Village Squire, 1978-10, Page 8of the major areas such as the Niagara Penninsula. Essex county
around Leamington or the Georgian Bay area where apples are a
major crop. In fact. Huron county -doesn't even come close to the
production it once had before the turn of the century. Those v.erc
the days when there were few large orchards but nearly every
farm had an orchard of two or three acres. Huron was a major
exporter of apples in those days to Europe. There ‘:ere apple
packing plants and apple -drying plants in many towns and
villages.
Apples had been brought to Canada. by the pioneers who
brought their favourite varieties from Britain and planted them
here. Apples became a major part of farm life in those days. both
for the farm family and as a cash crop. Nearly every old house
had a fruit cellar complete with bins for the various varieties of
apples as well as potatoes and other farm produce that would
store well into the winter.
Today the farm orchard has generally disappeared. The farm
families of past generations have neglected the trees until
they're often beyond salvation. People didn't care about their
own apples anymore and soon began cutting. down the trees to
make use of the land for other crops. Now even farm families are
generally consumers. not producers of apples.
The potential is there, however. for apple production in this
part of the country, Buck Lassaline says. The conditions are right
as far as soil and climate, but he still doesn't foresee a great
resurrection of the apple industry in this part of the province.
Part of the problem is the need for long range planning and
investment but the main problem is that few people are willing to
take on the work that owning an orchard brings.
To an outsider, apple growing looks pretty simple: you plant
the trees and wait for the fruit to grow then pick it. In reality.
owning an apple orchard is a 12 month a year operation. When
people are sitting around a warm fire munching your Macs or
sipping your cider. you as the orchard owner are likely out in the
cold of winter pruning the trees so that they'll most effectively
produce apples the next season. Pruning begins right after
Christmas and continues until the family takes to the land to
plant other crops in the spring. Pruning in the peach orchard
begins after you get the corn in and continues until the end of
June or early July. Then there's the thinning of the peach crop
that must be done to make sure the fruit will develop fully. That
takes about two weeks in July.
On top of that there is the spraying. If the weather is wet the
fungus is a great problem on the apples and a fungicide must be
sprayed on after each rain. This year that wasn't a problem with
the hot dry weather but there was little rest because the dry
weather seemed to make it more attractive for insect pests so
pesticides had to be sprayed. Then there's the problem of weed
Apples, apple products and other fruits and vegetables are on
sale at the Lassaline fruit stand.
PG.6. VILLAGE SQUIRE/OCTOBER 1978.
9
is
on 45 -piece set of
_Johnson Brothers
Misty Morning Dishes
also
Meadow Lane Dishes
Sale price only
$49.95
also
Pink Vista,
Old Country Rose,
& Victoriana Roses Dinnerware
REDUCED
Doulton Figurines
20-35% off
Most figurines & collectables,
plates, furniture
REDUCED
cr==r1
Most gift items
NOW REDUCED
r==.=1
LAYAWAY NOW
FOR CHRISTMAS
70nusr
of (iLana
Monkton
347-2944
4:
Talbotville
631-0535
4-