The Republican journal., 1906-03-15
VACATION NOTES.

between the North and South noun
tains. which extend some ninety miles
east and west in the counties of Kings
and Annapolis, are quite surprise to
stranger who looks upon them for the
first time. Farms producing 1000
barrels of apples, say, are worth about
$4,000. There are about fifty orchards
of that size. There are few orchards
producing upwards of 5000 barrels.
Hundreds of orchards produce on an
average from one thousand to two
thousand barrels. Some ten years ago
a Halifax man bought a small farm in
Wolfville, about a mile from the post
office, for which he paid $4,000. The
owner lives in fine style, and the net
profits from the orchard alone have
given him an average yearly profit OF
20 per cent on his investment. And
orcharding in this valley of nearly 100
miles in length is only i'll its infancy
During the past ten years thousands OF
acres have been planted with young
trees, and this custom will continue
Large storehouses have been built
along the railroad lines by London fruit
dealers for the benefit OF the farmers,
as we'll as for their own interests. Long
freight trains carry the apples to Hall
tax, where weekly steamers load TOR
London from September to April. The
price of apples varies in different years,
as we'll as the crop. Also some varle-
ties of fruit command higher price
than others. "Coxs orange pippln'-
so called-is raised in England and is
very fashionable there. Some years
ago a few orchardists here obtained
scions from the old country, and the
trees thus grated are coming into
bearing, and produce a much better
fruit than on their native soil. A few
weeks ago farmer here got his return
for his small shipment that Melted him
SO a barrel. The apple is large,
smooth, red on one side, yellowish
green on the other has a delicious
flavor and tender pulp. Apple trees
seem to flourish here like willows by
the meadow brooks. They also live to
a great age. There are even now trees
standing on the grounds of the old
French orchards, planted prior to 1855,
that are bearing yet.
When Longfellow wrote his popular
poem describing this part of Kings
county, n. s., he little dreamed of the
impetus he would give to summer
travel in years to come. During each
season" it is estimated that of late
wears about ten thousand American
tourists have visited this region. They
make good business for the steamboats,,
railroads and hotels. One traveller on
his return tells his friends what he saw,
and many Of them visit the place the
next summer.
The forests on the North Mountain
range in recent years have been rapid
ly disappearing. Last summer gov
eminent engineer advised the purchase
by the government of strip three
miles wide on the top of the range of
some 90 miles in length to be kept per
petually wooded, and the small areas,
now denuded, to be reforested. His
argument is, that if the mountain is
stripped of its forest the cold fogs from
the Bay of Fundy-or, as LongfelloW
calls them, 1.-THE mists from the mighty
Atlantic" -Will sweep down over the
mountain, and thus materially change
the climate of this valley, now having
such immense fertility and productive
ness. The tall, dense forest growth
has hitherto acted as brake to check
the onward rush of the cold mists from
the sea. The Dominion government,
as well as the local legislatures of some
of the provinces, are now taking meas
ures to preserve the forests, SO rapidly
disappearing by the fires, the pulp mills
and lumber kings.
Strange to say the moose have large
ly increased in numbers of late. In
Shelburne county, n. S., about 400
have been killed the present season,
and upwards of 1000 in the whole prov
ince. Most of those slaughtered were
COWS. AS yet the law gives them but
slight protection. Some of the hunters
here attribute the rapid increase of
cows to the slaughter of the male
moose in Maine. The cows there hav-
ing no protection wander off to other
forests. Thus they come here to be
slaughtered. One gang of hunters. l
was told, killed seven cows the present
season, and not one of them was en-
ceinte. If the theory of these Nova
Scotia moose murderers is correct,
their brethren in Maine will have their
trade checked after awhile. 1t seems
surprising hat in this enlightened age
there should he desire to hasten the
determination of these beautiful ami
mails.
About two miles from Wolfville
couple of boys have a tame moose. l
have not yet been to see him, but
plan to do so soon. Last June, While