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204

APPENDIX TO EEPORT

OF THE

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AJPPENIDIX (C).

REPORT OF THE FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO

FOR 1873.

To the Honourable the Commissioner of Agriculture :

Sir — It is my agreeable duty to acquaint you with the fact that the membership of the
Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario continues to increase, so that there now are nearly three
thousand names upon the list. The Annual Reports are much prized by the members, and
are sought for by Horticultural and Pomological Associations in the United States and
Europe. The coloured lithograph of some valuable fruit which accompanies each of the later
reports, has added much to their value. The Directors have continued the distribution of
promising fruits with good results. In the Report which I now have the honour to submit
for your inspection will be found much valuable information in relation to matters of fruit
culture, and some very valuable essays. The Report of the Committee charged with the ex-
hibition of the fruits of the Province at the meeting of the American Pomological Society held
at Boston on September last, will be very gratifying to yourself and to all others who take an
interest in the prosperity of our Province. The Society labours under a want of sufficient
means to carry out its objects perfectly, the very increase of membership while enlarging our
field of effort and experiment at the same time greatly increases the expense of distributing
trees and plants for experiment. With a view to facilitate the operations of the Association,
the Directors have taken the liberty of making some suggestions in the way of revising that
part of the Agricultural and Arts Act which relates to this Association. You, sir, I know
will give these suggestions your most careful consideration, and will not fail to recommend to
Parliament the passage of such amendments as shall place the Association on a better footing
for the carrying out of its important operations. The Association has already taken a pro-
minent position, such a position as you would wish to have it take, among the Pomological
Societies of the world, and I take pleasure in handing you the Report of its transactions for
1873. believing that you will feel a just pride in its wonderful prosperity.

I have the honour to be,

Your obedient servant,

D. W. BEADLE,
Secretary of the Fruit Growers1 Association of Ontario.

205

PKOCEEDINGS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.

The Annual Meeting was held in the Court House, London, on Tuesday Evening,
September 23, 1873. — President Burnet in the Chair.

The Secretary read the Report of the Directors, which was received and adopted.

The Treasurer submitted his Report.

The Committee appointed to revise that part of the Agricultural and Arts Act which
relates to the Fruit Growers' Association made their Report. The suggestions of the Com-
mittee were discussed, and, after amendment, were approved.

The President read his Annual Address, which was received with evident satisfaction.
It was moved by J. R. Martin, seconded by W. McKenzie Ross, that the thanks of the meet-
ing be tendered to the President for his valuable address, and that he be requested to place a
copy in the hands of the Publication Committee.

The following officers were then elected for the ensuing year :

President. — Rev. R. Rurnet, Hamilton.

Vice-President. — Charles Arnold, Paris.

Secretary-Treasurer. — D. W. Beadle, St. Catharines.

Directors. — P. C. Dempsey, Albury j John McGill, Oshawa ; Geo. Leslie, Jun., Toronto;
R. E. Hammill, Ancaster ; J. C. Rykert, St. Catharines ; D. Shoff, McGillivray ; William
Saunders, London ; Simon Roy, Berlin ; A. B. Bennett, Brantford.

Auditors. — W. J. McCalla and W. L. Copeland, St. Catharines.

Several seedling fruits having been exhibited at the meeting and others at the fair-ground,
Messrs. Arnold, Caldwell, Saunders, A. M. Ross and Bennett were appointed a Committee to
examine them, and report thereon to the Directors.
On motion adjourned.

Directors' Report.

The Directors at the close of another year of their proceedings take great pleasure in
stating that our membership has increased to very nearly three thousand. We believe that
this continued increase is unparalleled in the growth of any similar society. Three meetings
for discussion on fruit matters have been held, the first at Hamilton, in February, the second
at Chatham, in June, and the third at Kingston, in September. Experience further demon-
strates the utility of holding these gatherings at distant points throughout the Province.

During the past Spring, the Directors caused to be distributed among the members
Grimes' Golden Pippin and Clapp's Favourite Pear. We continue to be favourably impressed
with the idea of making an experimental garden of the Province, and have already made
arrangements to distribute, during the Autumn of this year and Spring of next, plants of the
Downing Gooseberry, and Barry Grape (Roger's No. 43).

The Report of the Committees appointed to make personal inspection of the fruit producing
capabilities of various parts of the Province have been full of very interesting and useful infor-
mation, but from the want of funds your Directors have not been able to appoint such Com-
mittees during the past year, as they could not ask gentlemen, who freely gave their services
in making such inspection, to bear also their travelling expenses.

Essays have been received on " How to increase the interest in Fruit Growing in Ontario,"
'• Impositions of dishonest tree pedlars," and " The cultivation of the Plum." These will be
placed in the hands of the committee appointed to examine them, and their award will be
published in the Annual Report.

We are still satisfied with the usefulness of the coloured lithographs, which adorn the re-
ports for 1871 and 1872, and have engaged artists to prepare coloured plates of the Salem
grape, which are to illustrate the Report for 1873. In a few years such beautiful and ac-

206

curate representations of the choice fruits of the country, will make a valuable collection
in the hands of each member, by which he may test the accuracy of the fruits of his own
orchard.

The Treasurer's report shows, that we will have fully used all the funds at our disposal,
and have contracted a debt of $561.03. We trust that the manner in which the money
has been expended will meet with your approbation.

Fruit trees have been distributed among the members this year, and the Report has not
been behind any of its predecessors in the variety and value of its contents. Should the Gov-
ernment see fit to aceede to our request for an increased grant, we believe that the usefulness
of the Association will be greatly advanced, and its objects even more successfully accomplished.
, There has been the largest and most brilliant display of fruit at Boston, under the auspices
of the American Pomological Society, the world has ever seen. Premiums were offered for
the largest and best collection of apples, also of pears, plums, grapes, peaches, &c., shown by any
State or Province. The Government of our Province, on the recommendation of the Hon.
Commissioner of Agriculture, granted the sum of $200 to our Association to aid in defraying
the expense of sending a collection of the fruits of this Province to that exhibition. The
officers of the Association, undertook the labour of gathering and exhibiting these fruits, and
the results are surprising even to ourselves.

The State of Delaware, as might well be expected, received the first prize for peaches, but
Ontario carried off the second prize, thus showing that in an unfavourable year, such as the
present, we stand second to the greatest peach-growing State, in the number and quality of the
varieties of this most luscious fruit.

But in hardy, open-air grapes, Ontario took the lead and carried off the first prize for
the largest collection. Much has been said over the border about the peculiar advantages
which one State possessed over the other for the cultivation of grapes, and we think it must
have opened their eyes a bit to the peculiar advantages we enjoy in Ontario, to have us step
in and carry off the Silver Medal.

And yet, again, Ontario bears the bell. Her collection of plums distanced all competition,
and the first prize was again borne away carrying with it another Silver Medal.

Nor were these all the honours. Although quite out-numbered by Massachusetts and Con-
necticut in the number of varieties of pears exhibited, so that Ontario could not carry off
either of the prizes offered, yet such was the excellence of the sample shown that the judges
awarded a Silver Medal to Ontario for her collection of pears.

But we have not yet enumerated all. Her total collection of fruit was so large and of such
fine appearance as to astonish every one, and the judges expressed their admiration of its
beauty and excellence by bestowing another Silver Medal upon Ontario for the entire collec-
tion.

In addition to these awards for the Provincial^collections, there was awarded to the Presi-
dent a Bronze Medal, for his own fine and varied private collection of pears, grown in his own
grounds.

Thus it will be seen that Ontario comes of with flying colours, having been awarded six
medals, four of them silver and two bronze, and of these, two at least were won in earnest
downright competition with each and all of the States of the American Union.

These competitions have a value in bringing before the world the fruit productions of dif-
ferent States, and we doubt not many will be surprised to learn the high place we really hold
among the fruit-growing countries of this continent.

Again rejoicing at what has been done in the interests of fruit growing, and yet more
at the prospects of usefulness opening up before us, we lay our Report before the Association,
and return to you the trust which during the past year has been committed to our hands, and
which we have endeavoured carefully to guard.
All of which is respectfully submitted.

Robert Burnet,

President.

207

Treasurer's Report.

To the President and Directors of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario.
Gentlemen — At the close of the last fiscal year there was in the

treasury a balance of (see Auditor's Report, 23rd September, 1872), $115 46

Since that time I have received : —

Members' Fees 2669 00

From the Government Grant 700 00

Special Grant for Exhibition at Boston 200 00

Express Charges refunded ...... 3 95

Making a total of. $3688 41

have expended under your directions the following sumr, namely : —

For freight and express charges $134 36

Expenses of Directors and Committees 188 20

Printing and Advertising 69 85

Coloured Lithographs, including duties 542 86

Telegrams and Postage 200 34

Prizes \ 36 00

Stationery 13 00

Exchange of Scions 16 50

Sundries , 28 66

Trees distributed 2593 67

Clerk .. , 226 00

Secretary-Treasurer's Salary 200 00

Making a total of $4249 44

So that I have paid out beyond the amount received, the sum of 561 03

$3688 41

Auditors' Report.

Abstract of the Treasurer's Account for year 1872-73.

D. W. Beadle, Treasurer, in account with the Fruit Growers' Association.

Dr. 1872, Sept. 23— Balance cash on hand $115 46

To Members' Fees 2669 00

1873, Sept., To Government Grant 700 00

July, To Special Grant for Exhibition at Boston 200 00

To Express Charges refunded 3 95

Sept. 23— To Balance due Treasurer 561 03

$4249 44

Cr. 1872-73. By Freight and Express Charges $134 36

By Expenses of Directors and Committees 188 20

By Printing and Advertising .• 69 85

By Coloured Lithographs 542 86

By Postage and Telegrams 200 34

By Prizes 36 00

ByStationery 13 00

By Exchange of Scions 16 50

By Sundries. .... 28 66

By B. and B. for Trees distributed . .,. 2593 67

By Clerk 226 00

By Secretary-Treasurer's Salary 200 00

$4249 44

208

We certify that the foregoing is a correct statement of the Fruit Growers' Association
Accounts for the year ending September, 1873, as shewn by Treasurer's books, with vouch-
ers for all disbursements.

Wm, J. McCalla, I A ,.

St. Catharines, October, 1873. W. L. Copeland. f ^vmuyrs-

Annual Address.

The anniversary of our Fruit Growers' Association has again come round, and we are
again met in the City of London, where you at first conferred on me the honoured position
of Chairman. Many have been the changes to the individual members of the Association
during the interval, both of a sad and happy nature ; but only one, and that a steady onward
course, has marked the history of the Association during the period. The duty now devolves
on your President to pick up the threads of the woof and warp of the past year's doings, and
present them in a brief epitome, under the caption of his "Annual Address."

Your Society is rapidly increasing in numbers and influence. The membership at pre-
sent is a little under three thousand. Such a large increase in so short a time as the period of
my official connection with you as President must be highly gratifying to every member of
our Society, and is a marked testimony to the patriotic tendency of your aims, and the
humanizing influences of your efforts. More interest in fruit growing has, perhaps, been
exhibited during the past year throughout the Province than during any single year of the
past existence of our Association. Although there are, unfortunately, large sections of our
country where the name even of our Fruit Growers' Association is scarcely heard of, or,
where heard of, little known, yet our fruit culture is evoking a general and Provincial interest.
Parties in the most distant localities of our wide-spread Province are vieing with each other,
and with the older fruit growing portions of our country in the production of good fruit.

The past season has not been so favourable for fruit cultivation as some which we
have seen of late years. In some sections, the weather has been cold ; at the commencement
of the season it was very dry, and during the summer months, when warm weather might
have been expected, it has been remarkably cool, and personally enjoyable.

Apples are scarcely an average crop ; Pears are abundant j hardy Grapes will have diffi-
culty in ripening ; Plums here and there are a full crop, but generally even they have not
been as abundant as usual. The Curculio, in some quarters, have anticipated the ripening
of the crop, and secured prematurely the lion's share. Peaches, in the Niagara district, and
around Grimsby, suffered severely during the past winter, and only in some highly.favoured
localities have they done well. The small fruits have amply repaid the labour of the Horti-
culturist— Raspberries, Currants, and even Gooseberries having been almost everywhere a
prolific crop.

In presenting this summary, I know I may not have been able to set before you all the
facts connected with Horticulture in different parts of the Province ; but we believe, on the
whole, it will be found to give generally a fair resume of this matter.

I have formerly addressed you on so many kindred topics, and, at times, at such uncon-
scionable length, that for months I have been really at a loss for a subject for my present4
address. The Constitution has, I think, wisely provided that the President may give an
address on such an occasion as the present. My subjects are nearly exhausted — dried up ;
and should my paper lack interest and point, I trust, Gentlemen, that you will impute the
cause to its right motive and source — want of knowledge and ability — and not from any want
of desire on my part to make it interesting and instructive to you, and a benefit to the Society
at large.

I purpose to address you on " The Recent Progress of Fruit Culture.''1 A question some-
times arises, viz., What varieties of Apple is it best to plant] Inasmuch as at our Provincial
Exhibition twenty varieties are the limit for which prizes are offered, we venture to name the
following twenty as really good, serviceable, marketable sorts : — American Golden Russet,
Swayzie Pomme Grise, Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening, Spitzenburg, Swaar, Ribston
Pippin, King of Tompkin's County, Gravenstein, Snow, Duchess of Oldenburg, Red
Astrachan, Porter, St. Lawrence, Maiden'6 Blush, Northern Spy, Twenty Ounce Apple,
Fall Pippin, Mother and Wagener.

209

There are few farmers in the more genial portions of our land, who cannot boast of those
twenty, or of twenty others as good, or of twenty more. Orchards of choice fruit trees are
everywhere to be seen, the natural fruit trees having in many localities given place to fruits of
rare excellence and beauty. In every fruit market in Britain, Canadian brands are sought
after, and much Canadian fruit finds its way to European markets under American brands.
Several choice apple-growers cultivate select varieties for the British market, and find a ready
sale for them at advanced prices because they are selected varieties. Mr. Robert N. Ball, of
Niagara, easily markets the American Golden Russet, Ribston Pippin, Pomme G-rise, and
Rhode Island Greening. Mr. Springer, Wellington Square, has a ready market for his large
orchard of beautiful Northern Spy. Mr. Leather, in the immediate neighbourhood of the
City of Hamilton, has over four thousand of choice trees on his farm. And so of many more
throughout the Province. The cultivation of the apple, in a few of its best varieties for ex-
port, is becoming a most profitable business to the fruit grower of our Western Province. There
is, however, a market at our own doflrs for all our fruit. The Western and North-western
States will soon look for their supply from us. Manitoba likewise, and the same may be said
of the great valley of the Ottawa. Indeed, after the population of the Ottawa district has
been educated to relish really good apples, we see no limit to the demand.

The great drawback, at present, in Western Canada, to the cultivation of the apple, is the
the want of shelter. Everywhere wind-breaks are needed. On account of the long sweep of
cold winds over great stretches of cleared land, there is an absolute necessity for shelter.
Most of the trees in our orchards bear towards the north east, showing our prevailing winds
to be from the south-west. We notice in the Horticultural transactions of Nebraska, that
great attention is paid to wind-breaks. Governor Furnas told me recently in Boston, that
their Horticultural Society had given away four farms to those who had planted the Prairie
with trees for shelter to a certain stipulated extent. In fact, the cultivation of the Prairie,
lately known as " the great American Desert " depends much on the planting of shade trees.
The great enemy to contend against is biting northerly winds. We are persuaded that when
our Association takes up this question of shelter, in earnest, the fruit-growing interests of our
own country will be greatly benefited.

In this connection, we cannot do better than direct attention to the admirable essay
on this subject by Mr. Bucke, of Ottawa, and to the exhaustive treatise of Mr. George Leslie,
of Toronto, published in the Report of our Transactions.

We cannot pass from this interesting subject without noticing the praiseworthy efforts of
individual members of our Association, who are laying the Province under lasting obligations,
in their production of new, that is, of seedling apples.

Foremost in this list stands Mr. Charles Arnold, of Paris. He is our premier hybridist.
Mr. Arnold's seedling apples were recently exhibited in Boston, and such of them as were in
a condition to be judged of, received the high commendation of the Committee on Seedling
Fruits, appointed by the Pomological Society of the United States last week.

Mr. Beadle, our esteemed Secretary, than whom few Pomologists are better able to judge
of the merits of an apple, writes me in reference to our recent autumnal meeting at Kingston,
that, " Arnold brought some samples of his hybrid apple grown from Northern Spy, crossed
with Wagener pollen, and it is a very fine fruit of" very good " to " best quality."

Nor are Mr. Cowherd's, of Newport, to be forgotten. From home, his seedlings are
judged to be of great excellency. We have had applications for scions from his seedlings from
Nova Scotia. Dr. Hamilton, of Wolfville, and Mr. Starr, of Nova Scotia, no mean connois-
seurs, declare some of Cowherd's seedling apples to be good in quality, long keepers, and trees
perfectly hardy. This latter quality cannot be overestimated, indeed it is a grand essential in
fruit-growing.

Several of Mr. Dougall's seedling apples have been submitted to competent judges, and
his Goyeau has taken its place among our permanently established varieties.

Mr. A. Morse's seedling cooking apple was exhibited before the Pomological Society at
Boston, and claimed attention for its large size, and excellent cooking qualities.

After all has been said with regard to the production of seedling apples, or other seedling
fruits, it must be admitted, that our aim ought to be the introduction of new varieties of
greater excellence, and of finer quality than many now cultivated.

The cultivation of. the apple has made rapid strides of late years, but the cultivation of
14

210

the pear has not been a whit behind that of the apple. Perhaps the advance of the latter
has been ahead of the former.

We commend for cultivation the following varieties : — Beurre de Waterloo (fall), Louis
Vilmorin (winter), Puebla (fall), Duchess Precoce and Calabasse d' Octobre (fall), Beurre de
Gees, Beurre d' Assomption, Dr. Bouvier (fall), Jackson (fall), Tarquin (winter), Bon Roi,
Rene, Edmonds (summer), Lodge (fall), Souvenir de Congres (fall), Vanderpool, Henkel (fall),
Van Assche (fall), Hebe (early winter), Beurre d'x\njou, Doyenne Robin, Paternoster, Madame
Andre Leroy, Hericart de Thury, St. Crispin (fall), Medale's St. Germain, Lieutenant Poiti-
vin (late fall), Newburg (fall), Ste. Therese (winter), Columbia (winter), Horton (fall), Therese
Appert (fall), and de Tongre's.

These varieties will well reward the culture both of the professional and the amateur.
They are all first class in quality and size, and some of them may with propriety be called
monstreuses. This is especially true of the Souvenir de Congres.

The grand drawback to pear eulture is the pear-tree blight.

It is an unaccountable disease. We can all tell what it is, but to give any reasonable
account of how it is, is the difficulty. We favour the theory, that the cold winds of winter are
the authors of the mischief, and especially so if the trees have been subjected to forced culti-
vation during the previous summer. In Britain, Belgium and France, there is none of it.
As a remedy, we counsel increased and renewed attempts at the production of seedling pear-
trees. Mr. Saunders, of London, has some promising sorts, exciting curiosity and speculation
from the varieties springing from seeds of the same kinds. Time will develop Mr. Saunders'
success in this comparatively new field of hybridization in Canada. Have any of our members
known the Brandywine to blight ? Has the Dearborn's seedling often blighted with them ?
or the Edmond's ?

