, a heavy one. Most persons Mill therefore sympathize with Mr. Cochrane, of Kilsyth, when he peacroS.^"^^" ''"*' °"^''* *" ^^ '°"''^'' ''^*®'' ^""^ '**'°"*'° "^ °°""*''y ^^'K^'y depends on its Replies to questions ffbm other parts of the I.ovince all go to show that the pea bugs ravages have been extensive, that the pest is still advancing, and that no section IS perfectly safe from its presence. It does not appear that the pea bug is subject to any parasitical attacks, so we are left to devise what artificial means we may for its extermination. ^ Mr. Bethune suggests some remedies, of which one is the following :— ^™ l!^^^ remedv, which I have seen practised to avert it, is to keep the seed peas, if thev are observed tofce infested at all, over the year in ti^ht vessels, ^he peas, ?or instance Tein^^nnlhllS" ye*'' »nd next year the beetle woulS mature and come out'of them, and being unable to escape from the vessel it would die. There would be no place to lay its ejfKs veai f^lt^^f\r'^ ^"f, ^H ^,""1-^ ^l ^'^"«'«««- « these peas were sown the folowTg and l^^^^^./fl^^'^V^""^'' probably die, but a very large proportion would retain their vitalit? and germinate, and the ensuing crop would be entirely free from the bug." vimuty ^hJ^'^ isobviously only a partial remedy, and its complete success depends upon the chance that the bug has left the pea in a vital and germinating condition. But it is probably a safer measure than the next suggestion, which is as follows :— r.v^Jl^""*'^*"' '■f'"«<^y '» to, pour water which has been heated almost to the boiling point Srt of th^'eTC ThTmlfh'TfT^ *? '^\^l^'' '"'^"'''^ V^Hi" th« '"«««*' but not thWta part 01 tne plant. This method of treatment, however, would have to be carried out with a great deal of care I have noticed that a very large number of the infested peTswmflS on the water, while the unmfested ones will sink to the bottom, during a brief fmmersion The comnlpK^^'^f '"^ ***'f-^^y be roughly separated from the unsould, but t would not be a L^tS^haTSen e^Terourwo^u^Kt"?^ ''''' "'''' '^°«« '^ ^^'^^ *»>« ^"^^^ P«^-» «^ *»»« It is, however, stated that by placing the peas in a warm room the insects will be prematurely hatched into life, come forth from their holes in the peas, and ---3 - — ... .„,„ ju^jj wiii aie, tuu out danger of propagating the pest. ...... V..V/.X iiv^Aco 111 vxia jjvius, aiiu, ; peas being then used as seed with- n tiowr iMM for th« i« growing of {)«afl ;. We have been lildew. I think a auch, but in other Y year. The only i» has been pretty 'he buK iH troul)le- m for the purpose y general conHent, avoid it is to get f were common m ^ing from 20 to 40 y depends on its bIiow that the g, and that no the pea bug is ficial me{^n8 we ng:— eed peas, if they eas, for instance, ^ut of them, and !e to lay its eggs, ifn the following ain their vitality the boiling point but not the vital rried out with a )eas will float on mmersion. The ; would not be a sr portion of the he insects will the peas, and, I as seed with- iNJumoua INSECTS. THE ROOT PLANT I.OVHE— Erin furma pijin. IM Fig. 31. In Fig. 31 a reproHents the galls, a specimen of the work of this insect ; ft and c the perfect winged insect magnified ; the hair lii-es at the sides give the correct size. THE STRIPED BORER — Sapevda caTidida. 6 Fig. 32. ' Fig, 32— a the larva or grub, b the chrysalis, and c tlie perfect beetle. BUPRESTis APPLE TREE BORER — O/trysobothria femorata. Fig. 33. Fig, 33, a shows the larva, 6 the chrysalis and d the perfect insect. 132 ONTARIO AGBICULTUBAL COMMISSION. IS thatl^'^ ""T^ "^"*^ '" ^^''^ "^ obvious danger, there is a call for legislation to avert W ll™f "l'*'",!''l"1"'^^« *'^" *"*^1 destruction of the pea cn^ Sd entaJl In i' iii' the t me' InS v?t trre'Y"" '""i '""^*^ ^T^' P-bably^atheLgrn numbers aS Sbemtion or^pffnl ? '^^'^ "«* «^«"^ *« ^^ve been any concerted action, any utiiDeration, or effort, to provide remedies. Mr. White sir s •— quitXt't^e'^."'^'''' "^ ^'"'"^ "^ °' ^*' "' ">y °l''"i°". "ntil tl»e "people are compelled to Mr. Cochrane, from Grey, says :— present the sowint^fpea^infeSedw/ththeTug!" *''"'' P"^'""' ^^ey would pass a by-law to of Wentwrr*?h wn« nlf '.''^7f .r""*'?"*^ ^^ ^"« ''^ *^« witnesses that the County ot wentworth was cleared of the pest, some twenty years ago, by the farmers fori nSurel Srcruldb! d" ^"" ^^^^ • V' ^^VT ^^ -1-*-^ effort or", it'ry be benehcial Bn tit In "' every infested district, the result could not fail to oe oenencial. But the danger would be in a re- mportation of the buM whpn npa growing was resumed. Temporary abstinence from soSg would have to bp Z^£fZff f ""'Ti f'^""''^' "^"^"«^ *he re-introducS oTinLLd seed or SLS^oulin thatTit ^' '" \T- ^' ^^^*"*^^ by M^- Saunders in his report on Mamtoulin, that the pea crop there is quite free from the bug, and that infested peas have been sown m that region without the bug making itrawlrance It ^^ gratifying to know that the usually healthy atmosphere rStTuirfs unfavoui matizatit' %tf ^^^^^^^^ 1"°"^^ obviously be unW to presum^on ils not^^^^^^^^^ i£:^::un.^Tn^^^^ '' «"^=-*^^ *^^* *h« I«l-d -y afford a INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE CABBAGE. destroy the »bove.„,.^i„„edc.bK^t,;iaIt;j;;,i:i" Seelfe. sT' "" ' "'"' Of the Out.wor,„ (See F.g. 2!)) which attacks the cahbage.ljr 6ethi,„e say, - INJURIOUS INSECTS. 133 LARViE OF OYSTER SHELL BARK LOUSE — Aspidiotus concJiiformia. ■ 8 compelled to ot yet become cils the power k the measure ilty if he were •ry out such a •, if the atten- ik the persona bug was such have not the 3s a by-law to Fig. 34. Fig, 34 represents a small piece of the bark of an apple tree twig covered by larvae. THE TENT CATERPILLAR — Clisiocampa Americana. Fig. 35. In Fig. 35 we have a representation of these caterpillars at a and b resting on a portion of I /-eb; d is the cocoon which contains the insect in the chrysalis state, and c one of the egg the masses. THE FOREST TENT CATEnviLLAR—CUsiocampa sylvatica. Fig. 36. J .: :, I )i] M I; 134 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. T?vpr™i°*''^^^* '"'^r*' 'n.jt8 7°""° ^t^ge^' '8 very liable to the attacks of cut- worms. te^rl^Tng^'^/XwranYdeS' """^*"''^' "'''' ''' '^^ ^^* '^'^ ^'^^^^ °"'' °^ «"^-« '•>«- out o'nTv i'nfS? Tf^-^5 caterpillar that hides under rubbish in the day time, and comes it during the ntght." " cabbage, pulls down the foliage, an the bark i.s the most efficacious remedy. The apple-tree plant louse {Aphis maU), "attacks the terminal growing shoots." It is similar to the plant lice already described, and may be destroyed in the same manner, by a strong solution of alkali or tobacco water. If once washed from the twig the insects are helpless and consequently die. The tent caterpillar (Clisiucampu americana) is familiar to all apple growers. (See Fig. 35.) Its description, as given by Mr. Saunders, is as follows :— "This insect is the progeny of a moth of a brownish colour, with lighter stripes, which appears on the wing in the month of July, and deposits clusters of its eggs upon the small twigs of trees, chiefly apple trees. A single cluster of these eggs will contain several hun- dreds, and these are covered with a glutinous coating, which serves as a varnish to protect the egg-mass from the action of the weather. In this state the eggs remain during the winter, hatching out .in the following spring, just about the time when the buds burst on the trees. The larvre at once begin to spin their web, in which they enclose themselves for protection against the weather, and from which they issue at certain times in the day to feed on the expanding foliage. As they increase in size they enlarge their web until it presents the appearance sc familiar to every one, that of a large silken enclosure, containing, perhaps, two or three hundred worms or larvae, from au inch to an inch and a half or three-quarters in length. They have the peculiar habit of all going out together to feed at certain times in the day. " Its forest tree relative (Clisiocampa sylvatica)Sec Fig. 36— constructs a sort of web on the side of the trunks or large branches of trees. Independent of the natural means for the destruction of the tent caterjnllar, Mr. Saunders makes tlie following suggestions on tliis point : — "I would advise the ciittiug olF and destroying of the egg-clusters during the winter, when they can be readily seen, and an inspection of the trees in the spring, to see that none have escaped. In case any of the pests have survived till then, they will have begun to IXJUIilOUS INSECTS. 137 larance of the le wood wliich {iiifo into the ce of a Larva, itive measure, ith about half fvke up. This )ut the lart,'er applied with ution readily, ir egg-(. This I by rain, and incier my care lis treatment, both lay them ) first week in ning of July. )ther insects iches. (See II bark louse ne one. The •esembling an ber of minute ter, and early latter jjart of a warm day the tree, and :, insert their I sucking the Y attain their lited, and the remedy, ing shoots." in the same 3d from the le growers. bripes, which on the small several hun- ih to ])rotect 1 during the uds burst on lemselves for e day to feed il it presents ing, perhaps, iree-quarters bain times in 'ucts a sort lent of the; ! makes tlie to s the winter, ee that none ve begun to 10 138 ONTAEIO AGBICULTUEAL COMMISSION. h'K *.» if cpnstract their web, and can be easily removed by cutting off the twig on which they r«st, or if high up on the tree, by a pole with a cloth twisted round the end of it. If pro|)er care is exercised, this caterpillar need never be destructive in any orchard. But with the forest tent caterpillar the case is very different. It feeds upon the leaves of so many different trees that it has a much wider area in which to breed, and whenever it is abundant, it is enormously 80. In my own orchard, in which there are about .5,000 trees, I was obliged for two years to keep two men constantly employed for five or six weeks each season in killing these cater- pdlars, in order to preserve it from destruction. From the smaller trees the caterpillars may be removed by jarring, but, being extremely active, they soon take up their position on the tree again if not at once despatched. In thinking over the matter it occurred to me that as each of the fleshy pro-legs of the caterpillar is furnished with a fringe of hooks, it would be a difficult thing for it to crawl over a material like cotton batting, so I tied strips of that sub- stance, some three or four inches wide, around the lower part of the trunks of the trees, tight in the centre, so that the upper part of the strips would overhang the middle somewhat, and watched the result. 1 f' ■ ,.■ *hat the lar.HB would crawl up the tree until they reached this band, and then they w ' jund and round, until they app.arently became tired and went down again. In a ' one of our local papers I mentioned the matter, and the plan was extensively tried, ; \t seemed to work very well indeed, almost entirely preventing the caterpillar from climbing up the trees. I consider this species, where abundant, as more destructive to the apple than all other caterpillars put together." Vigilance and the constant hunting of the pest, at any and every stage of its existence, but particularly in the egg state, is the grand cure for the tent caterpillar. "If anybody," says Mr. Beadle, "tells me his orchard is overrun with the common tent caterpillar, I say it is his own fault." Mr. Roy says on the same subject : — "Two or three years ago the tent caterpillar did great mischief. The remedy against trem is to go over the trees in winter, walk along on the crust of the snow and examine the trees, and you will readily detect the rings of eggs. They should be taken off in the winter and put in the fire. I have done so in my orchard invariably. Any man who does this will keep his orchard free from caterpillars, that is, provided his neighbours do the same." Whether the activity of orchardists in following up this pest, or the seasons have reduced its numbers, certain it is that recently it has, in many places, all but disappeared. Let no one, however, forget that when dealing with so prolific a brood " eternal vigilance " is the price of immunity from its ravages. The Tussock moth (Orgyia leucostigma), and its liandsome caterpillar, the latter emerging from the egg clusters the moth has deposited glued to a dead leaf and attached to a twig, the yellow-necked caterpillar (Datana m'mhira), and red humped caterpillar (Notodonta concinna), bred from egg clusters on the twigs, the foliage of which they afterwards destroy, and the fall web worm, which spins a web smaller than but something like the tent caterpillar, must all be combated like the latter by a careful search for the ;g clusters, or by destroying the larvae as soon as they appear. (See Fig. 37.) Of the canker-worm, Mr. Saunders says : — ■ ^ "There are two species of canker-worms which, until late years, have been confounded with each other. One species produces a moth late in autumn, and the other partly in autumn, but chiefly in the following spring. There are perceptible differences in their larval and moth characteristics which are sufficient to establish them as distinct, but as their habits are precisely similar we can speak of the two species as one. "After severe weather, when it might have been expected that almost all insect life would be destroyed, especially anything so delicate in structure as these moths are, they may be met with in the woods flying about in all directions. They seem, in fact, to require a great amount of cold to fully develop them. The females of both species are without wings, the male only possessing powers of flight. The female is very much like the female Orgvia, being a spider-like creature, with six long legs, and a large body thickly clothed with scales. She is very unattractive in appearance, while the male is a very beautiful insect indeed. After copulation the female climbs up the tree, and deposits her eggs, usually on the twigs. The larva are hatched out in the spring, and quite early in the summer attain their growth. Their method of walking is by 'looping' their bodies, viz., by drawing the hinder feet close to the fore feet, again extending the latter, and so on. They are prettily striped with yellow and brown. After attaining its full growth— late in June, or early' in July— the insect descends to the earth and forms a chrysalis which remains undeveloped until the advent of the cold season, when the moth breaks through and escapes to perpetuate its species. This insect has been very troublesome in many parts o the United States, attading not only the '. which they r^st, or If projier care is 'ith tlie forest tent lifferent trees that i, it is enormously (I for two years to :illing these cater- e caterpillars may ir position on the rred to me that as loks, it would be a strips of that sub- of the trees, tight ile somewhat, and they reached this )ecame tired and B matter, and the ntirely preventing ibundant, as more B remedy against and examine the 1 off in the winter dio does this will lie same." or the seasons ^ places, all but ;h so prolific a 3. lillar, the latter I dead leaf and nd red humped s, the foliage of s a web smaller I like the latter as soon as they been confounded other partly in !es in their larval ut as their habits 3t all insect life lis are, they may to require a great thout wings, the ale Orgijia, being I'ith scales. She t indeed. After the twigs. The in their growth, hinder feet close iped with yellow July— the insect itil the advent of ts species. This ing not only the INJURIOUS INSECTS. CATERPILLAR OF CECROPIA ESfPEROB MOTH. 139 :3 Fig. 43. COCOON OF CECROPIA. Fig, 44. THE CODLING WORM. and ( l°.