Seedling pears from natural hybridization were shown at our winter meeting, and obtained
prizes from their fair appearance and future promise, viz. : Mr. James Reid's pear, evidently
a winter variety, and Mr. Hyslop's. Neither should be lost sight of by our society. A seed
ling pear of great promise, the production of Mr. Starr, of Nova Scotia, was recently shown to
me, and tasted. I trust that our Association will instruct Mr. Beadle to procure some scions,
and try and transplant the stranger into our own congenial soil, and into our own likings.

As the stock has much to do with good fruit, and certainly along with a good soil, has
every thing to do with the vigorous growth of the grafts, we would strongly recommend some
of our hybridizers to try some stocks taken from the Windsor and Chatham pears. We are
satisfied that they would prove to be all that the opinion of fruit growers has formed of their
excellence.

The recent progress of grape culture has been somewhat fabulous. Many persons who
have been hitherto touched with the fever of apple and pear growing are now betaking them-
selves to the cultivation of the grope. A remarkably profitable culture it is, and a pleasant.
Mr. William Haskins, of Hamilton, says, in the Prospectus of the Navy Island Fruit Growing
Association : " I have, however, several acres (of grapes) under cultivation of the more hardy
varieties, which are yielding an annual net profit of over $1,000 per acre." The cultivation
of the grape is rapidly spreading over the Province. At Chatham, we heard of the broad
acres of Mr. Stripp, yielding bushel upon bushel. Near the City of Hamilton, the cultivation
is being tried on a large scale. Mr. Haskins has obtained possession of Navy Island, situated
in the Niagara River, and is preparing to plant largely there. Kingston seems a favoured spot
for some varieties. Having occasion lately to visit that city, we priced bunches of Delaware
in a fruit store, and found them selling for twenty cents per lb., Concord at fifteen cents per lb.
On further enquiry, we were told, that instead of being imported from Ohio or Illinois, they
were the products of the garden of a Director of our Association, resident in Kingston.
Doubtless the amelioration of climate produced by the proximity of the warm waters of Lake
Ontario, has somewhat to do with the production of the luscious fruit in this part of the
Province.

In this connection we cannot but commend the devotion of our amateurs to this cultiva-
tion of the grape. They far outstrip the professionals in their success with this culture.
This statement of fact is confirmed by the exhibitions of a local and provincial kind. Our
Beadles, Arnolds, Leslies, Grays and Dougalls must look to their laurels, otherwise they
will come out second in the race.

The obstacles opposing an extended cultivation of this fruit are many and serious.

211

First, there is the low prices for the fruit after it is raised. Much has been done of late years
in cultivating the taste of our population for good varieties, but much remains to be done. I
find that ten cents a paper is the regular price in the United States, on the railway cars, and
even higher rates in fruit stores in large towns. Priceing pears in coming along, I found one
small Bartlett commanded five cents. After crossing the Suspension Bridge, we found that
five small Bartletts could be purchased for one cent. And so of grapes. The want of a mar-
ket lowers the price. By-and-by, we look forward to the time when our grape growers will
turn shippers, and take their fruit to the large cities of the United States, and thus secure a
suitable reward for their labour.

The uncertainty of ripening is another great drawback in our northern latitudes. This
season, for example, varieties that ripened well last year, at this time, are quite green to-day.
The present, however, is an exceptional season, and we may not have another like it for a quar-
ter of a century to come.

There is little doubt that the truth is beginning to dawn upon us, however reluctant we
may be to admit the fact, that in our climate the covering of the grape vine in winter is an
absolute necessity. There is no covering to compare to a covering of earth.

It is generally admitted that the cultivation of the Plum is one calculated greatly to re-
ward the labour of the horticulturist. Of late years its culture has been carried on under the
most discouraging circumstances. The Plum Curculio has been a pest that has almost driven
the cultivator from the field.

There are those among us, however, that can fight, and that successfully, this fruit pest.
Jarring the tree is the only remedy that has yet been employed, proving entirely satisfactory.
The variety of new Plums that is cultivated is very startling. Mr. Saunders, of London, has
quite a variety on his farm, and Mr. Mills, Hamilton, cultivates many of the choice varieties.
Mr. Mills has volunteered the statement that the Victoria is more free from the ravages of
the " Little Turk," than any other variety which he cultivates. We fear that there is no
kind of Plum free from attack. Mr. Boy, of Berlin, has a splendid assortment of Plums, and
beautiful samples of this fruit are raised by Mr. Elliott, at Guelph, and by Mr. Boss,
Goderich. We hear less of the black knot than usual. Is that because the disease is less
prevalent ? We trust it is.

Much progress has recently been made in the continued additions to existing Plum lists
of excellent new varieties. Ontario can certainly boast of one splendid contribution. We
refer to Glass' Seedling, raised and propagated by Mr. Alexander Glass, of Guelph. Our
Association has done well to promise the dissemination of this seedling to our members some
time hence. It will prove a great acquisition to Plum growers, inasmuch as it will lengthen
out the Plum season, is equally as good for dessert as it is for cooking ; the tree is hardy and
vigorous; the foliage remarkable, and the fruit, when well grown, is much above the average.

The Peach culture is, perhaps, the only one that can be said not to have participated in
the general progress of fruit culture in Canada. The winters have been so severe, the borer
and the curculio so persistent, that the producer has no chance to secure a crop, with so many
obstacles opposing his success. Here and there, however, perseverance has been rewarded,
and good crops secured. The great desideratum, after all, is shelter. Mr. Ball determined
some time ago to put this to the test by clearing a few acres of bush land, but whether this
has been done or not, I am not aware. We have again and again suggested low bush culture,
the renewal system, and winter protection with a straw rope. Labour, however, is so dear,
and the practice of protection so irksome, that little or nothing has been done in this connection.
Twenty years ago, from Hamilton to Suspension Bridge, one might have easily imagined him-
self travelling through a continued orchard of Peaches ; now a tree is scarcely to be seert
where once a continued line of blossoms gladdened the eye.

There are some choice spots for the cultivation of the Peach in our wide country. L
Point Bidges could not be excelled anywhere. I have seen peach trees there in full blossom .,
when almost every twig had suffered on the .adjoining mainland. Niagara and Grimsby can
still hold their own with any other section of the Province. Mr. Haskins thus writes of
the situation of Navy Island as a peach-growing locality : " In consequence of its being sur-
rounded by water which never freezes, the fall frosts are fully three weeks later in affecting
vegetation than in the vicinity of Hamilton ; thus allowing the finer varieties of grape to
ripen, and also enabling the wood of the peach tree to become hard and ripe, and prepared to
withstand the action of the winter frosts. As an evidence of its adaptation to grow peaches.

212

I may state that there are several trees on the island that are we!l loaded with peaches this
year, although they have had no care, and this season is undoubtedly the worst for peaches
that there has been for many years. There are extensive peach orchards on the American
islands adjacent. Mr. Burdett, an American gentleman, owns a small island near Navy
Island, on which he has ten acres of peach trees, which have a good crop on them this year,
and from which, in 1871, he sold $11,000 worth of peaches, and in 1872, 6,200 baskets, at
si. 50 per basket. His orchard is now upwards of 20 years old, and since it commenced to
bear he has never failed in having a fair crop."

In no respect has fruit culture made more rapid strides than in the increased attention
that has been given to seedling fruits. We do not believe that any limit can be set to at-
tainment in this respect. The secrets of nature are being extorted. Like Jacob in the pro
pagation of his cattle, man is now having recourse to various expedients to improve plants
and fruits. One of the most striking of these attempts is that of Mr. Saunders, of London,
in his crosses between the black and the red raspberry. He has succeeded in producing a
new, or rather several new and prolific fruits— fruits which blend the taste of the black and
red raspberry, and which exhibit all the fertility and productiveness of the Philadelphia. Our
present report will contain some account of the interesting results of the experiments of Mr.
Saunders.

' Mention ought also to be made here of Mr. Saunders' gooseberry hybrids, some of which
are most promising, as also of his seedling grapes, and his seedling pears.

Mr. Haskins, of Hamilton, places on the table at this Annual Meeting a very remark-
able and, we are bold to say, a very superb seedling grape, of his own raising. We will ven-
ture to call it No. 1, as we believe it to be A. 1. It is a cross between the Hartford Prolific
and the Black Hamburg, the Black Hamburg being the male and the Hartford Prolific the
female. Gentlemen will notice that the bunch is very large and compact, with good sized
berries, greatly over the average. The fruit has all the characteristics of the Black Ham-
burg, seedlings usually taking after the male parentage ; the vine is perfectly hardy, now
growing where it sprung from the seed, without any winter protection : the leaves are also
submitted for inspection ; the wood is well ripened and very short jointed.

Another seedling of his, which for convenience I will call No. 2, ripens before September,
and is^a cross between the Delaware and Creveling. The colour and characteristics are Dela-
ware ; the leaf has a peculiar shiny appearance, and the fruit is ripe very early. I have
tasted the fruit, and can speak most favourably of its excellence. Mr. Haskins has over
150 of these hybrids.

We believe that our Fruit Growers' Association are to look in this direction to accom-
plish the great object of fruit growers — the diminution of blight, and short livedness in the
production of new varieties. Let the work be systematic — done with greater nicety — greater
attention to nature's laws, and marvellous results will follow. During the past season Mr.
Arnold has produced a remarkable strawberry — from a basket of his fruit, one of the berries
taken at random, and weighed, was found to be over an ounce and an eighth of an ounce. In
flavour, size, and hardihood, it promises to be a great acquisition to our country. Mr.
Arnold exhibited samples of this fruit at our summer meeting at Chatham — a report on this
seedling has already appeared.

Arnold's white seedling raspberry is not to be spoken of as much behind his seedling straw-
berry. Lately, in conversation with growers from the United States, we heard his seedling
fruits highly complimented. Some recognition of the services of our hybridizers ought to be
made by our Society, in the shape of a medal, or other fitting distinction, to mark our appre-
ciation of most disinterested and patriotic labours. Unless our Society steps forward in this
course, and it ought, no one else; it seems to me, will notice to reward the unremitting labours
of our veteran fruit growers and hybridizers. This act of courtesy and recognition of labour
ought to be entirely independent of the value of the fruits added to our Pomology.

CONTRAST BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT VARIETIES.

It is quite exhilarating to think of the progress made in choice varieties of
late years. The varieties that were satisfactory to fruit-growers only a few years
ago, have given place to far finer varieties than they ever dreamt of producing. In
apples, pears, and grapes, this is especially true, and ever increasingly true ; which leads

218

us to entertain bright and hopeful prospects for the future. There is no finality in this
field of labour, and no finality to the contemplated success. If aught would excuse a
little boasting at our annual gathering, and cause our mutual congratulations to assume prac-
tical shape, it would be the success that has attended our Exhibition of the fruits of Ontario
at Boston, during the meeting there of the Pomological Society of the United States, on the
10th, 11th and 12th instant. Ontario took her own place, based on her own fruit merits.
The display made by the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario afforded the utmost satisfac-
tion to those of your office-bearers delegated to Boston, and we are bold to say, that it was
equally agreeable and surprising to the members of the Pomological Society, to the members
of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and to the citizens of Boston, who took an interest
in the proceedings of the quarter centennial celebration of the Pomological Society of the
United States. In our anxiety and desire to do honour to the Honourable Marshall Pinck-
ney Wilder, we honoured ourselves. We were accorded what might be almost called the place
of honour, having apportioned to us the one-half of the centre table. Nebraska and Ontario
filled it, and were cramped enough at that. Our fruits were observed by all observers. Ques-
tions of the following import were put : " Can you grow peaches in Canada]" " Is that
fruit from Canada?" When reply was made that we had our peach orchards like a-
had our apple orchards, the expression of wonder could not be restrained. Mr. Saunder-
bottled blackberries, and my mulberries, were a source of endless curiosity. The individual
grains of the blackberry were frequently commented on. When enquirers were told that they
were blackberries, and that the bottle had no magnifying power, the common exclamat
" Well ! ! well ! ! " was again and again repeated.

At Boston, Ontario stood A. i, in plums. Nothing of the kinds exhibited came
them. Paris, Berlin, Guelph, Goderich, and especially London, did wonders. The plum
might be said to be Mr. Saunders' specialty — he took much interest in this part of the display,
had many sorts of his own there, and put himself to much trouble by correspondence and other-
wise to get them together. The silver medal and fifty dollars well rewarded him, and us, for
all his care and trouble.

Similar testimony can be borne to the excellence of our hardy grapes. We were literal iy
foremost in hardy grapes. It was with some difficulty that visitors and others could be p -
suaded that they grew in the open air with us. I had frequent requests from fruit-growers for
one berry of Arnold's Brant, just to taste it. Arnold's seedling grapes, from all I could learn,
were thriving well in the Southern States. We made a very fair display of hardy grapes.
It might have been better. There was not a single bunch contributed by Hamilton that I am
aware of. St. Catharines, Paris, Beamsville and London did nobly and sustained our reputation.
The exhibition of pears was greatly indebted to Mr. Whitelaw, of Paris, to Mr. Saun-
ders, to Mr. James Dougall, of Windsor. Mr. DougalPs addition of rare varieties was greatly
prized, and also those from Mr. Bennett, Brantford. Mr. Smith, of Paris Road, also sending
a handsome contribution. * A silver medal and fifty dollars well rewarded our Association for
this part of the exhibition.

The apples exhibited wanted colour. The 10th of September was too early for the
western portions of Ontario, or indeed for any portion. There were, however, some magnifi-
cent specimens from Ancaster — from Mr. Hammill, Mr. Brooking, Mr. Hyslop, and from
others in that neighbourhood.

The summation of our Boston visit sounds well. Four silver and one bronze medal,
and one hundred and twenty-five dollars in cash, were our awards. My modesty will not- pre-
vent me adding that your President brought home a bronze medal for his exhibit of pears.
It might have been and, we believe, it was considered by many, that it was like carrying c.oaN
to Newcastle to take pears to Boston, but pluck often does wonders, and in this particular
instance, through the courtesy of the examiniug committee, and the munificence of the Pomo-
logical Society, a reward was conferred on your President, which will be a subject of honest
pride and delight, as long as horticulture remains a gratification to him.

We have to add that the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, and his band of noble coadjutors,
were all that we had previously heard them depicted to be. If urbanity, gentlemanly beari
devotion to your cultivation, could call forth admiration, respect and praise, we found them
all embodied in the highest degree in the person and manner of the venerable and Honourable
Marshall P. Wilder, and in those who direct the affairs of the Pomological Society of the
United States.

214

The uses of such an exhibition as that of Boston are not few, nor unimportant. It
served to stimulate those of us who witnessed the admirable display of fruits from almost
< \ ry State of the Union. We saw much and learned much. The efforts of the Pomological
Society in bringing the confused appellations of Pomology to something like order and preci-
sion, merit all praise, and are worthy of efforts so untiring and skilled as those of the members
of the Pomological Society. Barry, Thomas, Ellwanger, Hooker, Meehan, Campbell (Ohio),
Quinn, Daniels, and others, are all labouring with unflagging assiduity, to bring order out of
confusion, and unity out of a legion of synonymes.

Worthless varieties are carefully dropt; as Barry justly said, it was a pity to perpetuate
even byname worthless varieties. We close by saying thai Canada took an eminent place
among the fruit growing States of the Union, and we have only to put shoulder to shoulder,
and loot to foot, and our pomological triumphs in the future will far transcend our efforts and
successes in the past.

Let us now prepare for the Grand -Centenni.nl Exposition to be held in Philadelphia in
1^76. Let us look forward and prepare also for the next Biennial Exhibition of the Pomo-
logical Society, to be held at Chicago in 1875.

Allow me to encourage the members of the Fruit Growers' Association here present,
and also those absent, to continue to foster this institution. It has been, now is, and, by
proper effort, will continue to be a power for good in the country. Its beneficent results no
one can estimate. Its influence for good must be made to bear on all classes of our commu
nity. Let our artisans, as well as our farmers, share in its kindly benefits. We must
not relax our efforts till our chosen and loved culture finds its way to every cottage and every
home. It is within our knowledge, that prudence, foresight, saving industrious habits have
been gendered by a consideration of the objects of our Society. Mechanics, in Hamilton, are
known to have purchased a lot which they might call their own, in order to plant fruit-trees
which might prove an incentive to their taste, and a benefit to their families.

In order to test the hardiness of Tart Bough, Benoni, Red Astrachan, Duchess of Olden
burg, St. Lawrence, Saxon, Sweet Bough, Ben Davis. Utter's Red, Hislop Crab, Eureka.
Soulard, Transcendant, Red Siberian, Golden Beauty, Purple Apricot, Wine Sap. Wa-
gener. Haas, Fallawater, Perry Russet, Tetofski, Northern Spy, Ribston Pippin and
P'ameuse, Mr. Warren Holton, of the nurseries. Hamilton, has forwarded one or more of
these specimens of apples and crabs to my friend Mr. John Mclntyre, at Fort William.
Thunder Bay, Lake Superior. By and by we will hear from Mr. Mclntyre a report of their
value and hardiness.

It might be well for our membership to consider the propriety of adding flowers and
flowering shrubs to the object of their present attention and consideration. Fruits and
flowers blend so nicely, seem so adapted tc produce happiness and contentment to the human
family that we ought not to seek to disjoin what our Maker has so cleirly and graciously
allied. By the cultivation of the divine art of music in conjunction with fruits and flowers,
we may long for a measure of happiness and civilization which although it has not now, yet
at no distant date will characterize the hearths and homes that are thickly planted in our
wide extended and heaven-blessed territory.

Let our Society encourage tree planting of every kind throughout the land. The ruth-
ies^ axe and the devouring flame have done much to devastate our soil, and thus render it un-
fruitful : be it ours to lead public sentiment^and opinion in restoring the bounties of Provi-
dence to a happy, contented and religious people Slicker must be our watchword, not
merely for fruit growers and their interests, but for the kindred and important interest — the
farming interests of Ontario. Seasons become modified by the abundance of wooded districts
— rain is thereby made to fall — winds are withheld in their cold devastating ravages — tree
and animal are alike protected. Let our fruit-growers attentively peruse Mr. George
Leslie's pr.per on tree planting for shelter, and, observing its benefits, go and encourage others
to undertake this beneficentwork.

Let our Association be more lavish than it has been in awarding medals and prizes —
diplomas, if you will, to all who engage in the production of seedling fruits. Such recog-
nition stimulates flagging zeal, and anew animates expiring ardour. Disappointment is apt to
break in upon the most devoted and diligent student of nature's arcana Let us strengthen
by all legitimate means, the tiring hand and the saddened heart, and thus develope the mighty
future issues that are held much in our own disposal. By every possible effort let us call forth

215

the bringing out of new varieties. Let us attempt to outstrip a Grant, an Underhill, a Clapp,
a Ricketts, a Brinckle, a Warder, a Hovey, an Arnold, and a Saunders, and lay our Province
under a contribution of commendation to our perseverance and skill.

Allow me further to say, as I have had occasion oft to say before, how deeply indebted I
feel to the Board of Directors for their forbearance with me in the chair. I do congratulate
myself and the direction, that no difficulty or disagreement has openly marred our past inter-
course ; and nothing has arisen, unless a deep sense of poorly discharged duty, to make the
retrospect of our official connection otherwise than pleasant and agreeable.