-f?^' ?^' f,^^^9 represent the moth with the wings closed and expanded, e the larva, d a the chrysalis. 140 ONTAIilO AQRICULTUBAL COMMISSION. ml ii m apple-tree but several varietioH of shade trees, particularly the elm." (See Figs. 38. 39. 40 As to remedies, Mr. Saunders says :— inches wide and slopin.' .lownwlrrl, Vftn • ^"^ '^f" ^^y ""^ '*^""* *''« *''««- »''«"* ^'ree mount themfa IsoE Le3r^^^^^^^ In ? an inverted funnel, bo that the insect could not sur- the same en. h view Inrbv thes^meai^ '^^"''''^ ^'^^ *^''' ^"'''^ ^««" "^^'^ ^^''^^ serious damage. I Lve m?t had m h nn. f ^-^ ^V^' '""^'^"X instances, been saved from has had anyeLct in rLhSnL^h^„L ' '"^A".'*-^"^ '^''«'h«'' *•'« En-lish sparrow not." ^ reducing the number of these insects, but I am of opinion that it has depSLtei!!lbT'^''\?"P^T.'"'^^^ ^I^P^'"^" d"""g the month of June and a^i^i:^rij^--d.tiH Fig. 43). Early in the autumn thiwvi »Y- -l'^ s'naller ones along the sides, are blue (see in length, insidl of ?hfcf changes to a cC^i« ''''"/*'' '•^''?" ''V'^"-""' l'^^^"^''^ *hree inches 44), developing the n.oth the fSing seast.^SutThl l^uZ^Z^^^ '''"'''' ^^^^ ''''■ ».j ,i.Ei., .t„t KB i,r;;2; s",* """■•''•'-■• ■"•» IJie Oodhng Worm (Carpoeapsa porno nella), -see Fig 45-whicli mnVpc ,•+„ formed, the insect deposit" C eT^s^^the rn^er 'In^nf f^ " ^^Tf'' "' ^^"J.^* '^^f"''*^ ** i« soon hatched into yonig larv!e, which .enEH ?„ f)L' ^^'^-^ H"'-!!"- 7^^«« ^^-'^'^ ^^-e whenthefruitisabmithalf gnwn AtthatH^^^^ f- »™^''"/ ^'•">*' ''^"'1 'mature there trees. These are br.,ughtdo^Vn from the effe^HflLn'''^ "" Kreat many apples fall from the set up in the fruit by then li^s on ,,re,S^^^ Sni "'""^"^ ^^'^ ^''''^'"'- ^^^e irritati.m tree. This half-gro^^^ fi^it i"",f course ?.tlpL "P^ness, and conseIiftm.Uft. POLYl'II K.Mrs MOTH. :'if'^^^^ irfint winsrs, sal is state in r, cherry, or lieve it to be Fig. 51. COCOON OF rOLYl'IlKMTTS MOTH. FiL'. 52. EYE-SPOTTED HUD MOTH- Grapholitha oculana. "K.r 'Si^.^M ^"y^r^ Fiy. 53- -Larva and perfect insect. 144 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. «oon rid tl»o tree of til!;"";irFi; 4r;^"' "^ "'''^"•' '^^'^'^'"' ^^'^'^ '' «>■""««' ^ii^ INSEI.'TH IN.IURIOtrM TO THK PLITM. SphI!x^fei^Z,"^^^^^^^^^^ «^ *»^-« - tho list isthoPlum •»"tli« is given. ItVXicn'bodlS^^^ ''''' ropresentation with ono of its .H corresp„,uli„Kly thick. 'Ihis , r, "e T ylv^h^^l^Jn^r.^'U ^'"■"" '!'."' ** '>'/ ""'•*"»^' '*"•' Hyii.K' lusfct. a..,l han a flight H...,ewhat„indlart..^^^^T^^^ •"""'. V'''"''' '"^ " "W'*" egK« ah„nt the month of June and thriarv,. „ff . -J . hi'mmuig l.ir.l. It dopositH its when it ,le..cen,Is from the tree enters t^^ 'V" ""'t-'nty about tlu- e„,l of autumn' it renmins until the followinrHeailm." *(See S 7\t:Xj }" '^ '^•"■^"^"^' "' ^^''''''»' ^""n emperor moths. ii-uuisomoat insects and also tlio progeny of one of the yelirw^c,riour?a'mlTv^Th\t l"?i:t:\.;^^ ""'f T " "?"'« ^^nnd, of a greenish covered with tubercles which h^Smersf Si BniL' ',';[.''j:/;i "'f'- lY"'' '*^'»i"''"^« ■"•« H very mm\M to that of the Hnhinx which I liav^ LT i:""=eedin- fn.m them. Its hi.story ing a chrysalis under ground^ spira cocori, ill .f"f!:'"'''- .;?"''?''' ^"""''■''' "^ ^"^^ winch it is feeding, which it .h-aws together ad wthit^^^^^*^''^ 'f ' "^ *^« *'^« "» state. This cocoon being attached to the f.Zle f „ h L '"[" ' V""f^-^ ,*" *'i« P"P» S:;r^c£=tJ^r£5:^f ^""-^- "-^^ -Be?Ft"f3-rtrn;t:it^^^^ ^f thP«**^' Bud-moth/(^n„Mo^Y/,a ocn^«,.a;, well as the vl-rn:ZZfoU^^LMU2l2t 7^^^' ^" *''" '^r-^'^^' ^« ' Figs. 54 and 55-aIso somewhaT ^romisctustn Us dTef^^^^^^^ for|if:t;p-XK*?e£;^i^^1J^ e^^^us^^ownmeans insecttSira^effroTrit: chr^fsTuSg^^Lte'^^^f ^ '''''' *^"*^^ ^'^^ P^^-' be found under the bark hibernating iSeSer A^t.nn''"*^^'"""*'''^ i*"*^ *h«" '"^y curculios may be found in abundance UDonthImw..{f^ f ".^ the trees are in blossom the the young fruit. Before the bCsoms have fairiv ef Z trJ^tu^'!*' «'gn8 of development in this watchful pest, which at once begLs to deTosh ei, n it Th!.*'"^ "^ '^i* i« detected bv grubs, which penetrate into the fruit caush rrwff '" i *' ^^T "^ r""^ ^ ^^^'^'^ '"*" «'»»» ought to be begun early in the year whde/bA tl/a ^ premature falling. The jarring proportion of the curculios mav be pAi I i!l \ f tf '^'^« '" ''l"«''<>m. and in this way a large much stress cannot b7la d ^^^e rSm^S^^^^^ '^^ ?»y ""«^l"ef ; in fact, too in the season. ^ recommendation to begin the jarring process quite early in brxis^reSwiS'llKl^^^^^ and by enclosing specimens eggs notwithstanding the darkne8;Theva^^^^ ^ lu' ^f ^^ ^""."^ them to deposit as active at night. *heir periods of inSvltv K L k""^ *^' ''^y- ''"^, «^«'^ *" ^e almost the morning or early in the evening. I do n ft'kLw •wbXf';^' '"f" t'V^^^^«"* *'« cool of the entire season, but presume that if fhatalfi whether they keep hard at work during a portion of the day orn£hT I consider Ihe ^nrXT '"^' ^''"^ .woulcT remain torpid durinf keep the insect in cLck, when faitMulIy follo,^ed"'^ "" "^ "^"'^^ '"*"'"* ^' ^ '^'n^'^y tS The jarring process is thus described by Mr. Beadle :— "The simplest contrivanru v'b'Vb T f.„,.i-1 -, - , .' - body, i, .„ se. . ,.„ ,„<,-.„-,- c.;.,i dothtrtrsu"^;! ii£,To"iJEi'„i%x:'i irz it is tlio Plum itii ono of its mJnent horn at •ilf iiicheH, and it;h in a niKlit- It (lopositH itH 11(1 (if aiituiiiii, ill which form lown means INJURIOUS INSECTS. 14ft ma roHciceaiia. i^'ig. 64. ^/iJ Av^ Fiif. 50. Fiy. 56, c represents tJie beetle, a the - . ^nd 6thochry«aUH(all nuvKnified); d, curculio (natural Hize) at work on iv youni,' plum. Fig. 55. THE PEACH BORER--^ , The parasitical allies of the fruit grower in this connection have yet to be mentioned. ■' INSECTS INJX7KIO0S TO THE PEACH. The peach appears to have only one special enemy, the Peach Borer (JEqeria exitioaa),—sQe Fig. 57— described as follows :— hndv ^inS!5°o«^^''?f''-" a ^a«P-"ke insect, with transparent wings, and a richly ornamented body, banded and striped with gold, which deposits its eggs about the base of the trunk. Ihe eggs hatch out, and the larvae bore into the sapwood, and cause an exudation of gummy matter which appears in masses about the base of the tree. The larvae seem partly to live in this Crummv Sllhstfttion anH narfl.r in (-he .>""."^"-4 «f fl,~ 4.— cc ^- .^f ^ "y ^""' »" *r.i,« J -^« «.W'» c„™^ t" ''• — 'n"" -•"; •••'I- "•"•■•• "i i-Hc vice, oumeuiims turcc or lour are found on the same tree, occasionally girdling and destroying it, but always inducing more or S dettractite ins°°t'" *''^' '"^Pairing '•-;?, vigour. Altogether it is a very objectionable INJOBIOUS INSECTS. 147 t the foot of the t is beginning to 1 will drop upon the creatures do not accomplish either saw off a nd strike on the ron, and leave it sy seem to think leems to impress They look like le insects should destroy them at nbers so reduced operation about such a state of the eggs, and of ally protected )ugall says : — My plum trees while just out- about ten feet ould be enough !. In my plum wis, and I have trees is a very fias shaken the rainy weather, fh is a perfect inot get a plum m. always get a V plum trees in coop of young almost entire A'^ith an inex- ght be well if }o disastrous, ;ht Brahmas, LARVA OF SAW FLY — NEARLY FULL GROWN — FEEDING. Fig. GO, GOOSEBERRY FRUIT WORM — Penijpelia gros^ulario. CURRANT GEOMETER, OR MEASURING WORM — Ellojna riheaHa. Fig. 61. THE IMPORTED CURRANT BORER- Aegeria tipuliformis. Fig. 62— Moth and Cocoon and Larva. Fig. 63. ly ornamented of the trunk, tion of gummy artly to live in rec or four are lucing more or ■ objectionable THE AMERICAN CURRANT BORER — Psenoscerus supemotatus. . Fig. 64. 