If in the discharge of the duties of the honourable office which your partiality has con-
ferred on me, I have offended any one of you by word or action, lay it to the account of inad-
vertence, and not to that of any ill feeling. I have made life-long friendships among you. I
can, and do address you all as friends. I have much satisfaction and comfort in thinking that
with so many kindred spirits as I see around me, I am spared with you to find ourselves at the
end of another official year of our Society's existence, engaged in deeds of beneficence, sowing
seed which we may never see bloom or fruit, but which, notwithstanding, we are perfectly
persuaded will spring up to bless future generations of our countrymen, and among other
results bear testimony to the fact that we have not lived in vain, — our duty being not to live
to ourselves, but unselfishly for others. When the day comes that our works bear fruit, and
we are known thereby, my earnest prayer is that we

" Will all receive a meed of priceless worth,
When ripely gathered by the heavenly reaper. "

Robert Burnet,

President

Report op the Delegate appointed to attend the Meeting of the Western
New York Horticultural Society, held at Rochester January 10th, 1872.

To the Directors of the Fruit Growers' Association :

Gentlemen, — Throiigh your distinguished consideration I was appointed to represent
your Board and your Association at the meeting of the Western New York Fruit Growers'
Association, which met in the City of Rochester on the 10th and 11th of January, 1872.
On that occasion I was accompanied by your Secretary — he being a member of the Conven-
tion— and by Mr. William Saunders, of London, who is equally well known for his taste in
fruit culture, and for his accurate knowledge of insect pests. Both gentlemen ably sustained
the prestige of your Society at the meeting, and during the discussion of the various impor-
tant matters connected with fruit growing submitted to the Convention, took a respectful but
prominent part.

Your deputy was received and heartily welcomed, and soon learned that he appeared
among a class of men who knew how to be courteous. After presenting my credentials, the
worthy President, P. Barry, Esq., in the name of the Association invited me to take a seat
with them, and expressed a kindly interest in our success as fruit growers in Ontario. Your
President learned much from the admirably conducted proceedings of the meeting of the
Western New York Fruit Growers' Association. We were much astonished to find the meet-
ings largely attended, not only by the fruit growers of Rochester and the surrounding coun-
try, but by a large number of gentlemen whose names are as household words among the
fruit-growing fraternity. We had anticipated great satisfaction in meeting the President of
the Pomological Association of the States, the venerable Marshall P. Wilder, but a previous
engagement at Philadelphia prevented his being present, and abridged our expected pleasure.
Great attention was bestowed upon the samples of native fruits, and such men as Thomas,
Downing and Hooker composed the committee for investigating the merits of any new ar-
rival lately ushered into the pomological world. The Hubbardston Nonsuch (a sample ot
which name I placed on the table), had its merits freely, but favourably discussed ; and some
other new varieties, with whose names I was not familiar. Marshall P. Wilder's favourite
pear, the Burre D Anjou, seemed to make a good impression on the members, its merits were
most favourably spoken of, and the advantages of its culture warmly recommended.

216

Foreign fruits had their fair share of attention. Some fine newjvarieties of foreign pears
shown by Messrs. Ellwanger and Barry attracted my sharp scrutiny, and made me long
for a larger acreage.

It was entirely new to your delegate to find long and earnest discussions on ornamental
trees and plants. Our subjects of discussion are so limited, viz., fruit and fruit trees, that I
was not prepared to find a kindred culture forming part and parcel of the proceedings of the
Western New York Horticultural Society. It might conduce to the advancement of our As-
lociation, should any amendment be contemplated on our constitution, to enlarge our sphere
of subjects, and embrace ornamental trees and shrubs, in the discussions of our Society.

The shipment of fruit received a careful consideration. Producers, on comparing notes,
found that they were being deprived of their just gains by the action of middlemen. A plan
suggested by your President was favourably entertained, viz., for the fruit growers of West-
ern New York to club together and send one of themselves as agent for the sale of fruits, to
Boston, New-York and Philadelphia, to whom they might independently consign their
fruit.

We found all the subjects of discussion eminently practical. One — that of fruit dryiu
was canvassed at great length. The question was : " Will drying fruit by fire heat be profit-
able when there is a surplus crop, what kinds, &c, how done ? " There were gentlemen ready
to offer their own practical experience. Foremost amongst those was Mr. Purdy, who ex-
plained the method he adopted in his drying house, and who gave the results of the process.
The " Alden " process was also ventilated by letter from the inventor. The marked interest
displayed in these means of drying fruit was sufficient to testify to its importance to fruit
growers. Mr. Charles Alden stated that fifty pounds of apples could be dried at the expense
of thirty cents. When dried the apples sell at twenty cents per pound.

We perceived that everybody had their own nostrum to advance fruit interests, and also
perhaps to advance their own pecuniary interests. There were plates and peans exhibited of
'■'• Comstock's Cultivator and Onion Weeder," " a Pony Cultivator and Weeder," " a Hand
Cultivator and Weeder," " The Rochester Berry Basket," styled, " the best ventilated and
neatest basket made," " Market Crates and Baskets," " Grape Boxes," the " Oval Box,"
and the " Bound Box."

My friend Mr. Saunders and I visited the manufactory of the "Berry Boxes," and were
amply repaid for our patience and diligence in ferreting out the place. At first we were re-
eeived with suspicion, but on further acquaintance nothing could exceed the urbanity with
which we were received. The machines seemed to us 'to be perfect. After a careful inspec-
tion we reluctantly bade a farewell to one of the most useful and important of industries. The
Americans deserve the highest praise and consideration for their push and invention. We
learned that " Berry Box material will be packed in crates holding 1,000 each, for which a
charge of fifty cents per crate for quarts, and forty cents for pints will be made."

We had also exhibited " Wagener's patent method of grape and tree grafting." — "Wag-
ener's system of vine grafting." In short nothing could exceed the display of all kinds of
nostrums to produce the penny and advance fruit culture. The members all had some speci-
ality. One circulated his list of standard pears, another his price list of strawberries, a third
his catalogue of dwarf pears, and a fourth his vine list. Nothing could exceed the interest
in fruit matters, and the presentation of kindred objects. There was a matter-of-fact aspect
in everything said and done.

The Bug men were there, and enthusiastics among them just as among us ; but our pre-
mier entomologist, our Saunders, of London, seemed to me to carry the palm in every discus-
sion advanced in fruit pests. " Palmam qui meruit ferat."

Grapes were pretty fully discussed — " What new grapes will replace the old standard
sorts? " The Isabella and Catawba were the favourites, and the Concord was just taking an
A. 1 place in the esteem of New England growers.

The measurement of barrels, the sale of fruit by weight, and other kindred subjects had
a large share of thought and attention.

We visited Mr. Vick's establishment. The importance of this firm may be somewhat
estimated when it is stated that they have a post office despatch for themselves ; that the
gift-offering to journalists alone cost $10,000 ; that Vick's Illustrated Catalogue costs $60,000
an issue.

The hospitality of the polite and gentlemanly Ellwanger was generously shown to your •

21T

deputation and greatly enjoyed by the participants. Indeed our whole visit was a sort of
ovation. Whenever, gentlemen, you want a volunteer to do duty on the other side of the lines
you have only to apply to your President, and he will only be too ready to carry out your
views to the best of his ability.

I have only to add that everything was superbly managed by P. Barry, Esq., President,
A model president he is. He set apart an evening for your deputy to address the Conven-
tion, which he did, and gave an account of our operations, and presented a copy of our last
Report.

After mutual interchanges of good-fellowship, and Mr. Saunders and myself being made
honorary members, along with such names as Marshall P. Widder and Downing, we bade them
a hearty farewell, equally grateful for the opportunity of representing you, gentlemen, and
your Society across the border, and greatly benefited and instructed both by what we heard
and saw.

Robert Burnet,

President.

Report op the Delegate appointed to attend the Meeting of the Western-
New York Horticultural Society, held at Geneva, January 8th, 1873.

Having been appointed a delegate to attend the Annual Meeting of the Western New
York Horticultural Society, held on Wednesday the 8th of January last, at Geneva, N w
York, I beg to report.

On the 7th, I reached Rochester, joining there our worthy Secretary-Treasurer, On
following morning we left Rochester in company with several gentlemen, delegates from that
vicinity for Geneva, arriving there about 10 o'clock, A.M. At 11 o'clock, A.M., the meetiog
was called to order by the President, P. Barry, Esq., a name familiar to fruit growers. The
meeting was well attended and the show of fruit fair, especially pears — Messrs. Ellwanger and
Barry having on exhibition a collection of 40 varieties of winter pears, all in an excellent state
of preservation. The show of apples did not equal the exhibitions usual at our winter meet-
ings. In fact I am led to believe, as a general rule, the apples grown in Ontario are superior in
colour and flavour to those grown in Western New York, owing probably to the fact of our
climate being a little more crisp, giving increased healthfullness and vigour to this class )f
fruits, while to the pear and peach the slightly milder climate of their latitudes is more
congenial.

There is one important feature in which our Society differs widely from theirs — it is in
the membership and attendance — theirs being chiefly compared of professional fruit grower^,
ours on the contrary is principally made up of amateurs — their Society imparting inform a
tion and interest to comparatively a few whilst ours is disseminating useful knowledge upon
fruit culture to all classes in the land — theirs increasing and improving a commerc ial
knowledge how best to make fruit culture a profitable business — ours, with a still small
voice inviting by a natural love for the occupation its amateur Votaries, carrying increased
usefulness and happiness to many a home — theirs concentrating horticultural knowledge in
the commanding centres, such as Rochester and Geneva — ours has comparatively no leading-
centres, but its influence is as broad as the land.

In regard to the mode of conducting the meetings, and the subjects discussed, the So-
cieties are quite similar, with one noticeable exception. In their discussions any person speaks
as frequently as he pleases, the whole drift of argument at times being confined to two or three
individuals, to the exclusion of others who might give valuable personal information. With
us the custom heretofore adopted of the President calling upon any member in rotation, as
they chance to be seated, is to my mind far preferable, thereby, securing to a much greater
extent, information from all parts of the country.

One other feature different from us I would mention. Their Society being horticultural,
properly allows the discussion of garden vegetables and flowers, whilst ours being strictly
fruit growing, everything of this character is excluded. I was very much interested in their
discussions of garden vegetables and flowers, and have no doubt that much good is the result.
It has occurred to me very forci y, that inasmuch as most people who take an interest in
fruit culture, have also a taste for the vegetable and flower garden, I have asked of myself the

218

question, ought not the growing of vegetables and flowers to be incorporated in our Society. I
am not, however, sufficiently convinced to propose such an innovation (as some might suppose
it to be), but the suggestion is thrown out, and may be thought worthy of some consider-
ation.

Pear blight which seemed to be the leading question at Geneva, was very fully discussed
and with considerable ability, by persons whose personal experience extended from New
England to Southern Georgia, with close observation as to climatic changes and test of soils,
but really no settled conclusions were arrived at — in fact they seem to be no more settled in
opinion as to the cause and cure of this pear tree scourge than ourselves.

Your delegate cannot close this report without referring to the kind and friendly reception
met with at the hands of the horticulturists of Western New York, particularly those who
proffered to your Secretary-Treasurer and Delegate the hospitalities of their delightful
homes.

All which is most respectfully submitted.

A. B. Bennett.

REPORTS OF DISCUSSIONS.

WINTER MEETING.

(Held at Hamilton, February 6th, 187S(

At eleven, the members met in the City Council Chamber, Rev. R. Burnet, President,
in the Chair.

D. W. Beadle, Secretary, being in his place, proceeded with the business set apart for
this the winter session. There were some forty or fifty members present from all sections of
the Province, who exhibited a deep interest in the proceedings. A number of new members
were received, and their names added to the roll.

The meeting having come to order, the Secretary read the minutes of the meeting held in
the Board Room, Toronto, Oct. 9th, 1872, which were confirmed.

A large number of apples and other late Fall fruits in excellent preservation were pro-
duced by members, and carefully examined. They were also referred to a special committee
for further examination.

Mr. Moodie, the delegate representing the Fruit Growers' Association of Western New
York, being present, was invited forward and took a seat upon the platform.

He returned thanks, saying that as all fruit growers are genial whenever they meet, he
felt as much at home in Canada as in the States.

Mr. Bennett, appointed a delegate to the annual meeting of the Fruit Growers' Associ-
ation of New York, which met at Geneva, New York, January 8th last, made his report. (See
Report, ante page 217.)

Mr. Saunders, Vice-President, having taken the chair, the President read a lengthy report
of his and the Secretary's visit to the annual meeting of the Western New York Fruit
Growers' Association, held at Rochester, in January, 1872.

MARKETING FRUIT.

This was the first subject which was upon the programme. t

Mr Moodie. of New York, being called upon, made a few remarks concerning the sub-
ject. In Niagara County, from whence he comes, he said that fruit was a staple production,
and then to make it marketable it was packed in the most careful and even expensive manner.
The fruit was all carefully selected and nicely packed in the best and cleanest barrels or bas-
kets. The chief thing was to get the finest packages possible. It was not too much to put pears
worth $20 a barrel in varnished barrels, for it is the first impression that makes good fruit sell.
Someof these barrels had sold for $35 wholesale. For instance, a certain producer took two barrels

219

of excellent and similar Bartlett peai\s. In one of these the pears were protected with coloured
tissue paper, and the heads of the barrels were nicely attended to, and the other was packed in
the ordinary way. The first barrel quickly obtained $15, and the other, equally good fruit,
could not get $5. Such, in the main, was the object of the principle upon which fruit was
marketed — put splendid fruit up in the most slwwy and fitting packages, then sellers may be
certain of good prices.

Mr. John Freed gave his experience as confined to Hamilton market. It had struck him
on many occasions that those farmers who brought their fruit in the nicest manner obtained
the best prices.

Mr. Smith, Clifton, said he was chiefly interested in the production and sale of strawber-
ries, and he knew it to be a fact that berries in dirty stained baskets would not sell in any
market for two-thirds of the price the same fruit obtained in clean neat baskets. He agreed
with Mr. Freed concerning his statements as to farmers.

The Secretary believed that a good deal lay in the honesty of middlemen, and many per-
sons had come to think that they were rogues, and obtained all the profits.

Mr. Lynus Woolverton added his experience on the sale and packing of apples. He be-
lieved the best policy, where one could not sell his own fruit, was to send it to some honest
commission merchant. One of these at Montreal had acted well, and made very satisfactory
returns. Montreal, so far, has been found the best market for apples.

Mr. Smith added that a friend of his sent a lot of grapes to Ottawa, but no returns had
been made yet. This was unsatisfactory.

Mr.Biggar had found that neighbours of his had lost two cents a pound upon grapes which
had been poorly packed. Sell the best fruit and keep the other at home.

THE BEST VARIETIES OF WINTER PEARS

was the next subject.

Mr. Morse preferred the Sheldon to the Beurre D'Anjou, both as far as production and
lasting qualities are concerned. He liked the White Doyennti variety. He succeeded in keep-
ing his pears extremely well by folding them in paper, keeping them high up on shelves in a
dry cellar, and keeping the temperature as nearly at the freezing point as possible. A thermo-
meter is kept in the cellar. This W temperature was not artificially obtained. The north
window was opened to admit the cold, and the southern one and door open for warmth. This
winter was the first when frost had entered ; this was excluded by some heat introduced.

Mr. Arnold had no great satisfaction with his pears, as he could not keep them. He
considered the Winter Nelis was the best ; the Vicar of Winkfield was a pretty pear, and sold
well. The Due de Bordeaux was, in his opinion, a good one, although new. He would not
advise people to raise pears for profit.

Mr. Morse had great satisfaction with the Glout Morceau. ,

Mr. Bennett entirely differed with Mr. Arnold, as winter pears had become a hobby with
him. The Winter JSlelis had not kept well with him, but he had great satisfaction with the
other kinds. His cellar was also kept at a low temperature. He had a number of beautiful
samples with him. The Seckle had proved an excellent variety.

Mr. Graham believed that the weather of last summer and this winter accounted, to some
extent, for the exceptional good keeping of pears this year.

Mr. Bennett agreed with the President in pronouncing the Beurre D'Aremberg as a superb
pear. He had had no success until he grafted it upon the Winter Nelis, when every result
was satisfactory.

Mr. Moodie pronounced the Lawrence as an excellent pear for production ; the Josephine
de Mahnes was also good, but he was not aware that as great care is taken in the winter time
in New York as in Ontario. Russet pears needed a damp cellar. The Bartlett pear could
be made to last into the winter, simply by the time observed in the picking. As a rule, fruit
is left too long on the trees. When the leaves begin to turn in colour then is the time and not
Inter, to pluck them.

Mr. Freed said that it was useless to attempt to dispose of pears in the winter time oa
the market, if there were any frost, as the fruit would be lost.

The President asked after the Winter Boyenni and Josephine de Malines. He spoke
highly of the Lawrence, but advised the cultivation of the first mentioned pear as a really

220

excellent one. He thought the Doyenne Du Cornice the finest pear he had ever grown, and
was an excellent keeper.

Mr. Arnold asked after two old pears, the Princess St. Germain and Easter Beurre. He
had found them inferior in quality.

Mr. Grey, of Toronto, did not care much for the first, but the second was good when
cared for.

Mr. Moodie said in New York the first was discarded.

The President said that he had last summer an excellent crop of Easier Beurre pears,
and they were not at all gritty.

The Secretary had not a good word to say in respect to winter pears. They were a
failure with him. He had planted Glout Morceau, and found them all dead in a few years.

Mr. Grey said the same pear died out rapidly at Toronto.

The President noted that this past year, the Glout Morceau had blighted more than ever.
It was not well to force fruit too much j a friend of his had, by forcing, obtained an excellent
crop in 1871 ; but, last year, all the trees blighted. •

Mr. Barnes had two hundred pear trees, and during the past year had not lost a tree,
because he had split the bark with a knife, and placing two shovels full of iron fillings about
the trees.

Mr. Mills followed the same practice, with the same results. He did this splitting in
June, when the growth was most rapid, so that the cuts would heal over. The bark becamo
thicker, and protected the trunks from the frost. He made four slits down the tree each
year.

Mr. Barnes used one slit.

Mr. Arnold had not faith in the slitting. He mentioned a four-inch [tree that seemed
to die, when in June he took a spade and cut off the bark for several feet to the ground. 'I
the tree entirely recovered, put forth new leaves, and bore for a number of years after. He
would by no means recommend this practice.

Mr. Barnes said that on Main Street a number of willows could be seen, which had been
girdled with a view to killing them, but this had been by no means the case.

Mr. Mills mentioned a tree he had tried to kill — a useless tree, but it had recovered m<l
bore better than ever.

AFTER RECESS.

The Association met at three o'clock, when the following Committee to award the offered

PRIZES FOR CANADIAN SEEDLING FRUITS

was named by the President : — Messrs. Mills, Chairman; Grey, Field, Smith (Clifton),
Saunders and Anderson.

The Directors offer a prize of ten dollars for the best Canadian seedling winter apple,
and five dollars for the best Canadian seedling winter pear, to be shewn at the Winter Meeting.
If two or more varieties of equal merit are shewn, the judges will award a prize to each. The
attention of members is drawn to the list of prizes for other Canadian seedling fruits in the
Report for 1872.

The President then read an excellent paper on " The connection between fruit growing
and tho farming interests of the Province."

The essay was ordered to be printed, and Mr. Burnet received the vote of thanks of the
meeting.

NEXT PLACE OF MEETING.

The Secretary stated that Kingston, Chatham, St. Catharines, Gait and Brantford had
asked for meetings at each of these places. The Kingstonians desired it when the Fall fruits
were ripe and ready for inspection, as there were a large number of apples upon which they
were anxious for information. The other towns had been equally strong in their terms of
application.

On motion of Mr. Martin, seconded by Mr. Beadle, the Summer Meeting was arranged
to be held at Chatham.

221

On motion of Mr. Arnold, it was resolved that the Fall Meeting be held in Kingston.
In both places the inhabitants to set the precise time of their holding.

ARE CATTLE AND SHEEP USEFUL IN ORCHARDS?