1 1 .148 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. larva and destrorit B?S'Z^^^^^^^ *" ''»* «-'" away, trace out the been suggested tLt baSnTup fc treL with eaTtY^.IHP''''""^, '"-^^ "^^ «*"PP^'l- I* bSs their eggs, and the method is v.-'vstronLHvrl^ would prevent the insects from depositing rule those who look after the ,• peacftiePM^oWwT^"'*''^.^^ *\°«^ ^h« have tried it^ As a IS easily discovered by this gu mmv exucKH .n fn J have not niuch trouble with the borer. It 18 looked after at the proper "S.'^' ^ ''^^ ^^ ^^''^^ ^^^^"^ «"' and destroyed if it INSECTS INJURIOUS TO SMALL FKUITS. fly (SZ'Sur^UHj^::J^^^^^^ ^^^ r^"- f-Its, the imported Saw- to the currarxt and goosebery AJnl^lt^ ^^~'^ "''" °^ *^« ""^'^ troublesome spread thence to Cafada. ifis JesSeTasSw^- '^^ ^" ""'^ ^^^^ ^'^'^ -'^ . fly. bu?JuSeVS LVSgs*"ST;3lt? ^"^""^ ^'^^ «'^^ "^ *^^ -^--y house and as the young foliage is expandin-^ dencfsTts S 1^^ appearance very early in the season, berry ,n regular rows on the under sTde ^^' "'""""^ ''^°"= *he leavea oi the goose- daysthL'l^hltd!oTt^^Ulfg'rX^X^^^^^^^ Inafew the leaves up you will find tb ■ youn" coToi v of ^^rfj ,! * ^°^®^ '" *he leaves. On turning destroy the whole brood by pi.kC two S,°Voffh„ f '^ numerous, and you can sometime! If not checked at that time they soon scatter ovpp St^fT ^H *''a«»P""g them under foot, peanng with great rapidity, first from the lower nnrftfn V'A' T*^/"" ^'^'^ ^^^ ^^I'^ge disap- until m a very brief space the Xle^f the f oliaL?e of th«t *\^ ''"'''' ^'J'^ ^.'""'^ "^^at iipwards, be destroyed, leaving the branch/es b^re » ^ ^"'^' "" ""'^''^y *he whole of it, may posed torve"^:rr[haft,^Xoo5^ '^ ^t L'^nl^f tfT^*"]' -^ it i. sometimes sup- different periods, so that you can almo.t U «n^ f ^ doub e-brooded, the broods appear at bushes in different stages^of development You wrfffTl'^' ^}' ''^^°^ ^"^ ^^"-^^ »" the early part of the season, devourinj^^the f,,"!, Jp L = ^^ ■!'^- ^''P® ™^'^* abundant in the when full grown, going to the surface of thf.r ?" ^S '* ih thoroughly developed, and! W^U._^ha.aote«. and r=VS'SS;»^^^ There is something very rS In its co wfA,K " ^^^- iT^'^ little, effect on the geometer, this poison, and it ?equiL?rbeuse(^^''Xi^^^^^^ ^^'f^ "^"^^^^^ '* *« "-«««* the action of prove effectual. I have found that P^ktrf.nt ^'^l^'^' ^"'^ J^^" *hen it will not always to use this poison after the Fruit is formid ^tL- '""^.'^ ""'^ effectual, but it is undesirable are sprinkled with a solut^n of PaSs Trln Shi f 1 ^^^'^"' T'7 ^""'^Z' ^"^ '^ the bushes thmk there is no danger attending its use SHU if V. i^ T'"^' Y"'^ *he fruit is formed, I strength, will answer^ll the purLse I should nrlfil^^f^'p''"^ '™*^''' ''f^'^ °^ additional habit of dropping from the bu h?s when thev aJe sf rnnt *" ^''"' ^'^^^- T^'' '"•''«''* has a S:fc^dt-s:v^^^^^^ hurSu^^tTy,?nTtt?S^^^^^ but not often very the leaves and so stunts the Vro?th oftSl v."^ Z^""^''*' ^''^''"'''^' ^^'''^ punctures attack, the interi„7„f tL"t*bSry^SrdrS~''-"° ^'^^ «^-"'"* Ihe parent is a small narrow-winr,»ri . — ,. ^.xj. ■.-, , the ti.e the .ooX... -S^™ f |ISi 5^;^^^^^^^.'^,?^^^^^^ INJURIOUS INSECTS. 149 GREEN (raspberry) JJLOTR—A2)lode8 ruUvora. rdinary house n the season, ! oi' the goose- ce. In a few On turning: an sometimes m under foot, foliage disap- hat upwards, )le of it, may Fig. 65. In Fiff. 65 we have the curious larva of this insect shown feeding on the fruit ; 6 repre- sents the side of one of the rings or segments of the caterpillar's body much magnified : c the moth of a natural size, and d one pair of the wings magnified. COMMON MAY BEETLE. THE PHYLLOXERA — PhylloXCra vastatrix. Fig. 66. .".-'^'fl': P^' ^ represent? tlie lariEB, 1 the chrysalis, raa J iiud 4 the mature insect. Fig. 67— Grape Vine Leaf attacked by Phylloxera. 150 ONTARIO AQRIOULTUBAL COMMISSION. and there on the fruit. The egg hatches, and the young larva eats its way into the fruit, and lives m the interior portion of the gooseberry, and in a very short time the berry it feeila upon becomes discoloured, and havinc nnrfciallv (^nnnnirinH if fha inaanf. i-a^TLxa fr. onr.«'k<>. „^A «n»11.. becomes discoloured, and having partially consumed it, the insect takes to another, and finally with silken webs, a cluster of three or four berries, living in one as a sort it draws together, with „„..^„ „„„„, „ ^,...o„oi „. u.i.co «. luu. .. of home, from which it issues to feed on the berries about it. Wheii it attains a growth of about three-quarters of an inch, it descends to the ground, enters into the chrysalis state, and remains there until the following spring, when the moth issues to enter upon its destructive mission. There is only one brood of this insect during the year, but it is getting very destruc- tive, sometimes destroying as much as twenty-five or thirty per cent, of the gooseberry crop in some sections." Of artificial remedies for the fruit worm, Mr. Saunders says : — " By jarring the lushes you can collect this larva in the same way as you can the goose- berry geometer. It .ops to the ground, retaining its hold on the bush by means of a* silken thread, by which it climbs up acain when the danger is past. By drawing the threads to- gether with a stick, you can sometimes readily collect a number of specimens of the larva. I have found that by sprinkling the bushes with air-slacked lime, about the time that the moths appear, they can be kept almost entirely free from the attacks of this insect. "Where the lime is used the eggs do not seem to be deposited on the berries, as insects have a great aversion to this substance. But such a remedy does not destroy the insect ; it only drives it somewhere else." Two species of currant borer, the Imported and the American, are next on the list, and described as follows ; — " The imported currant borer {JEgeria tipuliformia) is a small wasp-like moth, with trans- parent wings, and a body banded with gold. It flies about very actively, in the middle of the day, when the sun is shining brightly. After pairing, the female deposits her eggs upon the twigs, generally one at the base of the bud ; when this is hatched, the young grub bores into the bark of the stem at the centre, and works up and down, devouring the substance of the stem, and finally when it attains its full growth, eating a hole almost entirely through the currant stem, leaving only about the thickness of tissue paper of the bark unbroken ; and inside of this opening it forms a chrysalis, with the head of the chrysalis pointing to the thin layer of the bark. When the chrysalis is about to change, it has only to breakjthrough the thin layer of bark and escape. (See Fig. 63.) "The other species, the American currant borer (Pscnocerus si/j9wno the gooseberry saw-fly but leaf, and thus skeletonizes it TtVT^ .u ^"''jtance, av-iding the veins or ribs of fho SaundL^tta' :- '""^ "^ '^" ^" '^"-^-' -^ are briefly described by Mr. Ur^^ZrZlS'^ ItSetta^'^^ltlltoTh'^fiy-V. ?"« ^' ^'^-'^ ^ ^^e Crown Borer H^!'!^^''^^:. '^^''' ^»>«» hatcLd, produL" a Ia7vatv'l^°''*f '^' '^^ "" the croSn of tions through the crown of the plant an ?1 i« ! \ 7f- ^^ich eats its way in various direo less. In past seasons, Mr. Luke fiTshoD near Sf' tk* *™® '° ^"J"''^^ '* that it TsTmost use have both suffered from it very seriS'v Tf ^'a T^'-'""^: *»^ ^r. Ohas. Arnold, of Paris come very widelv disseminate^and Tf U esabliXl?TSr'*'^ ''°*''^»' because tmfy be-' centres, it would become a very serious ev I ^j^r, / '*?f^^ '" ^^^ «* the large strawbemr been suggested as a remedy, but I verv mm-h nnKf 'Tlt^'"°'>^ the strawberry vfneshZ will be effectual other than digging up the affected vil'^^^*'',^? ^^ ?*° ^^^ ^^Y remedy whS , "The larva of our common Mav l.oli ^ ^ ^^f^ ^^'^ burning them. ^ of 'thri^Ln^"*^?-' gra™anfemrSVa^ vTrTptSt/tlie ^f^^ *> ^^'^ ^^ '^^^^ - oi these insects will work great destmnHr^n ,•„ J«'y partial to the strawberry roots A '<»«r reason for it until you diglSe ground a"^ And Th^^^^^^^^^ ' ' V' ^^'f ' ^'^^'^^ and you tee „^ other plants as well as the strawberrv and «nm»f;^ ^"i"" ^} ^°''^- ^t frequently attacks eat almost anything in the way of a r^Jt or tn W ^^ti!**' the tubers of thr potato It will beetTe'l'/ ^'''"""f ^ ^ great'deal oTfood ^7'y7tr'^Z tfl 1 ^ff ' ^^ "'^^ ^P^'^i'^ " beetle, and congregates on the leaves of the che^v !nri Jh I ^^''^^''t state it is a leaf-eating IS torpid and if the trees are then well Een th^P Zl? T n'"^'' .''"t during the day-time it be collected and destroyed. We have neve" had^thin' ^''" *° ^^^ ^^^'^'l' ^hen thei?^^a„ obliged to resort to any means of this sort Th.r« 1° excessively abundant as to be insects, leaf rollers, which attack the strawber^n ""'^ ^'^'^ "'^ three small lipidopterous frayaria. It is a beautiful little insect but i/fL ^"'v'' T^''^ common- the aZTZTu -the leaves and folding them feeds on thpfrLK^*""®^ ?"'t^ destructive. It gatherTtoLether Mse of a little hellebore and water «"bstance. it can easily be kept in check ^th the tt^aV'^Vfr^'^T sa:f^fc--rwi^ir:H£r^ ..der the strawberry less troubled w^TSt^Ts^^ViL^t;^^^^^^ INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GRAPE has detected the Phylloxera on his vines He «!« ' '*''*' ^''""*« *^^^* ^^^^ injured'^slethLTearly t't"fe f"fl buTtj" -"^ \ ^^'"'^ '« *he phylloxera. The roots are The young roots loof as if the outer s'kLlt X'atenTff '%T'^" *^^* ^ cannot catch hem out what the insect was by sending sampleTof /h™f ^^ ^ ^'^"^ "^^^'^ endeavoured to fi^d Clous of It before, but I shall do s^o tW^Sl °*T t '^P'"*^' ^^'^*"«« ^ ^'^^ not susS StStese^cl^M— attarttro^L'dTi ^^w^f^adl^H! phy?t7a:tLltrel?;l'^^^^^^^^^ - ^-se he speaks of is due to the INJURIOUS INSECTS. 163 iberry saw-fly, but body, by means of ', and places its egg lich makes its exit eins or ribs of the leaf that it is very :an see the effect of ■e." ed in its perfect 't very severely. escribed by Mr. the Crown Borer on the crown of y ip various direc- *t it is almost use- Arnold, of Paris, )ecause it may be- i large strawberry wberry vines has my remedy which 66.) It feeds on ry roots. A lew !r, and you see no •equeutly attacks ~ potato. It will nd one specimen it is a leaf-eating g the day-time it 1) when they can undant as to be all lipidopterous the Anchylopera gathers together n check with the Mculatus — which urity about that ase of hellebore, iry much like a 1 I merely men- the whole I con- i cultivate." THE OEEEN VINE SPHINX- Choerocampa pampinatrix. THE WOOD NYMPHS — Eudryaa grata and Eudryas unio. Fig. 70. Fig. Q'X Fig. 71. THE LARV^ AND EGGS OF EUDRYAS UNIO. Fig. 72. le Phylloxera, ne mischief to veij injurious isserts that he The roots are lot catch them, lavoured to find was not suspi- accounts of the arison leads me I under glass is all when I sns- is due to the THE GRAPE VINE LEAF BOLLER—Desmia ViaCuMis. 11 T- rro ^ Fig. 73. 1' ig. 7.i, shows both moth and caterpillar of this species. 154 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. m Mr. Beadle speaks of it as follows : — _ " Unfortunately in Europe they have imported an American insect that iu laying waHte the vineyards there with terrible destruction— the grape louse or phylloxera. It is believed by naturalists that it has two forms, one feeding on the leaves and the other on the roots. I have seen the leaf form on my own grounds but not for several years, In some parts of the United States this insect has been prevalent and vinevards have suffered from them. In some parts of California it has been a serious detriment. There are some varieties of our native grapes which are thought to be proof against it. When I say that it has two forms, I mean that it attacks the leaves and the roots at different stages of its growth. . . I don't think the injury to the vine is serious so far as they effect the leaf, it is only when they attack the root that the vine- yard is destroyed. We do not suffer to any appreciable extent in Canada from the insect which I spoke of as having been imported into Europe from America, but I believe they do in some parts of California." A very excellent illustration of the insect in its various stages of existence, and of specimens of its handiwork, are shown in the accompanying plate. (See Figs. 67 and 68.) Mr. Bethune speaks of it as follows : — "The PhyVoxcra vastatrix, which has proved so destructive to the vineyards of France, belongs to the same tribe as the plant lice. There are two varieties, one 'gull-inhabiting,' that is making excrescences upon the leaves of the vine, the other attacking the root. " At first these were thought to be separate species altogether, entirely different as they are in habits, and differing also in appearance, but Prof. Riley demonstrated, what had beeii suspected by some French entomologists, viz., that they were merely two forms of the saim- creature, and that the insect had two different modes of life. It has lieen enormously destrm'- tive in France, and has done considerable damage in some parts of the United States, but no injury r.f any account has been traceable to it in Canada. "The gall-inhabiting variety is common enough here, but this form of the insect is com- paratively harmless. One peculiarity of this variety is, that they are all females, while those which attack the roots are both wingless females and winged males and females. "The males appear in August or September for the purpose of propagating the species. In the following year the insects attack the soft fibrous roots of the plant, causing them to swell and gradually rot away. The plague was at first supposed to be a rot on this account. The insects of course extract from the roots the juices which should go to the nutriment of the plant, thus giving the leaves a sickly appearance, which is usually the first indication of the presence of the pest. "When the work of destruction is pretty nearly finished, during the last years of the plant's life, the insects entirely disappear, and it was for this reason that it was so long before the insect was discovered. "The only efficient remedy against the root form is drenching with water. In Europe, the vineyards are mostly situated on hillsides, so that there is great difficulty in applying this remedy. On level plains, however, a mode of irrigation on a large scale has' been introduced. Water is let into the vinevards during the autumn and winter months, and let away in the spring, no permanent injury being done the plants. The simplest remedy for the gall-inhabit- ing form is to pick the leaves off and burn them. "The gall form attacks the Delaware and Clinton grapes, and the root form the Delaware, Hartford, Isabella, and Creveling. The Concord is attacked, though very slightly, by both forms. Our climate is too moist for the comfortable existence of the root form, and even if the grape should come to be much more extensively cultivated in this country than t present, I think our climate would grant us immunity from this pest. " The Green Grape Vine Sphinx, CJmrocampa pampinatrix, is a large green cater- pillar, striped at the sides with whitish stripes, and has a horn at its tail. If unin- terrupted it will completely strip the vine of its leaves. Its presence is easily detected. Hand picking is the simplest artificial remedy. (See Fig. 69.) Two small moths, one called the Beautiful Wood Nymph (Eudryas grata), and the other the Pearl Wood Nymph (Eudryas unio), also attack the grape vine foli- age as well as that of the Virginia creeper, although they prefer the grape. (Sec Figs. 70 and 71.) Mr. Saunders describes them as follows : — "In both the ground colour is creamy white, and the rest a rich brown shading. They are active only at night. During the day-time they rest on the grape vine foliage, and are often found with their wings closed, sloping like the roof of a house, and their fore leys extended and tufted with large tufts of hair, presenting a very peculiar appearance for a lepidopterous insect. In this wav they rest, not unlike .». p.itoh of thn droppir.ga of liirds, and on this account seem to obtain that exemption from foes which is desirable for their preser- vation." INJUItlOUS INSECTS. 