Mr. Martin asked whether it was the general opinion that cattle and sheep were useful
in orchards ? He thought they were.

Mr. Lee thought not.

Mr. Chambers said that some time ago his trees had been injured by codling moths.
He then used an application of cow dung to the trunks of the trees, and allowed his sheep
to run in the orchard, when the moths disappeared. The sheep did not gnaw the young
trees.

Mr. Martin put the application on the trunks of the trees with a brush.

Mr. Barnes used lime, black sulphur and soot, made into a mixture with water. This
he applied with a stiff brush or broom.

Mr. Bennett used lime, sulphur and cow dung, which he mixed in a pail, and in another
pail containing water and a stiff brush, applied this, -which keeps off mice and lice. This he
decidedly recommended.

The President said that Mr. Barnes' trees had the glossiest bark possible.

Mr. Glass was of the same opinion as Mr. Bennett. Besides, the mixture was superior
to wax, &c. , for healing cuts or broken branches:

Mr. Martin said that the presence of sheep kept away field mice.

Mr. Arnold used lime and soft soap. Sulphur was too drying. To add a little tobacco
water, it was a complete success.

THE BEST METHOD OF DRYING FRUITS.

The Secretary had received a letter from Mr. Gibb, of Montreal, who had a drying
apparatus, which was brought to the attention of the Association. The apparatus was simple.
A usual sized stove was chosen, around which was built a brick wall to retain the air. The
fruit being prepared was put in at the lower end of an inclined plane, and was gradually run
up over the fire, so that, when it got to the top, the fruit was supposed to be dried. At
Geneva the speaker had seen a good contrivance, for persons having a small stock of fruits
which could be prepared for the market. A machine for family use, a sheet-iron square with
shelves, was placed around the stove-pipe, making a little oven answering all purposes excel
lently. At the same place he had seen the "Aldine" process, which seemed to be good
enough, but it was too expensive to recommend. Such dried fruits, carefully packed and
preserved from insects, were preferable to ship all over the world than in the canned shape.
There was no doubt that, if fruit were dried free from dirt and insects, much that was now
lost to the producer and consumer would be saved. Although in Canada there is sufficient
sale for all fresh fruits, and there are canning establishments, yet drying ones might with
excellent advantage be brought into use.

Mr. Moodie added some explanation to some of the schemes alluded to by the Secretary.
The Ryder system was so good that a quart of fruit could be reduced in weight to two
ounces, and yet could be swelled out again to its normal size, without loss of taste or appear-
ance. The machine, with patent right and all, would not cost more than $25 ; and while
using little fuel, the drying was accomplished as fast as four persons could prepare the fruit.
With this system peaches had been prepared, and sold at a greater price than when fresh.
They were coated with sugar, and carefully packed. Dried fruit, by this process, sells for
double as much as those prepared by other processes.

Mr. Craddock stated that a kiln used for drying hops had answered admirably for
drying fruits.

Mr. Brooking endorsed the last remarks, but the person referred to had abandoned his
hop kiln, as the taste of the hops was, to a degree, absorbed by the fruit, and he built another
kiln, exactly like it, which was excellent.

Mr. Bennett had dried Roger's Grapes, No. 9, down as fine as any raisins he had ever
eaten.

222

Mr. Martin had been equally successful with Roger's No. 15. No sugar had been used
in the process. Sweet- Water Grapes had also been tried. Canning's Grapes had proved
excellent, with the exception of there being too many seeds.

Mr. Johnson stated that one Fall he had put away a lot of Grapes in a drawer for an
exhibition, but they having been forgotten, were next Spring found to be excellent raisins.
These were Rogers Nos. 3, 4 and 15.

The President stated that some of the members were to blame, as their subscriptions were
sent in too late, and the Secretary was therefore pushed. Nearly all the trees were received
in Hamilton in gocd order.

The Secretary referred to many reasons, among others the extraordinary increase of mem-
bership, running up in one season from 800 to 1,700 members. (Applause.) Taken all in
all, the delivery was very good.

The President said that dwarf trees are chiefly called for in the cities and towns.

Mr. Morse said that in the country, standard trees were in the greatest demand.

Mr. Hyslop said the trees for Ancaster had been sent to Dundas, where they had been
left in a warm room, and were much damaged before taken away.

• Mr. Brooking stated that a brother of the last speaker was to blame at Ancaster, for when
he was notified that they had arrived, he paid them no attention for two weeks.

Other members made complaints. Another member stated that at Toronto his trees laid
two weeks, and upon being opened, appeared dead. He soaked them in water for four day*
and they not only recovered, but grew better than all the other trees he had ever known.

Another member endorsed this statement.

CAN FILBERTS BE SUCCESSFULLY GROWN IN ONTARIO )

Mr. Craddock said a neighbour of his had tried them, but they were scarcely hardy enough
and did not do well.

Mr. Arnold had found the hazel nut growing wild in Canada, and very good. The
variety known as filberts were as good as those of England.

Mr. Gregory doubted the correctness of the last statement.

The President had for years raised English filberts here, but they need to be sheltered.
Some seasons he had gathered excellent crops. He believed that, if properly cultivated and
pruned, they should do well in this latitude.

Mr. Morse had been unsuccessful.

Mr. Glass, of Guelph, raises English filberts, and some years they do excellently.

Mr. Arnold had more faith in cultivating native varieties than in imported ones.

THE AUDITOR'S REPORT

of Mr. Beadle's accounts was received and passed.

DWARF PEAR TREES.

The Secretary introduced this subject.

Mr. Moodie, of N. Y. (and a large cultivator), liked dwarf trees on heavy soil best, but
very well on any. He believed that the opinion was growing that too much pruning had
taken place. It was not the thing to " cut back " so much. There should be some pruning,
especially Duchess U Angouleme, which is no use on the standard. The Bartlett was best on
the standard. He did not manure, but used plenty of unleached ashes which produce good
wood and fruit. He preferred a bushel of such ashes to a waggon load of barnyard manure.
The ashes were scattered broadcast, say one hundred bushels to the acre. His firm used many
thousands of bushels a year. Ashes produced good wood and leaves and these ensured excel-
lent fruit. He had found that composted manure would cost $9 a waggon load, which was too
expensive, and then it was inferior to ashes. He had never tried gypsum, thought it was good.
They got all the ashes they wanted at 20 cents per bushel. He was not in favour of mulching ;

223

surface roots should be ploughed down low. Tender roots near the surface were easily affect-
ed by heat and cold, and these should be kept down to ten inches below the surface, so that
they would be beyond these changes of temperature. The codling moths were removed by pigs,
which are kept hungry. Annual " cutting back " is injudicious. He liked the following varie-
ties best : Beurre D'Anjou, Duchess D ' Angouleme, Duchess De Bordeaux and Louise Bonne <h
Jersey. Dwarf pears are set out with the stock entirely under ground. Scions set down one
or two inches. He liked the Angler and Fontenay quinces — not the apple quince. He also
preferred ashes for apples.

The President had spread four inches of leached ashes over his garden with the hap
piest results.

Mr. Moore had used ashes and had never failed one year in the pear crop, while others
around him had.

Mr. Brooking found that ashes were wonderfully adapted for peaches.

Mr. Moodie used salt for the manuring of plums, and found it excellont. A friend of
his used salt for all his crops. He sowed it early in the season, as soon as the frost was out
of the ground, at the rate of four barrels to the acre.

Mr. Barnes had used a pail of salt to a waggon load of manure, and found it good ; 15
bushels per acre was a heavy dressing.

Mr. Arnold thought the benefit of salt depended much upon the season. He had sowed
a strip of it across a field where there were carrots, raspberries, potatoes, strawberries, etc
The strawberries were killed, but the raspberries were abundantly benefited. The carrots,
and wheat seemed to be the better for it.

THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS

made their report through the chairman. There had been a number of excellent and
other samples, which had all been carefully examined. The prize of $10 for the best Cana-
dian seedling apple was awarded to Mr. Wm. L. Stott, of Markham. The first prize for
pears was awarded to Mr. James Reid, of Hamilton, and one of equal merit to Mr. James
Hyslop, of West Flamboro'.

A number of very commendable specimens of apples, pears and grapes on the general
and special lists were shown and reported upon.

EVENING SESSION.

Question — Have we any valuable new variety of apple ?

Mr. Beadle explained the term " new variety" and instanced the Swayzie Pomme Grist
as an example. Another apple of this sort was Norton's Melon, a valuable apple. Another
is a summer apple raised in Western New York, i. e., Early Joe. It is like a pear, it is so
good. The IVagener is another of the same sort — not generally known. What experience
have we had of these, and of the Benoni ? an apple well known to Mr. Arnold.

Mr. Moodie knew the Norton's Melon. It is a very poor grower. In New York State
people like large growers. The same may be said of the Early Joe. Mr. Moodie mentioned
the Primate as an excellent apple, a poor grower. Nurserymen across the lines cannot sell
these trees. The Wagener, a good grower ; strong, healthy tree. Don't think much of the
American Pearmain.

Mr. Saunders wanted to know how many of these mentioned are exempt from the cod-
ling moth. Pomme Grise, he had found, were exempt. He wanted to know what experience
the other members had in reference to that matter. Rox Iiusset and Baldwin were badly in-
jured by the codling moth.

Mr. Beadle thought the Swayzie Pomme Grise would rise much in public estimation.
There is no better winter apple. Lady Apple commands $15 per barrel in New York.

Mr. McCallum had a Primate and found it a good apple.

Mr. Freed thought the Spitzenburg class was the first attacked by the codlin moth.
He thought highly of the Red Quarrenden. The Swayzie Pomme Grise is the best apple goin°-.
The public must be educated to have a taste for the Swayzie Pomme Grise.

Mr. Arnold found many apples old which were represented new. He instanced the
Stvryzic and the JVagener as examples. One or two others he might mention not generally

224

known, the Benoni — a delicious apple, it is spicy, and ripens in the course of five or six
weeks. Grimes' Golden is a splendid apple. Early Strawberry a delicious apple. New seedling
sorts not to be thrown away. Plenty of seedlings better than the Baldwin. The Moyle is a
grange sport from the Spitzenburg — a bud variation — the branch bears the same kind of apple
year after year.

Mr. Saunders and Mr. Townsend knew but little of the new varieties. The Baldwin
Buffered badly from the codlin moth. Rox Russet suffered too, and the Spitzenburg less than
usual. Summer Rose, a splendid apple, medium size and fine flavoured. Mr. Saunders re-
ferred to a seedling of Mr. Arnold's No. 4, a fine apple. He prefers it to the Spitzenburg.
Children are fond of it. The specimens presented to-day were -very poor, and therefore its
merits were not fairly before the Committee.

Mr. Barnes said the Hawthornden would bear as much as fifty other trees.

Mr. Arnold said the Summer Rose cracked badly. The Hawthornden could not be eaten.
It had, he thought, little flavour. It was a splendid cooking apple.

Mr. Beadle said the Summer Rose bore well. The apples are a little below the medium
size — much sought for. The Early Harvest is higher flavoured, but is badly injured by a
black blotch, which mars their appearance, and deprives the apple of all its flavour. The
Summer Rose is not liable to the attack of the black blotch. Dwarf trees bear good Early
Rose. The Haiuthornden is no favourite of his — there is no flavour about it ; it is a great
cropper.

Mr. Brooking spoke of the Fallawater as a good market apple ; free from the attacks of
the codlin moth ; keeps till May ; don't rot from any bruise. The Swayzie Pomme Grise had
been grown by him for fifteen years ; the outside was apt to be punctured, but not gritty.
The tree requires to be pruned close to make it grow. He asked about the Orange Pippin —
t<in days earlier than the Early Harvest.

Mr. Moodie, of Lockport, was asked about the Canada Red and the Hubbardston Non-
mch. He said that the Canada Red was a poor grower.

Mr. Beadle thought the Fallawater was below par, and could not recommend it for general
cultivation.

Mr. Morse said that a neighbour of his thought little of the Fallawater, and wished to
be rid of his tree.

Mr. Morse has the Dutch Mignonne, a splendid apple — a sure seller — an autumn ap-
ple, perfect in shape, good flavour, a little coarse. Has some seedlings. He has Pownal's
Spitzenburg — a good apple, superior to the JEsopus. He does not agree with those who spoke
highly of the Baldwin. All the Russets are eaten with avidity.

Mr. Saunders spoke on the " spotting " of fruit. Some thought that the " spots " arose
from the puncture of the curculio. Fruit growers should notice this those years when the
curculio is abundant.

Mr. Barnes defended the excellence of the Baldwin. It has a good flavour in some
localities.

Question : " What encouraging results have our hybridizers obtained in the production
of new varieties of fruit ? ' '

Mr. Beadle wished to know what had been effected by hybridizers. Is it true that
two varieties can be blended ?

Mr. Arnold thought it was the work of man to improve the varieties of fruit. What
but hybridization has produced the Wilson Albany ? What of Rogers' varieties of
grapes 1 Twenty years ago it was said — it was believed — that Rogers' varieties of grapes
Tere not crosses. Facts now established show that they were hybrids. The Black Hamburg
• en in a cross raised between it and the Clinton. It bears greatly the character of
the foreign variety.

Mr. Beadle looked forward to great improvements in hybridizing, and complimented Mr.
Arnold on his distinguished experiments.

. Mr. Saunders gave an admirable resume of his experience in cross fertilisation. This i>
fast becoming an art, as sure and certain as any other of the useful arts.

Mr. Beadle said that the United States was about to hold a grand pomological meeting
- Boston next September. The different States have appropriated large sums to carry out
the grandest exhibition of fruit that has ever been shown on this continent.

Mr. Macallum moved that the President, Secretary, Mr. Saunders and George Leslie be

225

a committee to wait upon the Government to get an appropriation for securing a collection of*
fruit for exhibition at the Pomological Society of the United States, at Boston, in September
next. That the deputation, if successful, should see that the matter be carried out.

SUMMER MEETING.

Held in the Music Hall, Chatham, June 24, 1873. The President in the Chair.

The minutes of last meeting having been read and approved,the President reported that th«
Committee appointed at the last meeting to confer with the Honourable the Com .nissioner of
Agriculture in reference to an appropriation for defraying the expense of sending acollection of
the fruits of Ontario to the meeting of the American Pomological Society to be held in Bos-
ton in September, had been favoured with several interviews, and that the Commissioner wai
giving the matter his earnest consideration. It was resolved that the President be requested
to attend the meeting of the American Pomological Society in Boston as the delegate of this
Association, and that his expenses be paid out of the funds of the Association.

Resolved that Messrs. James Dougall, William Saunders and D. W. Beadle be added
to the delegation, and that the sum of seventy-five dollars be appropriated out of the funds
of the Association towards defraying their expenses.

Resolved that the sum of one hundred dollars be appropriated towards defraying the ex-
penses of sending a collection of the fruits of Ontario to the meeting of the American Pomo-
logical Society.

The following subject was then discussed, namely. — What varieties of apple are most pro-
fitable for shipping.

W. Stripp found the Golden Russet kept best last year. They kept better than the R. I.
Greening and Baldwin. Those varieties rotted some, and barely paid cost, while Golden Rus-
set paid well, and it is a variety that will grow far north.

Van Horn and Dunlop prefer the Greening, Baldwin and Northern Spy.

W. McK Ross thought the Pennock and Baldwin were the best for shipping.

O'Hara named the Swayzie Pomme Grise, and said it kept well and had an exquisite
flavour.

J. A. Allen found that the Golden Russet stands first.

C. Arnold said those varieties which pay the best, and that depends on the market t9
which the fruit is sent. Golden Russet is a first-class fruit in every respect He thought
well of the Wagener, and considered the Northern Spy a good sort for this purpose.

Ellison named Greening, ^Esopus Spitzenburg, and Seeknofurther.

The next subject considered was the question to what soils are these several varieties
adapted 1

J. Dougall remarked that it was very difficult to say. It is to be ascertained only by
experiment.

W. Stripp would have the Baldwin and Greening on gravelly soil, while the Golden
Russet did well on all soils, even on one that was somewhat damp.

Dunlop named clay loam as best for Baldwin and Greening ; the Spy does best on a
lighter soil , the Snow Apple spots on clay soils.

McNaughton preferred sandy loam.

Ross said Baldwin did well in sandy loam.

O'Hara and Saunders said the soil must be well drained.
How shall we market our apples to the best advantage ?

D Wilson — By forming county associations, and meet and learn the quantity and quality
of the crop, and then seek out the best markets.

J. A. Allen said, Sort the fruit.
Are Dwarf Trees of these varieties of Apples as profitable as Standard Trees ?

J. Dougall said dwarf trees were fit for small gardens.

C. Arnold thinks dwarf trees more hardy than standard, though not profitable for
orchard.

Is there any danger of cultivatiny apple orchards too highly, and should they ever be seeded
down, and if so, with what kind of grass ?

Smith — No danger in this region ; there might be in the colder parts of the country.
15

226

Dougall — A vigorous tree stands cold better than one too poorly cultivated. He recom-
mends blue grass.

Arnold — A rapid growth continued late in the season is objectionable.

D. Wilson — Leaves the grass in the orchard, and manures on the surface.

Stripp — Lets the wild grass grow ; it acts as a manure when not removed.

Have grapes proved profitable in Ontario, and if so, ivhat varieties ?

Dougall — The Concord has proved profitable.

Smith said Yes, it had.

Arnold — The price has been three cents per pound, and that does not pay.

Saunders — We are not able to grow them profitably in London.

Stripp — Fabulous profits are not to be realized, but is sure that the profits per acre* are
more than from the cultivation of corn. He had a vineyard in which he had grown the Con-
cord for three years, the Delaware five and six years. The Clinton was not as profitable, but
would yield a return of fifty dollars per acre.

J. A. Allen — Have to cover the vines in the fall. Rogers No. 3, 19, and Salem ripen
perfectly ; also No. 9 was early, and a favourite sort. The Concord was rather late. Dela-
ware and Adirondac ripened.

J. R. Martin, named the Adirondac, Hartford Prolific, Delaware and Iona.

On a table in the Hall were laid out numerous varieties of various kinds of seedling
fruits, and the President said the next business was to appoint a Committee to examine them
and report, when the following gentlemen were appointed, viz : — The President, Vice-President,
and Messrs. Saunders, Ross and O'Hara, who duly gave the following

REPORT.

Your Committee appointed to report on the seedling fruits on exhibition, beg to report as
follows : —

That we have examined the seedling strawberry exhibited by Mr. Arnold, of Paris,
being a cross hetween the Wilson and Dr. JSicasse, and recommend it for the prize of $5
offered by the Associatiou for the best seedling strawberry on exhibition. A plate of Wilson
Albany Strawberries, exhibited by Mr. John S. Jarvis, of Chatham, are of fair size, and well
ripened.

CHERRIES.

Your Committee are very favourably impressed with a seedling cherry, exhibited by Mr.
James Dougall, of Windsor, being a seedling of Early Purple Guigne, and would recommend
it for more extended cultivation, it being decidedly the best very early cherry we know of. and
ripening about a week before the Early Purple ; and we award to it a prize of $5.

GOOSEBERRIES.

Mr. Charles Lee, of Hamilton, exhibits two varieties of seedling gooseberries, raised
from seed of the English varieties, one of them showing a great tendency to grow double.

Mr. Charles Arnold, of Paris, exhibits a branch of Downing seedlings, well laden with
berries and with foliage, partially variegated ; also a very promising seedling from Downing's
seedling, with berries more elongated, and averaging a little longer than Downing's.