166 t !a laying waHte the 1. It i8 believed by m the roots. I have I parts of the Uniteil n. In some parts of native grapes which mean that it attacks ,nk the injury to the 9 root that tJie vine- ida from the insect I believe they do in ineyards of France, le 'gull-inhabiting,' ig the root, jiy different as they ited, what had beeii 3 forms of the sanu- enormously destrm'- iiited States, but ud f the insect is com- emales, while those males. igating the species, nt, causini^ them to rot on this account, he nutriment of the 'st indication of the le last years of the ; was so long before ivater. In Europe, Ity in applying tnis IS been introduced, nd let away in the For the gall-inhabit- form the Delaware, y slightly, by both t form, and even if ry than t present. vn shading. They ne foliage, and are nd their fore le.^s ' appearance for a pings of birds, aiiil le for their presei- QRAPE VINE PLUM MOTH — Pterophorua periacelidactyl as. THE SPOTLED PELIDNOTA- Pelidnota punctata. ^^^ Fig. 76. Fig. 74, THE GRAPE VINE FLEA BEETLE— Haltica challjheu. • i| Vvj, 7 \ "The female in furnished with a very characteristic ovripositor for placiiiK her eaaa. She has a saw-hke apparatus, by means of which she is enabled to saw t/lrouKh the wood with ease, hhe sits on the cane and saws a slit We enough to contain an egg, which is placed in IfV.iTw ^ f'"^' " \'"'^ 'J'^ '*r- ,''""''»''• «l't. «nd deposits another egg, and ho on, until a Btiiught r()w of eggs have been laid about an inch or ar inch and a quarter in lenirth. This series of slits m the cane weakens it very much, and during the winter those eggsdeposited in ttiat manner are preserved from change of temperature and from destruction by birds and other insects that might i)rey upon them. The insect does not feed upon the vine or the vine leaves, but the presence of these eggs weakens the stem mechanically to such an extent that when the foliage expands m the following ^ason the weight of it sometimes breaks the stem, and thus the crop 18 lost. The Grape Seed insect {hnsoma vitis), a minute fly, deposits its eggs on the outside of, or just under the skin of, the grape. Tho larva enters the seed while in a soft green state, and feeds on the kernel. The grape is thus prevented from npening, and the presence of immature green grapes in a bunch is accounted for. 1 he last mentioned insect enemy of the grape is the honey bee. Of this insect Mr. Saunders says :— , "The Honey Bee {Apis mellifica) has been accused of injuring the grape crop, and, I believe, with a good deal of justice. During this past season, in the neighbourhood of St. Catharines, several parties have lost almost their entire crop from this pest Mr llvkert who has been one of the sufferers, tells me that he has watched and seen them attack the sound grapes, bite through the skin, and proceed to extract the juice. The only way in which he could save his grapes, was to cover them with netting. Mr. Taylor, of St. Catharines who 18 a large grape grower, has also complained much of this trouble." ' INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE SQUASH, MELON AND CUCUMBER. "A small wasp-like creature," the Squash Vine Borer (Mqeria cucurbitce) is in its larval state, highly destructive to the squash. The moth is harmless. (See Figs. 80 and 81.) The stripped Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica vittata) is more destructive than the squash vine borei , and continues its depredations in the beetle as well as the larval condition. Both these pests direct their attacks to the stem of the plants, sucking the juices and effectively destroying the plant, if not arrested. The best remedy appears to be to enclose the young plants in small boxes with gauze tops, until they have so far develoyed as to resist successfully the attacks of the beetles. Of the squash l&ug, Mr. Saunders says :— "The squash bug (Corcis tristis) is another insect very destructive to the several varieties of the squash. It belongs to the order hemiptera, the true bug family, and has a very un- pleasant odour when handled. This creature injures the vines by puncturing them and sucking the sap, and it lays its eggs in considerable quantities on the under side of the leaves These hatch, and the colony of squash bugs which result will pass from leaf to leaf and very soon the vine becomes sadly disfigured, and the foliage ^o injured as to prevent its normal growth, and an attack from this bug will often result in a partial or complete loss of the crop if the insect is allowed to proceed unchecked. From the fact of the insi^ct. livin^' a'^'o-'^'" • by suction, it cannot be reached by hellebore or Paris green or other poisons of that class It may, however, be affected by syringing the vine with alkaline solutions, and it has occasion- ally been subdued to a certain extent by pouring hot water on the vines, which will usually dislodge the insects, and if hot enough, destroy them." (See Fig. 82.) INSECTS, INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL. 169 raspberry. (Hee Tho Oncumbor Flea Beetle (HcUtica ctieumirU) is not bo plentiful as to do much practical in j'Ty. INHECTH INJimiOUS TO F0HE8T TKIIE8. ' With increased attention to tho study of Forestry, the services of the Ento- mologist will bo more frenuently called into requisiticjii in connection with the insect ilestroyers of forest trees. They are not loss numerous or destructive than those which attack tho grain fiohls or orchards. Tlio Wood-borer is tho spocios of insect most mischievous in its operations, and tho name covers a numerous family. Of tho pine borers the largest is known as Moaohnmmua coiifumr. "It is remarkable, ' says Mr. Bethune, " for the enormous length of itsantennte, or horns, which extend sometimes to twice tho length of its body, the latter being probably ivii inch and a half long, thus making tho antonniu three or four inches in length. They are, besides, curiously jointed and form a curve usually branching out on each side. " Its history and habits are described as follows : — "The insect is pnxluced from a very large gnib, of a whitish colour, with a larffe broad head and very powerful jaws, with which it cuts into the timber of the trees. It is not a very common insect in this part of the country, but in the Ottawa lumber districts, and in the hunberinjf retfions north of Peterijorough, it has frequently been very abundant and very ilt^structive. Its habit is to attack timber that has been injured, usually by fire, or blown ilciwn by the wind ; it does not attack green, flourishing timber. It frequently happens that forest fires will sweep over a number of square miles of timber during one summer. If the fiillen or injured timber is not cleared away the same summer it is liable to be destroyed by thi.s beetle. In the following spring the parent beetles frequent this burnt district and lay their eggs on the trunks of the trees which remain standing. From these eggs hatch out the grubs, which gradually penetrate into the interior, and burrow long chambers through and through the tree. _ Where they are very numerous they will honeycomb the wood to such an extent as to make it quite useless foi building purposes. Consequently, in the Ottawa region I)artic\darly, it is a race between the lumberers and beetles as to which shall secure the timber after the tire has scorched a district, It is also very destructive to timber that has been cut and left in the woods as saw logs, though in this case stripping off the bark is a remedy. The damage done by this pest, in some instances, has been enormous, one timber-limit owner having, in a short time, it is said, lost over ^150,000 by its ravages. The Monohammtts scutellatus is another borer, more numerous than the previous one, is black in colour, slightly spotted with white, while Mumhammus confmor is an ashen gray. The habits of both are similar. The grub of the scutellatus fre- quently arrives at maturity in the timbers of newly erected buildings, to the great astonishment of the occupants. Chalcophora liberta and virginica are also woodborers of a metallic cast of colour, and burrowing, like the others already named, in the timber. A maple borer {Clytus spcciosus) is velvety black in colour, with bright yellow stripes and markings. (See Fig. 83. ) The locust-tree borer (Clytus fiexuosus) is more wasp-like in shape and very destructive to the tree with which its name is identified. Mr. Bethune thus alludes to its habits : — "Some years ago it was very abundant in the neighbourhnod of Toronto, and killed most of the locust trees from Toronto to London. I have also found immense numbers about the Credit and other places, but now, I think it has to a large extent disappeared. " When it attacks a tree, little masses of wh;i.t looks like sawdust may be seen in the forks, at the base, or adhering to the bark. These are the fragments of the wood which the grub casts out during his borings. Swarms of flies and other insects attracted by these castings also betray the presence of the borer. " It may be killed by inserting a wire into the hole which it has made in the tree, but a more effective remedy is the application of very strong soap-suds to the stems and branches, especially when the attack is first noticed. As the beetle gets older and stronger it penetrates mr.re deeply into the tree, and is not so easily reached. This treatment would prove equally effective in the case of the maple-tree borer." A large chestnut-brown beetle (Orthosoma cylindricum) of the same family as the Moriohammus is also noticed. It is well known as a frequent intruder into houses ii 1 H li : 1m Im ' i 1 im i IGO ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. when lighted at night. It is more generally diffused than the Monohammus, which IS found chiefly in the lumbering regions. (See Fig. 84.) Of the habits of the pine borers Mr. Bethune adds :— =• / i ° «„i,'I Ikm^'"?^""®! "^ ^}^^^ ^*^.?f, P'?®, ^"'■f ""^ ''^'^ generally be known by the noise which thev ^Snn. f ""^ '''"''• ?" ^ ^*'/^ V^^* .^^^ crunching of their jaws can easily be heard at a distance of several ro.k, and by listening intently, the exact spot can be found where the «nfn«1n1,!' ''*" I'^^f^'' ^'^^\ ""^ ^^^'\^^'Se borers attack only trees that have met with trees'"""'^"' °'' ' ^''^^"' ''°''''" '^'" attack perfectly healthy Of other enemies of forest trees, Mr. Bethune says :— fl,JI^hr''r f number of other insects which attack the wood of our forest trees, such as those of the Scolytus fa.m y and others, but they are smaller in size, some of them lieing very minute indeed. They chief! v work just beneatli the bark of the tre^, and I do not know that they do any great amount of damage. Some of them penetrate the small twigs and shoots and do injury in that way. They do not, as a rule, attack live, healthy trees, but if the bark has become loose from any cause, they are apt to get under and damage the wood » BENEFICIAL INSECTS. Entomology is a branch of natural history so little studied that it is not wonder- ful there should be a very great confusion of ideas as to the precise position of the insect races in nature's economy. People generally regard all insects as pests destroy them indiscriminately, and feel that they are doing precisely the right thino- when they even legislate,— as they think— so as to promote or ensure their'destruc^ tion. But enough is known by those who have cared to investigate, to show that the insect world deserves no such wholesale condemnation ; that there are insects as beneficial as others are injurious, and that it is not to the rather problematical olfaces of birds, or even the ingenuity of man, but to the tiniest of living creatures we must often look for protection against known insect enemies. When Sir Brodie m his evidence remarks, " Over 5,000 species of insects are known to science, a lar^^-e proportion of which prey on plant-eating insects; and, "every eutomoloo-ist Is acquainted with some portion of the life-history and habits of the more common species, and knows that their hardiness, fecundity, and their ability to keep in clieck the species on which they prey, are very remarkable," he is only claimiiio- to know what has been ascertained on the mere threshold of this branch of discovery and investigation. Mr. Bethune in his evidence says : — "I think it would be very desirable if the community in general were able to distin"uisli between insects that are really beneficial and those that are really injurious. Most people will trample under foot any insect they come across, particularly if its appearance is not very inviting, anrl numbers of those that are put to death in this way are our very best friends." Mr. Saunders, at the close of his evidence, says : — _ " I am quite satisfied that we have to look to the insect world to control that part of the insect world wnich is destructive to our crops." The numerous allusions in the evidence just reviewed on the subject of bene- ficial species have been passed over till now, in order to present more forcibly and effectively when grouped than separately, the enormous benefits the friendly species confer on mankind. The beneficial insects are divided by entomologists into four or five classes. First come the Tiger beetles, or Cicindelidw, handsome creatures, the larva) of which, living in holes in a dry sandy soil, feed exclusively on insect prey. The perfect insect has great powers of speed and activity on the wing, and also live« exclusively on insects, i See Figs. 8.5 to 90.) Next come the ground beetles, living under stones and rubbish, and especially active in destroying the larva of the potato beetle and various kinds of caterpillars. "The ','enus ffnrpalus,'" says Mr. Bethune, "is espeninlly valual'Ie in this v.-ay .Soni.> of them are large and handsome. Then there is the genus Cnlmnmn, of which there' are two or three species, one of them being a large beautiful green beetle called the ' caterpillar hunter, from its habit of going up trees, and seizing upon and devouring caterpillars We BENEFICIAL INSECTS. 161 lohammus, which labits of the pine le noise which they asily be heard at a e found where the that have met with k perfectly healthy )re3t trees, such as of them being very I do not know that 1 twigs and shoots, ees, but if the bark wood. " it is not wonder- B position of the insects as pests, y tlie right thing re their destruc- te, to show that ere are insects as er problematical living creatures /hen Mr. Brodie i science, a large entomologist is le more common ility to keep in only claiming to ich of discovery -ble to distina^uiali )us. Most people irance is not very r best friends." that part of the ibject of bene- >re forcibly and friendly species i'lg. btJ. Fig. 87. Fig. 88. Fig. 89. Fig. 90. Fiff. 85.— The common tiger beetle (Cicindela vulr/aris). Fiq. 86— The purple tiger beetle lLr'?"i^'"^- , ^!?- fl'~^^'' hairy-necked tiger beetle (C. hirticoUis). FkJ. 88.-The six spotted tiger beetle (C7. sex-guttata). This last is a most beautiful insect, of a brilliant colour. Fig. 89. -The large tiger beetle (C. (/enerom). CALOSOMA SCRUTATOR. Fig. 91. WATER BEETLES — SEVERAL FAMILIES. ^^'^^- '"'^- Fig. 93. Fig. 92 represents the largest of our species of Dytiscus (I). Han\ Fiy. 9;j. A species nearly as large, Hi/dvophilustriannHlaris. isii). 