Mr. James Dougall exhibits a large number of different varieties of seedling gooseberries,
ten of them being seedlings of Houghton's seedling, supposed to be hybridized by English
varieties, and thirteen seedlings from a cross between the wild prickly and the English goose-
berries. We would particularly recommend the variety marked Houghton No. 7 ; it is very
productive, and larger than the Houghton, at this period of its growth, and of a more oval
form. If the flavour of the fruit, when ripe, is in keeping with its present promise, we would
recommend that it receive the prize of $5, and that Mr. Dougall be requested to send samples
of the fruit of this and of some of the most promising of the other varieties to the President
in season. We may state that Mr. Dougall exhibited other two plates of fine cherries, one.
of the Early Purple Guigne, and one of May Duke.

227

STRAWBERRIES.

Mr. Biggar, of Drummondville, exhibited a seedling Strawberry of very handsome
appearance and good size. It is of fair quality, rather acid, and appears to be a good bearer.
We deem it worthy of a prize of $5.

Mr. A. M. Smith, of Drummondville, exhibits nine varieties of Strawberries of the
leading sorts, most of them in good condition and of fine appearance.

AUTUMN MEETING

Held at Kingston, September 17, 1873.

The President being absent, the meeting was called to order by the Secretary.

F. Hora called to the chair.

The Secretary tendered the apologies of the President, and stated the result of the Boston
exhibitions.

The subject of pear culture was discussed.

Nicol — has found only two pears that will stand the climate, they are native seedlings.
One of the trees is sixty years old, the fruit is of a medium size, ripening in winter.

Allen. — Pear culture for the last few years has been very uncertain ; his place being
very near the water he can grow the Louise Bonne de Jersey, Bartlett, Flemish Beauty and
Stevens' Gennessee. They do best on pear stock. The Louise Bonne and Flemish Beauty
are among the most hardy.

Seale. — Mentioned pear trees growing on Mr. Wilson's farm that are some sixty years old.

Mr. Radford spoke of a seedling pear tree growing on Wolfe Island over sixty years old
— the fruit is inferior. Flemish Beauty does well with him. Pear trees do best on clay
knolls.

Mr. Briggs has grown the Flemish Beauty, and it succeeded well. Also cultivates the
Louise Bonne de Jersey and Josephine de Malines. The main trouble is fire-blight. Seckel
did not succeed. The Oswego Beurre did well for two years and then appeared to blight.
His experience extends over a period of from twelve to sixteen years. His soil is under cul-
tivation, is under-drained and in good tilth.

Professor Ferguson had a good crop the first season, but the fruit was very knotty ; he
applied refuse lime and the knotty character disappeared.

Dr. Williams — The White Doyenne for three years has not suffered. The Church is one
of the best and most hardy. Osband's Summer, Bergamot Cadette and Seckel have proved
hardy. His oldest trees are twenty years old, and all except three are dwarfs.

Mr. Dempsey, of Albury, said: There was a pear tree in the Township of Hillier, a seed-
ling, growing on the bank of the lake in a very exposed situation, and was then eighteen
inches in diameter, with thirty bushels of fruit upon it, but on transplanting sprouts from this
tree he found them as tender as the Bartlett.

APPLES IN KINGSTON AND VICINITY.

Mr. Nicol said, the Fameuse, Golden Russet, Northern Spy, Talman Sweet, Brockville
Beauty (an early Fall variety, a size larger than Snow, of fine quality, tart, very prolific, very
hardy, raised by Mr. Beatty, near Brockville), Pomme Grise, St. Lawrence, Ribston
Pippin, Tallow Pippin, Lame, (raised by Mr. Larne at Mallory-town), and Wagener did
well.

Dr. Williamson — showed Indian Rareripe, which he said was very hardy and a great
bearer, conical with a blush on a yellow ground, a ribbed eye, cavity at stem smooth.

Mr.P.C. Dempsey, of Albury, exhibited three bunches of a seedling grape, the second year
of fruiting, his No. 19, Hartford Prolific, crossed with Black Hamburgh grown in the open air.
laid down in winter, the bunch and berry were very large, flesh meaty, skin thin, no pulp, very
foreign in flavour, something of the Muscat about it.

228

He also showed a seedling plum raised by himself, an accidental seedling, purple, with a
blue bloom, very prolific, of " good " flavour, separates freely from stone, stone large, tree per-
fectly hardy, fruit nearly round ; has fruited for three years in succession, has not failed to
produce a crop since it began to bear.

Charles Arnold showed a seedling apple, a cross between a Northern Spy with Wagener.
The form is very like the Wagener, with much of the colouring of the Spy ; size medium,
flesh crisp, tender, juicy, yellow, quality " very good," mild subacid, stem straight, inch long,
in a smooth cavity, of medium depth.

F. Hora showed a seedling apple raised by Mrs. Dunlop from seed, tree very hardy, now
40 years old, fruit keeps finely, in use in April and May, size medium.

Report of the Committee on Essays.

To the Directors of the Fruit Growers1 Association of Ontario.

Gentlemen, — Your Committee have to report that they have carefully considered the
essays that have been submitted for competition for prizes, with the following results. There are
three essays on the cultivation of the plum. The first prize has been awarded to that bearing
the motto " Perad venture." Your Committee believe that it would tend to further the views
of the Directors in offering prizes that another essay on the cultivation of the plum bearing
the motto '• For everything there is a season," should be published in the Annual Report. It
is an admirable paper giving the experience of an extensive plum grower, and the regret is
felt that the Committee have no discretion to award it a second prize, as it is well worthy of
that distinction.

One essay has been given in on " How to increase the interest in fruit growing in Ont
ario." Your Committee have nj hesitation in awarding the prize to this truly original and
unique essay, bearing the motto, " The world is only to be taken by show."

Your Committee regret much that there is only one essay on the important subject of " Im-
positions of dishonest tree pedlars." Although the essay does not come up to the others im
literary ability, or even in vigorous discussion of the subject, yet in order to keep perfect
faith with essayists, the prize is recommended to be awarded to the essay. It bears the motto,
" By their fruits ye shall know them."
All which is respectfully submitted.

Robert Burnet.

Convener of Committer.
Hamilton, November 14th, 1873.

The Successful Essayists.
To the President and Directors of the Fruit Growers' Association,

Gentlemen — Having received the Report of the Committee on Essays, I proceeded t»
open the envelopes accompanying those to which the prizes were awarded. The envelope bear-
ing the motto, " Perad venture," contained the name of George Elliott, Guelph ; that in-
scribed with the motto, "The world is only to be taken by show," contained the name of
George Peacock, Mount Salem ; that with the motto, " By their fruits ye shall know them,"
contained the name of A. M. Smith, Drummondville ; and the one inscribed, " For every-
thing there is a season," contained the name of William Saunders, London.

Yours truly,

D. W. Beadle,

St. Catharines, Secretary.

15th November, 1873.

229

PEIZE ESSAY ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE PLUM.
" perapventure."

By George Elliott, Guelph,

The plum in its wild state is a shrub or low growing tree, and is indigenous to most
parts of the Continent of Europe, the north of Asia and North America — it appears
to have been cultivated at a very early period in Asia Minor and also in the north of
China. The cultivated varieties of Asia Minor were, doubtless, introduced into the south
of France by the Romans, where at the present day plums are cultivated to a large extent
and form an important article of trade — being exported as dried French plums and
prunes.

The varieties of the plum now in cultivation are so numerous and so varied by hy-
bridization that it is in a great measure difficult to correctly ascertain the wild parent
variety from which each class of our cultivated plums is derived — in general terms plums
may be divided into three classes or possibly four : first the blue or dark purple variety ;
second the red or violet ; third the green, and fourth the yellow. Of these varieties I
give the following well-known plums as example of the first or Blue : Damson, Bradshaw,
German Prune ; second or Red : Victoria, Pond's seedling ; third or Green : Reine Claude
or better known as Green Gage, Lawrence's Favourite ; fourth Yellow : Orange, Yellow

Egg.

Of the first of these varieties the blue plum, the common Sloe, " Prunus Spinosa ", is
probably the most remote parent. It is found wild in many parts of Great Britain and the
Continent of Europe. It grows as a shrub 4 to 10 feet high, but sometimes under favour-
able circumstances becomes a small tree 15 to 20 feet high. The Damson, which is said to
have its name from the ancient City of Damascus, in Asia Minor, may be looked upon as
the first improvement of the Sloe ; it, the Damson, still retains some of the spines the
small leaf, downy wood and the austere flavour of its parent ; but in the genial clime of
the south of France, by ages of cultivation, doubtless from the Damson as a parent, have
been developed many of the fine large and luscious plums that we now have of this variety.
Second in the red or violet variety, of the parent or wild original of this class of plums we
have in Europe the " Prunus Domestica," and in this country the well-known Canada red
plum of our woods. The cultivated plums of this variety mostly bear a strong affinity to
the parent in the softness of the flesh, sweetness, and the freedom from the austere flavour
of many of the blue plums derived from their parent the sloe or Damson. These characters
would seem to indicate the original stock from which this class of plums come.

The third and fourth varieties, green and yellow plums — their origin is in all pro-
bability derived from the Bullace " Prunus insititia ", a well known wild plum in Great
Britain and the Continent. The tree is more of the character of a cultivated plum tree in
the size of its leaf and freedom from spines, the fruit greenish yellow with an acid flavour
and clingstone. Our green and yellow plums are mostly clingstone and most of them
possess a character for acidity that makes them resemble the Bullace, which is in all pro-
bability their original.

Upon this subject, I am aware a great variety of opinion may be entertained ; and
whatever research is made it is but an opinion after all. Centuries of cultivation and hybri-
dization have so removed and improved the varieties we now have that to ascertain the
exact wild original from which each class of plums is descended, with absolute certainty, is
impossible. I only submit my opinion as above on the probable original stock of our cul-
tivated plums.

The subject of the essay being the cultivation of the plum, I propose to consider
the subject under the following heads and order. First the soil and manures suitable ;
second, the stock most suitable for grafting ; third pruning ; fourth, insects injurious to
the plum and the remedies ; fifth diseases of the plum ; sixth, varieties ; seventh profit-
able culture.

First : Soil and Manures. — The plum flourishes best in a rich deep loamy soil. Its
roots strike deep, so that it does not suffer much from drought. Light sandy soils are not
well adapted for the cultivation of the plum. The trees may be planted 16, 18 or 20 feet

230

apart according to variety, which will be 170 trees at the first distance ; 134 trees at the
second distance, and 109 trees at the third distance upon an acre of land. Plums should
not be planted on too highly manured a soil, as too rich land causes the young trees
to grow too fast. The wood will be soft and not well matured to stand the effect of the
winter frost. Prabably no better manure can be found than unleached wood ashes,
sprinkled around the trees early in the autumn, before the rains set in.

Second : Stocks most suitable for grafting. — A very general complaint respecting plum-
trees is that they are short-lived ; that the wood becomes rotten, and the tree perishes
when it ought to be in its prime. In my opinion a great cause for these complaints is to
be found in the stock on which the plum is grafted or budded. The peach stock is
sometimes used — one of the most short-lived fruit trees we have — and also plum stocks
raised indifferently from any kind of plum stone that can conveniently be had without
regard to its kind or hardiness. Our native Canada red plum, which in its wild state is
a good sized hardy, sound tree, and will live and produce fruit for many years, will from
the stones of its fruit produce a stock on which to graft the plum, that will furnish
sounder and longer lived trees than those generally sent out from the nurseries, and grown
without any care as to the selection of the stock.

Third : Pruning. — Respecting pruning, my time for pruning is in the Autumn when
the leaves are falling, which with the plum is usually early. I cut back the summer shoots
to about twelve to fifteen inches, and thin out superfluous wood. The wound heals well,
and the Spring shoot is from the last bud — but if the shoot is allowed to remain unpruned
on the trees during the winter the wood at the end of the shoots, sometimes not having
matured when the frosts set in, is frequently killed, and the injury extends down the bark
and seriously injures, if it does not kill the tree, if of a tender kind. By cutting off the
shoots in the fall, down to where the wood is matured, this difficulty never occurs, even
with the most tender kinds. These remarks apply most particularly to the northern
part of Canada, where the frost sets in sometimes very suddenly and early, and before
the wood of the summer*growth has had time to mature.

A plum orchard should be planted, if possible, in a situation where it is protected
from the effects of high winds, which are very destructive in bruising and injuring the fruit,
destroying its beauty and injuring its value in the market.

Fourth : Insects injurious to the Plum, and the Remedies. — I will first deal with the great
enemy, although small in size, which has by its ravages caused many almost to abandon
the cultivation of the plum — the Curculio. This insect is a small beetle of a grayish black
colour. It is too well known to need description. By means of its proboscis it cuts the
skin of the plum when about the size of a pea, and in the aperture thus formed (which
presents, when healed, the appearance of a mark in the plum of a semi-circular shape)
deposits a single egg, from which is hatched a whitish maggot that eats its way to the
centre of the plum, which causes the plum to wither and fall from the tree when about
one-third or one-half grown. The maggot, when the fallen plum has rotted, enters the
ground, is there matured into a perfect beetle to come forth the next spring and commence
again its destructive ravages, and, if unchecked, will increase to so great an extent as to
completely destroy every plum upon the trees. From the fact that rarely more than a
single egg is laid in each plum it is certain that it will not require many insects to perfo-
rate every plum upon a tree, as probably each Curculio, if not disturbed, will lay, at a very
moderate estimate, forty to fifty eggs.

My own experience is, that with a slight amount of care and pains the enemy mar
be conquered. For the last eight or ten years in my garden I have not had as many plums
fall by the attack of the Curculio as were necessary to thin the crop. Many remedies have
been proposed but I think only two are of much value. Shaking or jarring the trees
early in the morning, destroying the Circulio that fall, and regularly and systematically
picking up and destroying the fallen plums, which can easily be done by pouring boiling
Avater upon them when they are collected in pails. A very cheap and simple apparatus
can be made with two light frames in a semi-circular form, with a curve cut out of the
straight side to admit the trunk of the tree, over which frame white cotton is stretched. It
is very useful and easily carried from tree to tree, and facilitates the operation of shaking
down and destroying the Curculio.

The plum is liable to the attacks of a species of borer, the larva of which eats into the

231

'wood of trees mostly at the base of the tree, descending to the larger roots. It is dis-
covered by the gum exuding from the injured part, and can be destroyed in the usual
manner by cutting out or following its course with a wire and so destroying the insect.
With a little care and attention this borer is not formidable and can be readily overcome.

Caterpillars of various kinds attack the leaves of the plum. The Tent Caterpillar is
the most common, the parent moth of which lays its eggs in the form of a ring around
some of the smaller twigs or branches ; these eggs are easily seen and removed at the
time the trees are pruned. The caterpillars hatch early in the spring, and when young
cluster in a web in the forks of a branch, and are then easily destroyed before they scatter
over the tree. Some kinds of hairy caterpillar eat the leaves late in the summer, but they
are not usually sufficiently numerous to be very injurious or destructive.

Fifth : Diseases of the Plum. — Perhaps the most formidable and destructive disease
that affects the plum tree is the well known Black Knot, a peculiar fungoid excrescence
that breaks out from the bark of the tree, principally in the smaller twigs and branches,
and which, if not checked, spreads to the larger limbs, and increases until the tree is de-
stroyed. A great variety of opinions exist respecting the origin and causes of this disease,
some considering it inherent in the constitution of the tree itself, and arising either from
a deficiency or a redundance of some element in the soil ; some have professed to discover
that it arises from deficiency of iron in the soil ; others suppose that it is a disease of a
fungoid character, and that it is propagated by minute spores which are carried in the air,
and that the disease is so spread and communicated ; others, that the disease is caused
by the puncture of an insect of a similar character to those insects that produce the gall
nut on the oak. However, which of these theories may be correct respecting the origin
of the disease, the most efficient remedy is cutting off every twig as soon as the disease
appears, and burning them : if this plan is carefully carried out, the injury to the tree
will be very slight, and the progress of the disease checked : carbolic acid and water is
recommended to wash the part where an extensive cut is made. It is remarkable that
the common blue plum, Damson, and all blue plums, stre more affected by the Black Knot
than the green and yellow varieties.

There is another disease which attacks the fruit when nearly or about ripe, which in
some parts of the country proves most destructive to the crop : it, for want of a more
correct or scientific name, is called the "rot," which is sufficiently descriptive of its effects.
It exhibits itself in the first place by a spot on the skin of the plum, generally near the
stalk, which spreads and affects the whole fruit, which becomes rotten throughout, and
the skin covered with minute fungoid excrescences. The plum does not always fall, but is
retained on its stalk, and communicates the contagion to the whole cluster and the plums
near it. If these diseased plums are not picked off and destroyed, the remainder of the
crop will soon become affected : the disease is evidently a fungus that attaches itself to
the fruit, and is propagated with great rapidity, especially in damp weather. The
remedy which I apply is to carefully watch the first appearance of rot, and with a small
V shaped instrument, formed like two teeth of a rake upon a handle, pull down all affect-
ed plums as the disease appears on them. They should be carefully picked up and burned ■
no fallen fruit should be allowed to remain under the trees. Some recommend that
slacked lime should be sprinkled under the trees, which probably might prove to be
•very useful.

Sixth : Varieties. — The varieties of the plums have been, and are constantly being
increased by new seedlings to an immense number, in many of which the distinctive
difference is but very slight. As it is suggested that this essay should give the opinion
of the writer on the varieties with which he is acquainted, I will proceed to classify the
plums I have cultivated and am acquainted with, with a view to describe their qualities.
The Common Blue. — A plum grown on its own root, and commonly propagated by
suckers, comes true from the stone, small size, is a most prolific bearer and an excellent
plum for preserving, being of the damson class ; the fruit cracks badly from the wet, and
falls from the tree when ripe ; the tree is hardy and long-lived, but is more affected by
Black Knot than any tree I know of ; from its great bearing it is profitable.

Bradshaw — Is a very fine, large, handsome, dark purple plum, not of a high flavour,
but a fair plum for preserving ; from the thickness of the skin and firmness of flesh, is
well adapted for drying ; this is an early plum ; hangs well on the tree ;' the tree is aa

232

upright grower, strong in the shoot, the leaf quite distinct • it is of French origin, and
appears to be of that class of plum which in that country is dried for exportation.

Smith's Orleans. — A most excellent plum, large size, of a purple colour, most prolific
bearer ; good for the table when fully ripe, and for cooking when still hard j a very profi-
table plum for the grower ; fruit hangs well on the tree ; it is a straggling, slow grower,
and is very subject to Black Knot.

Lombard. — A popular plum, of a good size, oval, reddish purple ; one of the most
abundant bearers I know ; profitable for market on account of its fine size and appearance ;
not first-rate for preserving on account of the softness of the flesh and want of acid ; when
fully ripe is a good table plum. The tree is a good grower, but has a tendency to throw
out long, weak limbs, and requires well cutting back when young ; it also has a great
tendency to overbear, and therefore requires that the fruit should be thinned out.

Victoria. — One of the more lately disseminated plums of English origin, is a fine vigor
ous growing tree, making strong shoots which have a drooping tendency. This plum is
very distinct in its character. It has a pointed leaf and a downy wood. The young
shoots have a green appearance as if not perfectly ripened. This plum is quite hardy,
free from Black Knot and a good bearer ; the fruit is large and handsome, of a fine pale
reddish purple colour — a plum that will sell well in the market.

Pond's Seedling — is a very large oval plum, similar in colour to Victoria, peculiar in its
having an uneven suture, one side of the plum being larger than the other. The tree is
a strong vigorous upright grower, moderate bearer, late and valuable.

Duane's Purple. — A fine large purple plum, nearly round, good flavour. This plum
with me has proved rather tender, and a poor bearer.

Columbia. — A fine large purple plum, not much flavour ; has the merit of being a great
bearer ; late, and hangs well on the tree ; a good market plum.

Washington — A very large and most beautiful plum, yellowish pale green, tinted red
in the sun ; tree spreading, good grower, good bearer, a valuable and excellent plum for
table, and, when gathered before fully ripe, for cooking ; ripens early — a plum better ad-
apted for a private garden than for sale, on account of its softness and liability to rot.

Lawrence's Favourite. — Round, pale green, with red spots in the sun ; tree, a slow
grower, bears evenly and well, seldom overloaded, a most excellent and valuable plum ; in
all respects a first-class preserving plum, but when ripe drops from the stalk.

Huling's Superb. — A fine rich flavoured plum of a pale yellowish green, showing green
veins in the fruit when ripe, slightly oval in shape ; clingstone, hangs well on the tree ; is
an excellent plum for table or preserving, but sometimes cracks with the wet ; is a good
plum for market ; tree is a strong vigorous spreading grower, and a great and regular
bearer.

Imperial' Gage and Yellow Gage — are two plums of a nearly similar character, ''the Imperial
Gage being of the best flavour. Both these plums are great bearers and on that account
are much cultivated. They are better for the table than preserving. The fruit is tender
and rots very readily, the trees are quite hardy.

Reine Claude de Bavay — is a large, handsome green plum, yellowish when quite ripe,
specked with red in the sun. This plum is first-class for table or preserving. The tree
is a vigorous upright grower, and moderate bearer. Think this plum deserves more gen-
eral cultivation.

Yellow Egg. — A large, handsome, egg-shaped plum, with some times red cheek in the
sun. The tree a good grower and regular bearer. This plum, in my opinion, is one of
the very best and most valuable for preserving, from its size, hardness of flesh, and late-
ness of ripening, coming when most plums are over, renders it particularly desirable as a
plum for market, for which it ought to be extensively grown.

Coe's Golden Drop. — One of the best of plums j large, yellow, its handsome peach-
like cheek and high flavour commend it to all that know it. Fine for the table when
fully ripe, and first-class for preserving from its flavour which resembles the peach. The
tree is a good grower, hardy, and a good bearer ; but unfortunately the fruit ripens so
late that only in the milder parts of the Province can it be successfully grown and rip-
ened.

Orange. — A fine, large yellow plum, spotted with red, a good bearer. Tree vigorous
and hardy. An excellent plum for table or preserving — does not fall or crack.

233

General Hand. — A fine large to very large plum ; round, greenish yellow — a fine anrf
yaluable plum — not much cultivated.

Bingham. — Large, yellow, egg-shaped plum, of good quality. Tree, a good grower
and hardy. This plum deserves more general cultivation.

One of the great difficulties connected with growing plums on an extensive scale, i#
that they are a difficult fruit to send to market in a perfectly ripe condition, and only in a.
quite ripe state is the flavour fully developed. Consequently plums are rarely seen for sale
ripe enough for the table, and the bulk of plums are picked in a green or half-ripe state, in
which condition they are only fit for cooking or preserving ; but if our large growers were
to can their ripe fruits in the same manner as peaches and other fruits are canned, no doubt
a good market could be obtained for them, and they become an article of export, a»
in many parts of the United States, plums are rarer fruit than the tropical fruits are
with us. No fruit retains its flavour better than the plum when canned, and thefore>
in my opinion, the experiment would prove profitable, and enable the plum grower to
dispose of his crop to advantage.

ESSAY ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE PLUM.

"For everything there is a season."
By Wm. Saunders, London.

Our best plums have long and deservedly held a high place in the esteem of all
lovers of good fruit. The charming colours and lovely bloom displayed upon their sur-
face, the perfection of their various forms, and their rich juiciness and luscious flavour
when fully ripe — all combine to render them attractive. Unfortunatety for the reputa-
tion of the plum as a superior dessert fruit, it is seldom seen in our markets in a fit con-
dition for eating, being almost always pulled in an unripe state to insure its carrying
well, as well as to avoid, as far as possible, the heavy losses frequently occasioned to the
fruit by rot, where it is left to fully ripen on the tree. Hence very few, comparatively
speaking, in our communities have the opportunity of tasting this glorious fruit in it*
perfect state of ripeness. This, while it may be a matter of regret, can scarcely be avoided
where the fruit has to be carried long distances, since ripe plums if at all carelessly han-
dled are very liable in a short time to decay : while for all kitchen purposes, for tarts or
pies, or for preserving or canning, plums in this partially ripened condition seem to be
equally good with those fully ripe, and it is to these latter purposes that by far the larg-
est portion of the crop at present brought into our markets is appropriated.

The original parent of most of our cultivated plums is a native of Asia and the
southern part of Europe, and is known to botanists under the name of Prunus Domestic*.
Some of the better varieties of this species were early introduced into this country, and
from the seed of these our finer American sorts have been produced, We have indige-
nous to this country three species of wild plums — Prunus Americana, the wild yellow or
red plum, Prunus maritima, the beach plum, and Prunus Chicasa, the Chicasaw plum, and
from these many varieties of wild plums have sprung. The first is by far the most com-
mon and generally distributed, and is known in Canada as "The Canada Wild Plum.n
The tree is thorny and varies in height from eight to twenty feet ; the leaves are nearly
oval, pointed and coarsely toothed. The fruit is of a roundish oval form, yellow, orange
or red in colour, nearly destitute of bloom, from one-half to two thirds of an inch in dia-
meter, and with the stone more or less acute on both margins. Sometimes when more cul-
tivated, the fruit will attain to the size of an inch in diameter, and with the stone more
flattened and with broader margins. The pulp of the fruit is pleasant tasted, but the
skin is tough, harsh and sour. The tree is common in open grounds and on the border*
of woods. Some fifteen or twenty years since — or perhaps in some localities less — when
the Curculio was much less abundant than it now is, many of these plums were brought
to our markets, where they found ready purchasers, who used them for preserving pur-
poses ; but with the rapid increase of this terrible insect pest they have almost disap-
peared, excepting in a few favoured localities. The Beach plum is found chiefly along the

234

sea beach from Massachusetts to New Jersey and Virginia, while the Chicasaw plum is
met with in Kentucky, Illinois and south-westward. But very little effort has as yet been
made towards improving these varieties by cultivation, sufficient reason for which is to be
found in the fact that the foreign plums and their progeny are so hardy and prolific and of
such quality as to leave little to be desired. The Canada wild plum is much esteemed by
nursery-men as a stock on which to grow the finer varieties, as it is extremely hardy and
does not grow to a very large size. Seedlings raised from our common blue plum or
horse plum are also used as stocks on which to propagate. Plums are usually propagated
by budding, but sometimes by grafting in early spring.

With regard to the soil best adapted for plum culture there is a great difference of
opinion. It is generally held that a clay soil is most suitable, indeed almost essential,
but for the encouragement of those who may have a soil of an opposite character, we
would remark that the finest plums, both for individual size and crop, we have ever seen,
were grow n on a light gravelly soil. It matters but little what the character of the soil
is, provided it be dry and of a moderately fertile character ; on any such soil with good cul
ture plums may be grown to perfection. Heavy, wet land should by all means be avoided,
as the tree is very impatient of wet, and soon becomes stunted and diseased, and if it lives
at all, lingers out but a miserable existence. Trees should not be planted in sod, but on
ground in a good state of cultivation, and before planting the soil should be thoroughly
worked up with the plough and subsoil plough to a good depth, so as to enable the ten-
der roots to penetrate more readily and absorb their nourishment.

When planting, proper attention should be given to carefully spreading the roots so
that they may occupy about the same space and relative position that they have occupied
in the nursery rows. Do not be afraid of digging too large a hole ; at the same time be
careful not to plant too deeply ; trees should be so set that when covered the place of
budding or grafting should not be more than two or three inches below the surface. After
planting, the surface of the ground about the tree should be mulched with well-rotted ma-
nure, leaves, sawdust, or other rubbish, so as to keep the earth covering the roots moist.
It is also advisable to drive a stout stake in the ground on the west side of each tree, at a
sufficient distance to avoid injuring the roots, to which the tree may be tied to prevent its
being swayed about too much by the wind, or permanently inclined towards the east,
which is too often the case, owing to the prevalence during the year of westerly winds,
thus making the rows unsightly.

As to the time of planting, we very much prefer the Spring, since trees thus get the
year's growth, and a certain amount of root-hold in the soil, before having to endure the
drying winds and intense cold of a long winter. It has been fully established that a cer-
tain limited amount of evaporation is going on all winter, from the leafless branches of
trees, and hence when the trees are exposed to this long cold season before the roots have
become so far established as to admit of some activity, there is great danger should the
atmosphere during winter be unusually dry, of the wood losing so much moisture as to
endanger its vitality.

The open standard is the usual form of culture for the plum in this country. The
head should be thinned out sufficiently to keep it open, and any decayed or broken
branches removed from time to time. Where trees are making poor growth, if they are
headed in pretty severely, early in spring, this treatment will generally, if the tree is
healthy, induce vigorous growth. Plum trees should not be allowed to branch less than
about three feet from the ground, for if branched lower it interferes much with the proper
treatment for the curculio.

In reference to the subsequent culture of the ground between the trees, much will
depend on circumstances. Where the trees are making too vigorous a growth, it may be
well after they are four or five years old to seed down for a tim^, but we think this will
seldom be necessary, as plum trees usually bear so profusely that they are prevented from
making too much growth ; so much so indeed, that they need careful cultivation and ma-
nuring to maintain their vigour. As a rule, there should be no cropping of the ground ia
a plum orchard, with any kind of crop ; but the weeds should be kept down with a fre-
quent use of the cultivator, which will thus keep the surface of the ground loose and
open. As it would not be safe to approach too closely to the tree on account of the dan-
ger of breaking the roots, the earth immediately around the tree should be well loosened

235

with a fork-spade, at least twice during the season, early in spring and again during sum-
mer. A good mulching of well-rotted stable manure will do much to recuperate a tree
which may show signs of failing health. As a special manure, salt is very favourably
spoken of, and is no doubt an excellent fertilizer for this tree. Where plum trees are
well cared for and make good growth, a small quantity of fruit may be looked for the
third year from the time of planting ; a partial crop will be secured on the fourth year,
considerably increased in quantity on the fifth, with a full crop on the sixth and succeed-
ing years.

Too much stress cannot be laid on the necessity of thinning the fruit in order to ensure
uniformly large specimens. If no two plums on a tree are allowed to touch each other,
the grower will certainly be repaid by superior fruit, and should wet weather set in about
the time of ripening, and rot become prevalent, it will have much less chance of spread-
ing. Most varieties of plums thus treated will usually bear a good crop every year, but
where the fruit is allowed to hang in dense clusters as it frequently grows, the tendency to
rot is very much increased, and the trees are apt to be so exhausted by over-bearing
as to require a year's rest before they fruit again to any extent.

Plum trees should be planted about fifteen or sixteen feet apart each way, this will give
them ample space for any growth they are likely to make.

Much of the success of plum growing will depend on how the fruit is picked and
marketed. Dry weather should be chosen for this work ; all damaged aud wormy speci
mens should be rejected ■ the fruit should be carefully handled so as to preserve the bloom
on its surface as much as possible, and if marketed in clean quart or two-quart baskets
packed in crates, it will usually bring a much higher price than if sold in bulk. Where
the distance from market is not great, the fruit may be allowed to get almost fully ripe on
the trees, and will then possess a much finer flavour than if picked in the usual way in a half
green state.

In giving the following list of varieties we have restricted ourselves, according to in-
structions given by the Directors of the Fruit Growers' Association to those writing
essays on the subject, to such as we have had a personal acquaintance with.

Bavay's Green Gage (Reine Claude de Bavay). — A valuable late variety of European
origin, of variable flavour, usually first class, and always of fair quality, sweet and juicy,
but sometimes watery ; skin greenish yellow, flesh yellow, ripens irregularly ; mature fruit
may usually be found on the trees from the second or third week in September to the mid-
dle of October. A vigorous grower^ but apt to become stunted from overbearing, if the
fruit is not thinned.

Bingham.— Originated in Pennsylvania. Tree a fair grower, fruit large, nearly oval,
with a yellow skin spotted with red on the side exposed to the sun, flesh yellow. Not
equal in quality, nor as profitable as some other varieties.

Bradshaw. — When well cultivated and the fruit properly thinned this plum grows to
a very large size, which, added to its earliness, makes it a very attractive and profitable
variety. It is nearly oval in form, of a dark reddish purple colour, with a light bluish
bloom j the flesh is yellowish, rather coarse, and not high-flavoured, but juicy and good.
In some localities, and especially where the soil is not very dry, this tree has sometimes
proved tender. Ripe late in August to early in September.

Coe's Golden Drop. — Kaised from seed by Mr. Coe, an English gardener, near London.
The tree is a fair grower, and very productive ; the fruit large, oval, of a light yellow
colour, sometimes spotted with red on the sunny side, with a yellow flesh, sweet and some-
times of a rich flavour, at other times watery. Usually a very good plum either for des-
sert or cooking purposes, and being late, it helps to prolong the season ; but when the
weather is cold and backward it does not always ripen. Season, latter part of September
or the middle of October.

Columbia. — Originated in Hudson, N. Y. A very large plum of a brownish purple
colour, dotted with paler specks, nearly round ; flesh reddish yellow, rather coarse. Has
not succeeded well in our experience. The tree is said to be a vigorous grower, but we have
not found it so ; besides, it has a very ugly spreading habit, which makes it difficult te
bring it into a good shape. It has been claimed by some that this variety is free, «r
nearly so, from the attack of curculio, but such is not the case.

Dennistoris Superb. — A seedling of Mr. Denniston, of Albany, N.Y, Fruit nearly

236

round, a littte flattened, of a pale yellowish green colour handsomely dotted and spotted
with rich purple, over which is spread a delicate bloom ; flesh yellow, juicy and rich. An
attractive fruit, and as good as it is beautiful : an excellent variety for the amateur, as it
ripens its fruit irregularly ; ripe plums may usually be plucked from the same tree for
three or four weeks. Begins to ripen about the last of August.

General Hand. — Originated on the farm of General Hand near Lancaster. Pa. Tree a
rigorous grower but rather a poor bearer. Fruit very large, of a yellow colour with pale
yellow flesh, of a good flavour, sweet and juicy. Ripens in September.

Green Gage. — A European variety. A first class fruit of a size from small to medium,
nearly round ; skin green, flesh pale green, sweet and juicy, and of an exceellent flavour.
The tree is rather a slow grower but is a good bearer, the fruit ripens late in August or
early in September.

Guthrie 's Apricot. — Originated in Scotland. Tree very vigorous, but a poor bearer.
Fruit large, of a roundish oval form with a yellow skin dotted with crimson ; flesh yellow,
juicy, sweet and high flavoured. If this plum was productive we should regard it as one
of the most desirable sorts in cultivation.

Imperial Gage. — A seedling of the Green Gage raised at Flushing, N. Y. A good
grower and an abundant bearer. Fruit oval, above medium size, pale, yellowish green
with a whitish bloom ; flesh greenish, sweet, juicy and moderately rich, Iruit very liable to
•rack in moist weather, and also to rot. Not so desirable or profitable for market as a
brighter coloured fruit. Ripe early in September.

Jefferson. — Also an American variety. Has not succeeded so well with us as some
others, tree rather a poor grower. Have not yet had enough fruit to be able to judge well
of its merits.

Lawrence's Favourite. — Raised by Mr. Lawrence, of Hudson, N. Y. The tree is a fair
grower and an abundant bearer. Fruit of medium size nearly round, dull yellowish
green, with a greenish flesh, very sweet, juicy and high flavoured, an excellent variety,
but more disposed to rot than some of the firmer fleshed plums.

Lombard. — Originated in New York State. Of all plums this is probably the most
widely disseminated and generally grown, and well deserves a place in every garden. The
tree is very hardy, vigorous and very productive. The fruit of a good size, of a violet
red colour with a fine bloom, flesh yellow, juicy, sweet and good. Ripens towards the
end of August and early in September. This variety stands poor treatment and compara-
tive inattention better than any other plum. It is invaluable as a market fruit, and is
without doubt the most profitable sort grown.

McLaughlin. — Raised by J. McLaughlin, of Bangor, Maine. Tree a fair grower and
an abundant bearer, while the fruit is one of the handsomest and highest flavoured grown.
It is large, nearly round, yellow, beautifully dotted and marbled with red, and covered
with a pinkish bloom ; the flesh is yellow, very juicy, sweet, rich and luscious. Is among
the best, ripens from the beginning to the middle of September.

Peter's Yellow Gage. — Tree a fair grower and very prolific. Fruit medium sized,
nearly round, pale yellow, with yellowish flesh, juicy and sweet, but not high flavoured.
Ripens late in August.

Pond's Seedling. — Of English origin. Tree a vigorous upright grower and good
bearer. Fruit very large and handsome, nearly oval, of a bright reddish colour, becoming
darker when fully ripe ; flesh yellow, rather coarse but sweet and juicy, not high flavoured.
A profitable market variety, ripe about the middle of September.

Prince's Yellow Gage. — Much resembling Peter's Yellow Gage, already described. A
very productive sort.

Victoria (Sharpe's Emperor). — Originated in England, a beautiful and popular plum.
The tree is a fair grower and very productive. The fruit is large to very large, oval, of a
purplish lilac colour, with a paler bloom ; the flesh yellow, a little coarse but sweet and
good. In some of the colder sections of Ontario it is said to be tender ; wherever it suc-
ceeds it is a profitable market fruit. Ripens late in August and early in September.

Smith's Orleans. — Originated on Long Island, N. Y. The tree is a vigorous but rather
irregular and sprawling grower, producing long reddish purple shoots. The fruit is large,
•fa dark reddish purple colour, with a deep blue bloom ; flesh dark yellow, juicy and rich.

237

The fruit is usually distributed over the tree in a regular and even manner, and not in
such clusters as some others, and hence it has not the same tendency to overbear.

Washington. — Originated on the east side of the Bowery in New York City. The
tree is a strong grower and a good bearer. ^The fruit is very large, nearly round, of a dull
yellow colour, faintly streaked with green ; flesh yellow, juicy, very sweet and rich. One
of the most desirable plums either for amateur or market culture. Ripe late in August
and early in September.

Wild Goose Plum. — Tree a fair grower but rather a poor bearer. Fruit small and of a
very indifferent quality. It is claimed by some to be curculio proof, but this is a myth ;
we have seen as many as three or four curculio marks on a single plum, on a tree on
which nearly the whole crop was stung ; not worth growing.

Yelloio Egg. — A very showy popular fruit of a very large size, oval in form, with a yel-
low skin and whitish bloom ; flesh yellow, coarse, sweet when fully ripe but only of sec-
ond rate flavour. More suitable for cooking than desert. Ripens from the middle to
the latter part of September.

The question has often been asked, what are the best twelve plums for amateur growth ?
As this query is an important one to many we shall endeavour to answer it by the light of
our own experience placing the varieties seriatim in the order in which they were esti-
mated, McLaughlin, Green Gage, Guthrie's Apricot, Washington, Denniston's Superb,
Lawrence's Favourite, Lombard, Victoria, Bradshaw, General Hand, Reine, Claude de
Bavay, and Coe's Golden Drop. This selection will give a succession from the earliest to
the latest. For market culture the six following are suggested, although for several rea-
sons we should feel disposed to place the Lombard head and shoulders above all other
Tarieties for this purpose — Lombard, Victoria, Washington, Bradshaw, Yellow
Egg and Pond's Seedling. It must be borne in mind that the vast majority of plum con-
sumers will prefer large and highly coloured fruit, even if much inferior in point of flavour
and quality, to smaller and less inviting varieties.