162 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. |r,i;~,X7rV1r^t)rst^^ .This year I found the large Hope. Another species called the ^L™. ; w ^'"'"''"5 -'^'^'f""' ^^''y abundant at Port destroys a great nuX^rcXSla^t'ToxS^L^ctt" ' '""^'^ ^"'^ '^"'^"'"^ ^««"«' toiroy t7nli:r:S'::i:i±ZZZ''' 'f ".^l^^^ ^any Bpecies of birds, take no The water hppH!; contributions on our fruit trees for their services. keeping 7uoh int TwirmosauEr '''', ""t"' ^f'^l"? ''''^y «" i--*«' ^^^ (See Figs. 92 and 93 ) mosquitoes, and others bred in the water, in check. Bays^onST- ' ^""'^"' "'' "'"^"^ ^" ""°*^«^ ^*y- (««« Fig. 94.) Mr. Bcthune andZS^iJ^rwffaSsta'^^^^^^^^^^^ ^"^^ -.t'^^ f^™'"- ^^''M^W. have the very useful habTt of TurS small rl!nHa^- Y' "'TV'*'""^ and some of them removing the offensive objects from our skh bu? of W^^'V^*' ho^e^er jvith the object of viding food for the grubs which are thus hSohednnf ?^V»f their eggs in them, and thus pro- on the shores of our lakes and river. Th«S / • 7 ^k*"^'" feed upon dead fish thrown up live upon decayed ve^etMe'sir^lt as^d^lS^^^^^ *'^ ^^"^ ''''''''' ^'^^ *h«' this order. There SumiedTof d?ffitLVf^7%'Hr *^ ^^hich be ong to eralinchesinlengtrdoZtoadelt ofm^^^^^^ '^^^^^^^ Y^^ying in si.e from lev! eye ; but all pre/upon other inSts "^^»"t«"e«« that can scarcely be seen with the naked sortronLSs.l'rrhTSt'lLlTbS^^^^^^ "^T"^«^ '\' -*-p'"-« «f -^ii to these ichneumons, more than to nnv Jw ^ li^'^S grub and gradually kill it. It is from the ravages of deructive bisects^ "'' whatever, that we owe our immunity alm^t'I'ntiTyiXtinl^eT^hi'lf ES:*!.l^^^^^^^ t^e pests were m spite of all other checks Som^kfyZLSf.^ i • ^^^^'- ^^^ noxious insects thrived inches in length, will penetrate the think l.ffl- "f . ^'^^' ^'^^ ovipositors three or four are extremely numerourandT !„,.,!. "^ ^"^^^ '"'"'^ ^^^t«" »P«n their prey. They upon it and^eSHt 'down \^asns 'and VoC' "^ '"'f'^i^^'^ '*,^ °^" ichneumon feeding and partly injuri^ous! The i &ho;;?et';S\hT^h^^^^^^^^^ Of the habits of the two-winged flies, Mr. Bethune says :- gradually kill'^Tre'motuJt^^ ^^•^-'^ *he larv. thus hatched out larvK3 live in water, and7eed unon dlnwinr • ^' '"«'»« sense, a beneficial insect. Its assistance in reducing tl amoui^rofSma' inlSrpiacL' '"'^^ *'"^- '' '^ P^"^^^^^' °^ wKte?^^ number of insects, and among others 'th; ^S^^J^^ ^1^^ a BENEFICIAL INSECTS. I found the large abundant at Port handsome beetle, )f birds, take no ices. on insects, and water, in check. ) Mr, Bethune families Silphidm iiid some of them ivith the object of 3m, and thus pro- id fish thrown up e habits, but they e, but there are al of them feed 'hich is, by the order. One of its larva, feeds irva and perfect 1 other minute 1 the beneficial ■ to which bee* 3ary to speak of which belong to ti size fi'om sev- 1 with the naked iterpillars of all lly kill it. It is B our immunity , the pests were 1 insects thrived rs three or four eir prey. They neumon feeding partly beneficial od many house- including the la flies. The e former have ins hatched out ial insect. Its is probably of ficial, while a to this order beetle in its 163 COMMON SCAVENGER BEETLE — Necro'phorus velutmus. A CURCULIO DESTROYER — Chauliognathus jpennaylvanicua. Fig. 94— One of our commonest species. Fig. 95. Fig, 96. AN ICHNEUMON — Macvocentrn!^ delicatus. Fig. 97. Fiff. 97 sho^vs one of the parasitic Ichneumons which destroys the codling worm of the apple A TACHINUS FLY. 164 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. 11 flies/ ^Ttl:1„S/i^^?r^ir£V,l.tain hese creaS '^^ entomologist for several months, together be very great, as also would be the dEltv of ZVi^ tho.^ht It could be done. My .Hvn SltLn wns V Ip^^ ""*if '"^ P''^^^'' *'"'«. but he at the time in the Cnncufa Fm-Lr. iVdTa= X^T. Vll T ' '"""'^ ^ f ""^^ """" *he subject Legis ature, but just then the n.idge bet^Ln'tfce is^itf 1^^^^^ matter before the notice of the seem to be a matter of any further consequence » "P°" ^^^ ^'''**' ^^^ it did not s. (See Figs. ulaome dragon- oua, destroying' they fly about otwithstanding the ichneumon g to this order. iine lace, the ossessea a very tion to the size surface of the m from some belong to the atures of that 3ugh the more The common of very great ries which are ificial insects !es rendered I by parasites mmer of 1876 lie vicinity of ime common, thoiit finding to the horse- f leaves, and Queen street —were found patela larvae sen already a friendly eat midge. 1 disappear- !overed any tself. midge, and ;ry, that we Ingland and "r. Francis isites from ious checks , two well- i he sai(l it IS, together take would lie, but he the subject )tice of the I it did not BENEFICIAL INSECTS. DKAGON FLIES. 166 Fig. 99.— In this figure and the pupa caae, wi figure we have representerh r^nff'fl?'"" 'n precisely the same way as in tlie chrysalis form, and e^i^L^fef rti ftifs^r^f T^^^^l^^f^^ ^-" Mr. Brodie says : — York,1S the tf tffir ;::rr\iT bernTion'^ 1^'"'^ \' ''T ^^T ^ *^« — ^y "^ now nearly exterminated by'ariehneriL','^;^:;:,^::}^^^^^^^^ butterfly-P.-,,,, rapi- Of th-i root plant louse's enemy, Mr. Saunders says •— e..;rS';s;Mste5issSL,Shatr^s^^:j^irissi^ After mentioning his ill success i„ l.i, attempts to discover tent-calerpillars in upon by numerous [■e properly termed . long interval he t8_ than to any other , is my opinion, and ugh unknown as a i^rphus flies. (See lillions by insects, J numbers of the ' tliat ])est may be !S. (See Figs. Ill r. One of these is len in water. This rnd I have no doubt :he grasshopper is Jirds and syrphus s, enemies of the ure Mr. Bethune ichneumon, which 1 the fatty i)ortions id into a chrysali.s g it up, and finally fly. These are so imons rather than lever liable to be a ;he cabbage but- inent have been 3vidence of Mr. excessively severe, t two years, how- st, as it ia with us ;e, an ichneumon, id, where it keeps occasional years, ■ the same way as 1 destruction when red fly." s in the county of ^y—Fieris rapw-— 'I— which lays its " (See Fig. 115.) t-caterpillars in BENEFICIAL INSECTS. LADY-BIRDS, LACE-WINGED FLIES AND SYRPHUS FLIES, 1«7 Pig. 102. Fig. 103. Fig. 104. Fig. 105. Fig. 106. Fig. 107. Fipr. 108. Fig. 109. Fife. 110. The most common and useful are the different species of lady-birds, four of which are showT. by Figures ]02, 103, 104 and 10.5. Fi,,. 102 is the 13-sJotted Ch-.Sn7rff «S danuaU-punctata). Fig 103 the 9-spotted Lady-bird (Coccineul O-notaaJ Fa iS The plain Lady-bird ro>.,..me^^ .^udna) Fi,. 105, the spotted Lady-bird rffippoSiaZ^: ma J. Fig. 106, shows the larva of one of our common lady-birds. The lace-winced flies (Chry.^opaJ are also enemies of the apkidw, both in their perfect state (Fig. mf^ndil heir larva s ate (F^g. 108 . The latter figure also shows the curious stalk«l egJs of thi^ rhrotfeSlyrl'^! nor ^^'^^^ ^'"'' ''""" '" t^e larva state r/'l^^j'S SOLDIER BUG AND OTHER ENEMIES OF THE COLORADO BEETLE. Fig. 111. Fig. 112. Fig. 113. Fig. 114. Fig. 111. -The soldier-bug (Reduvms raptatorius). Fig. 112.— The glowing closoma (Caosoma cahdum). Fig. I13.-The murky ground beetle (Harpalus^caligiLu,). ll Fig. 114 IS shown a arva of Harpalus, which gives a verv irood idea of t.b^ Inrv.^ af these ground beetles, which may be often met with under stones and stumps in "slightly moist 168 ONTARIO AOIilCULTDRAL COMMISSION. Srsrntrrglfolr'to^l^r-*'' cuckoo-bemg found to be feeding on them. " In rearing them (the larvae), however, I found that a very large number after the fir«f rv^l,;Sa'„t''Thav«t''f^.^^ Tr' ""^ t-f'"-.-'Uwo'^spTe«TiSne«^ pUlarftCany o^her cause -'"*'' '^"' *'"'' ''^''''''' '^''^ "''"' '"^^'"'^^ 'l««*'-">''»» the cater'- c»mmonrami?rn,:ml"^'blr^L" ^n ^™«''' 7^' T^'T''^ """'^ (^W/