Some anxious minds, always ready to meet difficulty half way or more, have expressed
doubts as to the probability of overstocking the plum market, and our not being able to
find an outlet for the surplus. Similar cries have been raised in reference to strawberries,
apples and other fruits, but it has always been found that good fruit well-marketed will in
almost every case bring remunerative prices, and that the demand so increases with tho
supply, that it is almost impossible to overstock the market with fruit of such quality, a
slight decline in price leading at once to an immensely increased consumption Owing to fch«
prevalence of curculio and Black Knot in some sections, plum growing has been partially or
wholly abandoned and there is usually a large demand in excess of the supply in some of
our towns and cities as well as many of those of the adjoining Republic.

The plum grower has to contend with a trio of great enemies, — Curculio, Rot and
Black Knot, as well as other foes of less moment. To these latter our limited space will not
allow us to refer.

The curculio is a small beetle belonging to the family of curculionidce or snout beetles
and is* known to entomologists under the ponderous name of conotrachelus nenuphar, and
to the fruit growing public generally as "The Little Turk." It is a dark grey, or blackish
beetle about one-fifth of an inch long, with a rough, rugged surface and having on the
middle of each wing-case a black shining hump bordered behind with a broad band of yel-
lowish white j it is also furnished with a short snout. When the creature is" disturbed or
alarmed this snout as wrell as its six short legs are drawn close up to the body and the in-
sect falls to the ground, where it lies motionless, and much resembles a bit of dirt or a lit-
tle dried bud. In consequence of this peculiar inanimate appearance it frequently escapes
detection, but if taken up between the fingers and placed in the hand, its powers of loco-
motion are suddenly aroused, and it does its best to escape, running quite quickly, and
sometimes taking wing.

So much has been written in reference to this insect in the past reports of the Fruit
Growers' Association, that it will be scarcely necessary to give here more than a very
brief sketch of its operations, referring those who desire more detailed information to the
Society's report for 1870.

The beetle deposits its eggs one at a time in the plum just under the surface of the
skin, having first made a crescent-shaped inscision deepened in the centre where the egg

238

is deposited. Here the young larva hatches and eats its way into the fruit, burrowing
about the centre and so affecting its vitality that it falls before maturity to the
ground, where the worm as soon as it is full grown escapes, burrows under the surface,
where it becomes a chrysalis and in due time comes out in a perfect state. The season of
the greatest activity for this beetle is in early Spring from about the 21st of May till the
middle of June, and then is the time for those who wish to save their plum crop to give
their attention in this direction.

When a plum tree is suddenly jarred these insects become alarmed and fall to the ground
and feign death in the manner already described. By taking advantage of this peculiar-
ity and jarring one's trees in the proper season, the great bulk of the army of these ene-
mies may be captured and destroyed and a crop of plums secured. This cannot be done
by jarring once but by beginning early, say about the 21st of May, and repeating
the operation daily for two or three weeks or more, or as long as the insect
appears prevalent. Small trees may be jarred with the hand, while larger ones
may have one of their lower limbs sawn off leaving a few inches of stump protruding,
and the end of this be struck with a mallet ; or a hole may be bored in the tree a*nd an
iron bolt inserted with a large flat head, which latter may be struck with a hammer or mal-
let. Shaking the tree will not do. It must be suddenly jarred to alarm the curculio, and
before beginning to operate it will be necessary to spread a white cotton sheet underneath
the tree on which the insects may fall and be captured. In the morning about seven
o'clock or in the evening about the same hour will be found the most favourable times for
this work, as the beetle is then less active than it is in the middle of the day.

Rot is a peculiar form of rapid decay to which plums are subject, in some seasons
more than others, and which if unnoticed or unattended to spreads very rapidly. Very
little is known regarding the origin of this trouble, but it has been observed to be more
prevalent during wet seasons than in dry ones, and hence wet weather is regarded as a
predisposing cause. The immediate cause is supposed by many to be the attack of a
parasitic or fungous growth, the germs of many of which we know are floating in myriads
in the atmosphere. Where one plum in a cluster is attacked with this disease, unless it
is speedily removed the decay spreads to those in immediate contact with it, and in a few
days the whole bunch is hopelessly gone. When rot makes its appearance, the fruit
should be frequently inspected, and any decayed specimens at once removed so as to
avoid further loss. No remedy has as yet been discovered which will enable us to
control this troublesome disease.

The Black Knot is a disease affecting the branches and twigs of the tree, and one
which proves a great hindrance to the cultivation of the plum in some localities. It
appears as a blackish, fleshy or hard irregular swelling on the limbs and branches, which
if allowed to go on unchecked, spreads rapidly, growing worse from year to year until the
tree becomes perfectly worthless from disease. This enemy owes its origin to a fungous
orowth, which is" propagated by spores or seeds, which are perfected about the latter end
of July. By using the knife freely and cutting off the affected parts clean, early in the
season, its further spread may be prevented. Where large limbs become involved which
would damage the tree too much to sacrifice, they may sometimes be saved by scraping
away as much of the diseased growth as possible, and applying at intervals a strong
solution of carbolic acid. Insects and larva have been frequently found associated with
Black Knot, either on its surface or imbedded in its substance, but these have nothing
whatever to do either with its origin or maintenance ; they are present in this as in
many other diseased growths, because it affords them in some measure shelter or
sustenance.

239

PBIZE ESSAY ON HOW BEST TO INCREASE THE INTEREST IN FRUIT?

GROWING IN ONTARIO.

" The world is only to be taken by show."

By George Peacock, Mount Salem.

Some of the objections to fruit growing are the following : —

1st. Poor prices are realized for fruit.

2nd. The perishable nature of fruits of all kinds.

3rd. It is of no use planting for others to steal the fruit from us.

4th. We shall not live long enough to see the trees bear fruit : it takes a lifetime
to raise an orchard.

5th. We have been deceived so many times in buying trees that it is scarcely
worth while trying again.

1st. Poor prices will not apply to well grown fruits of the best sorts, when well taken
care of, if neatly packed and carried with care to market. What can we expect to get for
apples, for instance, carried to market in grain bags, piled one upon another, and shaken
over the rough roads in a common lumber waggon. Such apples are bruised all over, and
are thereby spoiled, being worth scarcely any price at all. Grow the best sorts, pick and
handle carefully, pack neatly, and good prices will be obtained.

We have seen poorly grown strawberries taken to market in large baskets, with a
quart measure to finger them into, and that, too, after having handled the harness and
horses for hours. Fruit in such a condition ought not to realize a good price.

2nd. Persons growing fruit should be provided with suitable apparatus, of recent
invention, for drying all kinds of fruit, and of such dimensions as the quantity grown
might require. We have lately heard of a contrivance that is capable of drying twenty
bushels a-day. By such means much fruit may be preserved till convenient to be sold.
Good keeping apples are always saleable at some time during the winter or spring, if
picked and handled as carefully as eggs, placing them in heaps in a shed or out-building
for two or three weeks ; then sort them over, carefully putting none but good sound
specimens into barrels, boxes or bins, in a good cool cellar, and scarcely a bushel in a
a hundred will spoil, perhaps not a peck.

Good keeping winter apples will perish so long as they receive the treatment which
is common in many localities, — shaking the trees, gathering the fruit from the ground,
hurrying it along before winter sets in, after having been frozen once or twice, mixing the
bruised, cracked and wormy apples with the good ones, teaming, or rolling, and scoop-
shovelling them into a rather warm cellar, and scarcely a bushel of apples in a hundred
will be usable in the Spring. This is a matter of fact description ; and the fruit has been
hawled out into the barn yard, in a decayed condition, at the middle of winter, for the
cattle to eat, when the parties expected to have received big prices for their apples.

3rd. We know of a' person who was planting an orchard, when his neighbour said,
" Well, let him plant ; I'll steal all the fruit he can grow." The orchard planter hearing
of what was said, replied, " I shall endeavour to keep him at work," and straightway
planted another hundred trees, and is about to plant a few hundred more. " Well," says
the stealer, " there must be money in fruit growing, or our neighbours would not be
planting so extensively. I'll plant some trees too." He has done so, and is going to
plant again.

Much good may be done by persuading others to plant a few trees, at least ; and
they will soon discover it is easier, pleasanter, and more respectable to grow their own
fruit than to take it from others without leave.

4th. Few persons know that to have trees bear young they should plant trees not
more than two years old. By so doing they will often gain from eight to ten years of
fruiting. There are many sorts of apples having a natural tendency to bear young. We
may mention Adams, Baldwin, Bough, Brock's Pippin, Dr. Fulcher, Downing's Paragon.

240

Ewalt, Fall Wine, Fink, Fulton, Gravenstein, Jersey Black, Early Harvest, King of Tom-
kins County, Milam, Minister, Munson Sweet, Ohio Nonpareil, Maiden's* Blush, Peck's
Pleasant, Pennock, Porter, Pound Royal, Garden Royal, Rambo, Red Winter Pearmain,
Talman Sweet, Wagener, Western Beauty, Wine Sap, Winter Queen, Baldwin, with many
others. It may be added that these trees also, or most of them at least, have annual
srops of fruit, if well cared for.

It is far from being generally known that some sorts of fruit trees come into bearing
when they are quite young. We think that information on this matter of early bearing
fruit trees will do much towards encouraging great numbers to plant who otherwise would
never think of it. We have seen the Bartlett pear tree bearing fine fruit the second year
after planting, and continuing to have annual crops for a number of years. Several others
will fruit almost equally as young, if nicely cared for ; such as the Madeleine, Bloodgood,
,Osband's Summer, Julienne, Howell, Duchess d' Orleans, Buffam, Beurre d'Anjou,
Louise Bonne, Beurre Bosc, Seckel, Grey Doyenne, White Doyenne, Catinka, Fulton,
Winter Nelis, &c.

Many cherries bear young, if planted young, such as Early Purple, Governor Wood,
Black Tartarian, Downton, Cleveland, Elton, Early Kentish, Reine Hortense, Mayduke,
English Morello, Belle Magnifique, &c. A great number of plums, peaches, and some
pears fruit quite young. The small fruits, as strawberries, bear abundantly in about
thirteen or fourteen months after planting. Raspberries and blackberries have fruit the
second summer. Of the former we have seen one hundred quarts picked from a single
row one hundred feet long, the third season after planting. Very fine crops of luscious
fruits have been reaped, in Ontario, in the short time of from three to four months after
planting the seeds of water melons and musk melons, some of the former weighing 21
pounds.

5th. Some years ago (and we have reason to suspect the same trick is being extensively
carried on in the counties of Elgin and Middlesex), a person visited a few nurseries on
the other side of the line, bought a large assortment of culls and refuse trees, a great many
of them being ungrafted, paid for them at the rate of $4 per hundred, brought them to
Canada, labelled them splendidly, showed good pictures of the best and most popular
fruits, and sold his trees at the highest prices. Nor was he particular about the kind of
pay, for in one instance, we know, he gave in exchange four cherry trees for eight plum
suckers, which latter he labelled with good names to be sold at 50 cents each. Now,
when these dealers talk of disposing of thousands of dollars worth of such trash, some
check ought to be applied to this kiud of trickery.

We can show pear trees bearing crabs, plum trees bearing Red Astrachan apples,
Early Harvest apples ripening in March, with numbers of fruit trees having poor scrubby
natural fruit, which, when planted, promised, according to labels, to be the finest and
most profitable fruits in cultivation. The labelling of trees seems to be a wonderfully
easy process, and is implicitly relied on till they begin to bear fruit. Then comes the
grafter, with a good assortment of thrifty-looking scions and fine pictures. Hope is now
revived. We shall now have good fruit ; but, alas ! he puts new tops on the trees which
are often as bad, and sometimes worse than those he cut out. The tree planter next
thinks of grafting for himself, or of giving up the notion of growing fruit, and finally
comes to the latter conclusion.

Let the tree agency be remodelled, having two classes of agents, who may receive
recommends or certificates from the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario ; for there are
already individuals selling trees, grafting, budding, &c.„ increasing their business by pre-
tending they are members of the Association. So long as the tree agency is left to Tom,
Dick and Harry, with nobody responsible, the public will be cheated, and receive anything
but reliable trees for their money ; and the honest man's sales will be limited. Let the
Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, or, if not, let there be a nurseryman's association
for the purpose of controlling the whole of the tree agency of Ontario. All agents' cer-
tificates should be signed by the principals of the Association, which will give confidence
to purchasers. A statement of the requi-site qualifications can be published in the annual
report of the Association. The qualifications will be easily suggested by a committee
appointed for the purpose.

241

A set of suitable apparatus might also be supplied to duly qualified agents, which,
for travelling agents, should consist of a good stereoscope, with appropriate views and
pictures. Let every picture or view be of the best description, nicely finished, coloured,
shining, smiling. Let pictures of such fruits as are to be sold be shown to every family^
with short and easily spoken descriptions of each. The time occupied by these short ex-
hibitions will be no longer, nor need they be so long, as the present mode of showing
pictures, accompanied by long persuasive arguments. The picture sells the tree, and its
power is all but irresistible if rightly managed.

A set of lecturing agents should be employed who should be supplied with a good
set of dissolving views, magic lantern apparatus, with late improvements, having a number
of good photographic views and pictures of nursery productions, showing natural sizes,
colours and appearances. A shabby treeless dwelling can be dissolved into an elegant
modern domicile, surrounded by the most delightful fruit trees, fragrant flowers, fafling
waters, and singing birds, with the merry music of lovely children dancing on the well-
shaven lawn.

With this modern dissolving view apparatus, any amount of contrasts can be shown
with the most pleasing effect. By this means much useful knowledge can be imparted in
the most pleasing and efficient manner, because everything is shown as it is in nature. The
lecturer might remain a week at a place, exhibiting with his " stereopticon dissolving
view " apparatus, and informing the people all about fruit growing, kinds adapted to soils,
&c, giving examples of success in various localities, &c.

The gift of trees to each member of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario has
rapidly increased their number, and, if continued, will greatly extend a knowledge of the
adaptability of different sorts of fruits to all kinds of soils and localities and exposures.
The gift enterprise cannot well be applied to tree purchasers, but the lottery system may be
well adapted to stimulate tree buying to a high degree. The extra expenses and prizes
can be raised by selling younger trees at the usual prices, for they are really worth more
than older trees, and by selling all fancy fruits at higher rates. Many persons around here
gave orders this year for small pear trees at one dollar each. Small apple trees have been
sold for thirty cents each.

PRIZE ESSAY ON IMPOSITIONS OF DISHONEST TREE PEDLARS.

" By their fruits ye shall knoio them."

By A. M. Smith, Drummondvtlle.

Of all the plagues with which Canadian fruit growers are afflicted, either of beasts, birds
or insects, there are none so annoying, and (at least to their peace of mind) so destructive,
and so hard to exterminate, as dishonest tree pedlers. They swarm around them like cater-
pillars. They are harder to shake off than curculios. Their persistent boring is worse than
all other tree borers combined. Their power to transform their delicious apples and pears
into insipid worthless things is greater than that of the codlin moth ; and if their gnawing
propensities do not equal those of the mice, the gnawings of conscience at having yielded to
their allurements, and the sufferings consequent therefrom, are far more vexatious j and the
blighted hopes and prospects of having fine orchards and fine fruits, and the receiving of

crubby trees and scabby apples instead, is far worse than the pear blight. They not only
take away our anticipated golden pippins, but they take our gold also. They not only filch
from us our juicy red-cheeked Crawfords and Sweet-waters, and give us frost peaches instead,
but they take away our time and care, and the red flush of youth from our cheeks, and bring
the frost of old age around our heads in waiting for them to grow again. They not only
substitute puckery, sour, tough, worthless pears for our sweet,' melting, aromatic Bartletts,
Seckles and Flemish Beauties, but they sour our tempers, and take away the sweet, melting,
mellowing influence of trust in our fellow-men. They even do worse than this. They rob
some of their reputation and good name, which is dearer than all. Where is the nurseryman
that has not suffered more or less from them in this respect ? I know of some whose repu-

ation has been ruined in some localities by these rascals. They palm off worthless trees
16

242

labelled as choice varieties, and represent them as corning from some particular nursery, when
the nurseryman never saw them, or had any knowledge of the transaction whatever. They
lead people to distrust, so that honest upright men, agents of responsible nurseries, are sus-
pected, and do not meet with the success they deserve, or would have, if people had not been
so much deceived by them.

Their operations are well known, and hardly need describing. They are unlike our
other enemies — they come in the guise of friendship. They exhibit plates of beautiful fruits
and flowers, and talk glibly of the profits of fruit culture, and recommend this and that
variety. They extol the nurseries they pretend to represent, and show their catalogues,
perhaps, and tell of the large orders they have got of our neighbours, and, before we are
aware of it, they have our orders for a large amount of trees. They then go wherever they
can get their trees the cheapest — the more unsaleable the varieties, the cheaper they get
them, no matter what kinds. I have known them to get wild grape vines and berry bushes
by the road-side. They then label them whatever their orders call for, and deliver them to
their customers, and get their pay. Sometimes they repeat their operations the second time
in the same locality. When they do this, the first time they generally deliver good trees, in
size and appearance, as a bait to secure customers for the next year. But they are sure
never to appear after the fruit begins to bear. Their victims wait two, three, and sometimes
four or five years for their beautiful fruit to bear, and then find they have been beautifully
swindled.

There is another class of these enemies a little less destructive to our fruit crops, per-
haps, yet who filch, by their misstatements and representations, many a hard-earned dollar
from our farmers and fruit growers. I refer tq some authorized agents from the States.
(There are honourable exceptions, I know, but comparatively few.) They, in order to effect
sales in the neighbourhood of our own nurseries, make statements they know to be utterly
false, and that repeatedly. They will show the plates of some new fruits, perhaps, and repre-
sent they cannot be got at any nursery in Canada, and sell the trees at extravagant prices,
when they have been informed by Canadian nurserymen that they have them in quantity.
I have known them to sell grape vines to men, by such representations, for $2 a-piece, which
they could get in a home nursery, not two miles away, for 50 cents. I have known them to
represent that they had been in certain nurseries, and that they had no trees to sell over a
certain age and size, and that they had not got this and that variety, when they had never
set foot upon their grounds, or, if they had, they knew perfectly well to the contrary. Far-
mers are, of course, to blame for not informing themselves, and, perhaps, deserve to be swin-
dled, but this does not lessen the culpability of the agents. I would not depreciate American
nurseries and nurserymen as a class. Far from it. Canada is indebted to them for her best
fruits. Yet we can but condemn the tricks of their agents, many of which, I doubt not, are
unknown to their employers, who would not stoop so low. But many of these agents sell
upon commission, and think more of the almighty dollar than they do of the commands of
the Almighty, and, for the sake of making a few dollars extra, do not hesitate to lie a little.

Canadian nurserymen, as a class, are not slow in procuring new fruits when they know
them to be really valuable, though they may be behind their neighbours in purling every new
thing that comes up for the sake of making a little money out of it, and did our fruitgrowers
patronize home industry a little more they would be far less liable to be swindled.

Generally when men find an enemy to their fruits at work they try to exterminate it,
yet what has ever been done to stop the ravages of these enemies ? There are laws against
swindling, yet who ever heard of these swindlers being handled by the law 1 There is no
doubt in the mind of any sane man that thousands of dollars have been lost to the country
by them, yet still they are allowed to work. It seems to me we need a little wholesome legis-
lation on this subject. Pass a law (and enforce it) that no man should be allowed to sell trees
without a license and a certificate of agency from the nursery he pretends to represent and
then make the nurseryman responsible for the varieties sold, and we shall have far less vexa-
tion from these fellows, and when fruit growers can, let them go to the nurseries and select
trees for themselves of men whom they know to be reliable and responsible, and then we shall
have one enemy less to the fruit interests of our dominion.

243

ON SMALL FRUITS.

(Written for the Annual Report.)

Another small fruit season has passed away, and established the reputation of some
whilst others are being discarded in this section. The old English Fastollf Raspberry is
still, and justly, esteemed as the leading berry of the Antwerp family, and for several reasons
is superior to the much-vaunted Philadelphia, being larger and continuing longer in bearin-
thus rendering it more suitable for the requirements of a private family' The Philadelphfa
is most prolific but the latter part of the crop is small and ill-formed. It ripens its fruit in
a tew days and for this reason is, perhaps, more suitable for preserves and vinegar one of the
most delightful and cooling drinks to be had during hot weather. Both the above varieties
are equally hardy here without protection, where the snow lies deep, as, indeed is also that
lueen of berries, the Brinckle's Orange, whose fine flavour is of the highest decree of ex-
jeiience.

The Raspberry, as a rule, has not received that universal attention in this country which
t merits principally on account of the great quantities of wild ones grown in the neglected
corners of old "snake fences, or springing up in every direction amongst the new « slashing"
>n the borders of "clearings." Any one, however, who is fond of this fruit— and whS is

£• T|W°n v *! 'if6 W Men#five bushes of each of the diffe™>t sorts named-

3r,nckle s Orange, Fastollf and Philadelphia. With these kinds, and the above number of
> ants he may have raspberries on his table every day for four weeks during summer, and
deny for cooking and preservmg, &c. The farmer will find that, by cultivating a small
patch as recommended he will have a more constant supply than by relyino- on the wild

o^o JtU f °Tn°r tf? C0TUid.P^ SufficieDt for a faring the time ft would take
o go to the far field and back I should not, however, be doing justice to this subject did
omit to mention the Black Raspberry family. Another year has fully confirmed my nre-
onceived notmn that the Mammoth Cluster, distributed by the Fruit Growers' Association
n 1871, is not equal to the American Black Cap, either in size or richness of fruit, its only
.etter quality consisting in its not being so prickly, as it is almost devoid of spines The
frying 'U * VerJ PreserTC, and I believe has been found one of the best fruits for

takes" Thfs h,a!°heS 0f.^asP^rries. the greatest trouble has been found in tying them to

beltv J ll Z °, 6d. t0 a °ertam ,6Xtent h* keePiD? the bushes Pr«Q«d short. It

believed, however, hat no extra crop can be either grown or saved without stakes, because'

f the canes are heavily loaded, the fruit will bring some of them to the ground thus doTe

ooBiderable injury. As a tie, nothing has been°found better than No°13 !a van.zea i on

n end" ike LT ht;TfmcVCngthSi ,the? With a Pair 0f «"»«l-n<«d pliers £ an eye "
ne end like the head of a skewer ; take the wire in both hands, and pass it from vou round

b sU donf t ^tfn "outTh V *"& *? ^ "nd »™ * " "1*2^ I the
ew ones Sid will Ct i years ^ "^ ^ ™ " ^ ™d™> ^ ™ ^ f<* *e
The Gooseberry question here, is a mixed and a vexed one. Further experience shows
hat only in spots can the English varieties be found to succeed. They appear o require a
w damp sod not one that is bog in winter, and turf fit for burning in summer but a soil

ofaffered to uchayerr0UUd; The H7Sht°H' th°"°h DOt entirely free rrmildeW"
ot attected to such a degree as to injure the berry on the lightest sands it is an immense

nd cons ant bearer, and its only fault lies in the smallness of the fruit th however Too

TnT rLT^^tT™ ^^t "^ * k^h^ whilst'green but ^"0°
11 t P t 7r,tavts, preserves and stewed gooseberries, it is quite equal to the

rgest grown I yet feel satisfied that Mr. W. Saunders, or some other bybr uist wfl be able
nown'T/ T> Sma" ff.V difl?8ult^ The Arrant crop has been oneo The Wst evt
Kt&h.*; Kd f^, both doinS «Pl-didly, the saw fly has oot been

<£mp ,n 1 ," ♦ I formerly, and it is hoped this pest, like the Dodo, may soon

adiTvasrhf^ TH*' .J~VT0n the White ™ri^es of currants dono/seUso
adily u the red, whether it .s that the beautiful tint of the syrups and jellies is sought f'r

244

in those of a darker hue I know not, but to my mind the white fruits appear sweeter and of
a higher flavour thau the others, but in u gardening for profit," it is necessary to catch the
public taste.

Black Currants are more generally cultivated than the others by private individuals, being
freer from the attacks of insects, but the measuring worm made sad havoc in places where he
was an uususpscted guest, and consequently not looked after.

In conclusion, I may add tliere is no use trying to grow the small fruits to perfection,
without four requisites : 1st, manure ; 2nd, heavy pruning ; 3rd, clean cultivation ; and 4th,
for gooseberries and currants, hellebore.

First — Thirty waggon loads of manure per acre is none too much to apply annually,
lightly digging it in with a digging fork, or applied on the top of the soil to such fruits, whose
roots run nearest the surface.

Second — Summer pinching for currants in June and July, and taking out entirely those
shoots of the present year's growth, which spring up in the centre of the bushes, pinching back
all the new branches required to extend the size of the plant when they have grown fifteen
inches, thus preventing them from breaking i ff at the base during high winds, which they
are apt to do when the foilage is abundant on rich soils. The Houghton gooseberry should
be grown on a single stem and all suckers and branches removed within eight or ten inches of
the around, the main stem should be secured to a stout stake, driven firmly into the ground,
and standing from four to five feet high. The best timber for this purpose is a two or three
inch cedar pole, or if of pine it should be dipped in a pail of gas tnr.

In a few years the stem will be cf sufficient strength to sustain the bush, but the weight of
fruit would soon bring it to grief. With regard to the raspberry, so soon in the spring as
the new canes attain one foot in height, four or five should be selected for the next year's
crop, and the rest persistently weeded out through the season.

Third — Clean cultivation may be obtained in small patches of half an acre or less, by
frequently going over the ground, say once a fortnight, or whenever the weeds appear, with
a fifteen inch wide steel rake, a process which will be found neither laborious nor troublesome
if the ground is kept in high order.

Fourth — Hellebore, a free use of this article during the fruiting season is absolutely necs-
sary, but it should not be applied when the berry is near ready for picking-. Paris Green may
be more economically used and with equally good effect at other times, that is before the trees
come into bearing, or after the fruit is gathered. Both these chemicals should be used in
water, a< d applied with a garden syringe, a teaspoonful of the green to a pail of water will be
quite sufficient. By this method of application no danger from the dust need be apprehended.
By drawing the syringe handle back and giving it a sharp push forward, a fine spray will be
thrown out, quite sufficient to check effectually any depredations of this insect pest. Care
must betaken not to have the water too highly charged with the green, or it will kill the
bushes. I have also found this a good protection again-t the dark potato beetle and grass-
hoppers, which have been very numerous this season, also vine insects when the plant is not
fruiting.

The application of Hellebore or Paris Green should always be made on a hot, calm day, so
that it will dry rapidly, and not be removed by the action of the wind. A sediment is thus
soon formed on the leaf, which defies the attacks of any injurious insect.

P. E. Bucke.
Ottawa, 15th August, 1873.

ANOTHER YEAR'S EXPERIENCE OF FRUIT GROWING ON BEAR

CREEK, MOORE.

(Written for the Annual Report.)

Last winter has been more disastrous in its effects on fruit trees than any that has
occurred for many years. Of the tenderer varieties of apples, pears, and plums, several have
been ccmplelely kilied. and others so seriously injued as to picclude the hope of their regainj
ing their former vigour. Contraiy to previous exp< ri nee trees growing in situations sheltered
by rising grounds or woods sufferjd equally with those more elevated and exposed, and

245

during the coldest weather, with no wind blowing, a perpendicular elevation of 20 or 30 feet
was sometimes attended with a perceptible rise in the thermometer.

Every plant being an individual, living being, and passing through its periods of youth,
maturity and reproduction, must be properly nourished so as to be fully developed. Some
of the conditions of its development are beyond our control, such as the life and physiology
of the plant, and such severe changes of the weather as were experienced last winter, which
are subject to the fixed and immutable laws of the Creator. Experiments, however, have
shown that although we cannot materially change the climate we can produce artificial
changes in the soil and by planting hardy varieties, and by proper cultivation, and drainage,
render the porosity and dryness of the soil such as to greatly aid plant life in resisting
extremes of cold. Every variety of soil in every climate supports its own vegetable tribes,
and of the five thousand flowering plants of Central Europe, only three hundred grow on wet
peaty soils and these are chiefly rushes and sedges. The unlettered explorer amid our native
forests hails the gleam of the broad-leaved trees, glittering in the sun amid the ocean of
solemn pines, as a symptom of good land on which he may profitably settle. In Britain 1
have seen peaty soils drained — the heaths disappearing and the soft woolly grass (Holms
lanatus) overspreading the surface. By the application of lime, sorrel and sour grasses
banished, and by guano, or the liquid of the farm-yard spread on scanty pasture soon the
humble daisy and worthless moss — symbols of poverty — disappeared and rich crops of hay
followed proving the close connection of the plant with the soil on which it grows.

The stunted growth of the trees in too many of the young orchards, and the prevalence
of certain weeds, demonstrate that before fruit growing is as successful as it ought to be, in
our stiff clay soils in Moore and elsewhere, a more thorough system of underdraining must
be introduced than has hitherto been practised. Had this been attended to more before
planting I believe many fruit trees irretrievably injured would have suffered less last winter.

The varieties most injured with me are the Duchesss d'Angouleme Pear growing in the
face of a bank well sheltered from the north, but killed down to the ground. Baitlett Pears,
in sheltered and exposed situations, suffered equally.

Fondante d'Automne, slightly injured, and three or four other varieties somewhat hurt
by having spots frozen round many of the buds and small branches.

Tne Flemish Beauty all right.

Clapp's Favourite (Dwarf), although in an exposed position, none worse.

Beurre d'Anjou, none worse, and Doyenne d'Ete, Howel, and Seckel, not much harmed.

The old Peach trees were killed to the ground.

The Lady Apple, Early Harvest, Baldwin, Spitzenberg, Red Canada, Hawthornden,
Bellflower, King of Tompkins and young Golden Russets and Greenings all suffered less or
more, ihough some of these varieties, six and eight years planted, were scarcely injured.

The Spy, Snow Apple, Red Astracan, Duchess of Oldenburgh, Maiden's Blush and
some others marked hardy in Mr. Beadle's Catalogue and Fruit Gardener, escaped injury.

Most of the varieties of Plums suffered much. Even the common Blue ones were long
of showing signs of life. At last they began to bud feebly, and in August some of them
blossomed as if making a last desperate effort at reproduction before " shuffling off the mortal
coil."

It is probable that trees and plants suffered much from the frequent freezing and thaw-
ing of the ground from the first thaw early in March to the end of the month. On the 26th
of that month we were visited by one of the severest snow storms of the season.

Grape vines laid down, and lightly covered with earth, came out all safe, whilst some
left exposed were killed to the roots. Those covered shooted vigorously, and were from one
to two feet long on the 30th May, promising a good crop ; but on that night a frost killed
the young sh< ots right back. After two or three weeks they again sprouted, but too late for
a crop, although a few bunches on the Kumelan and Isabellas ripened.

Apple and other blossoms also suffered in this section, except near the St. Clair River,
where the water modifies the temperature of the atmosphere, and often saves fruit and tender
plants when injured inland by summer frosts.

No effectual means having been taken to destroy the Codlin Moth, it has seriously
damaged apples and pears, which are otherwise good in quality, and superior to any that I
saw exhibited at shows in the neighbouring State of Michigan.

246

The gooseberry blossoms escaped the frost, and the appearance of the bushes indicated a
rich crop of this delicious fruit ; but soon mildew (Puccinia) showed itself on the young
shoots and fruit.

In our sea-girt native island, surrounded as it is by moving seas which the winds fre-
quently raise into rolling waves, and lash into foam, sweeping upwards the light spray, carry-
ing it far inland, and mingling its saline particles with the atmosphere, I have seldom noticed
gooseberries injured by attacks of this fungous plant. Supposing that the sea air might to
some extent account for this immunity, I resolved to experiment a little with chloride of
sodium, chloride of magnesium and sulphate of magnesia, which, according to Riegal, are the
principal parts in the solid matter of sea water. By sprinkling the bushes with a weak
solution, and incorporating some in the soil, by hoeing it in under the bushes for a week or
two, its progress seemed arrested, and the bushes cleaned. On examining them some time
afterward, it seemed returning, but meantime the fruit matured all right.

This was but one experiment, and the success to a certain extent may have depended on
atmospheric changes or conditions.

One remarkable thing about the thousands of species of the fungi family is, that none of
them are green. They grow wherever there is damp and shade, upon trees and bushes, living
and dead.

They are interesting to the scientific observer from their inscrutable ways — at one time
adopting one form of development, and anon changing the whole tenour of their life. The
same species, in one form, spreading a film of mould on the contents of a pot of preserves,
and may be seen growing white, sometimes, on the black surface of the ink in an unused
ink-bottle. But the more we study their nature, and the conditions under which they are
developed, the more successfully can we combat them when they attack our grains and
fruits.

James Watson.

Birkhall, Moore, 29th October, 1873.

THE FRUIT CROP IN THE COUNTY OF ONTARIO.

Cherries a heavy crop, and sold at from 5 to 10 cents per quart. I sold 140 quarts
from one tree. Early Richmond at 10 cents per quart and 14 cents. Also 90 quarts from
one tree (Elton) at 10 and 9 cents. Plum crop good, the best for last fifteen years ; sold at
from $1 00 to $1 75 per bushel. Pears a good crop, sold from $1 50 to $- 50 per bushel.
Apples a light crop, summer sold at 80 cents to $1 00 per bushel ; fall apples $1 25 to $1 75
per barrel ; winter at $1 50 to $2 00 per barrel. Strawberries a good crop ; sold at from 10
cents to 25 cents per quart. Raspberries a heavy crop; sold at from 5 to 10 cents per quart.

John McGill.

NOTES ON SOME FRUITS AT GALT.

Pears.

My pears have, during the last two seasons, suffered much from fire blight, especially the
Buffam, "White Doyenne, Belle Lucrative, and to some extent the Bartlett and Seckle varieties.
Last spring I got iron filings put round, which has, I think, in some degree remedied it. I
have found great benefit from spreading fresh wood-ashes in the garden, which is effectually
clear of insects. The Ananas d'Ete, is the finest flavoured I have, although the tree is
rather delicate.

Grapes.

The Eumelan early and hardy, but prone to having the fly, and the fruit comparatively
worthless. Rogers' 3, 4, 15 grow well here, but Nos. 4 & 15 have not ripened well this
season. The Rebecca and Diana do well, but not the Delaware.

Wm. Tassie.

247

REPORT FROM F. H. HORA, KINGSTON.

Vines.

Eumelan has done well ; borne abundantly ; bunches improved in size. A few ripe
by the 15th, but the average crop not ripe and fully flavoured before the 25th inst. No mil-
dew, but does not seem with me a very free grower. This grape must be fully matured to
bring out its fine flavour.

Othello has made good healthy growth, but the fruit is not yet ripe, nor so forward as
an Isabella growing next it. No mildew ; seems very late, and I fear will not ripen here.

The exotic vines have all done beautifully ; not one failed.

Pears.

Josephine de Malines and Beurre Clairgeau have both done well, but have not made
much growth.

Bartlett was killed by the blight in the first week in September.

Apples

Grime's Golden Pippin is healthy, and doing very well;

Raspberry.

Mammoth Cluster seems quite hardy, bears well, but there is nothing in the fruit supe-
rior even to the wild varieties. Will try it another season, and if no improvement, will then
root it out.

Blackberry.

Early Wilson seems very tender indeed ; evidently will not ripen here without winter
protection.

Of Pears I have Belle Lucrative, Flemish Beauty, Ananas d'Ete, Doyenne d'Ete,
Glout-Morceau, Beurre d'Anjou, Clapp's Favourite, Beurre Clairgeau, Tyson, Duchesse d'Eng-
hen, Vicar, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Josephine de Malines, and some others in dwarf, of
which I know not the names. There have been no signs of blight on any of them this year,
so that I am inclined to think that this disease must have been dormant in the Bartlett when
received this spring from the Association. Some of these trees are now six years old from
the nursery, but none have yet borne any fruit except one of the Vicars. This is the first
season I have been unvisited by blight.

I have two large Isabella Vines trained east and west, but this year I led some of the
branches out to the north at a right angle to the others ; the bunches on these certainly
ripened earlier than the others, and I think the berries are altogether finer. Are you aware
of any facts in corroboration of this, or the contrary ?

This season I have had several bunches on my vines girdled (I suppose by an insect).
In some instances the mischief occurs on the stalk, and the whole bunch shrivels without
ripening. In other cases the injury is in the middle or towards the lower end of the bunch,
when the berries above ripen, and all below the girdling remain green and shrivelled up. This
occurs just as the berries are maturing, and before commencing to colour. I cannot find any
allusion to this in the treatises on insects injurious to the vine in your annual reports.

The last spring frost with me was on the 16th May, but the night of the 29th May was
very cold, and evidently did much mischief to both apple and pear blossoms. No frost per-
ceptible yet. here on the lake shore. Plums have been an abundant crop this year, but I am
inclined to think apples are scarce and inferior in size and flavour.

I would suggest for a subject for discussion at some future meeting of the Association —
u The best stock for, and the best mode of grafting apples and pears."

I cannot help thinking that the common practice of root grafting on seedling stocks must
be wrong in principle, and is the primary cause of both the borer's attacks and the pear

248

blight. I have not much studied this subject, but have no recollection of ever having seen
such a mode practised in England, where, if 1 mistake not, the custom is to graft high on the
wild stock, which of course is perfectly hardy ; whereas here the hardiness of the seedliog
stock must always be doubtful, or rather, I should think, it can seldom be hardy. Now 1
question if any species of beetle ever deposits its eggs in healthy wood, from the simple fact that
sound, healthy wood does not afford suitable food for the larvae. Take for instance the different
species of borers attacking the pines. If I am rightly informed, as long as the trees are
healthy and vigorous no borer attacks them ; but let a fire run through a pine district killing
the trees, and then the lumberman cannot secure the timber in a sound state ; let him hasten
the chopping all he may, the borer will beat him in the race. And so* it is, I believe, with
all the beetle tribe ; therefore, judging from analogy, I should say there must always be dis-
ease and decay before the borer appears, or the natural instinct would not lead the parent
beetle to deposit its eggs where there would not be a suitable supply of food for its offspring.
The borer, in my opinion, must always be the result of, and not the cause of, decay and
injury.

Again, in this root-grafting, I have already in my short experience had more than one
case where I have found (from bad manipulations, I suppose) that the wood of the stock and
scion has never united j the bark has closed round, but the wood beneath has never joined,
and after a year or two the young tree has either died or broken off at the graft.

In the absence of any wild apple indigenous to Canada, I would suggest that only the
very hardiest of the crabs should ever be used for stocks. How would the wild thorn
answer ?

Francis H. Hora.
Glen Lawrence, near Kingston,
September 26th, 1873.

FRUIT REPORT.

Ottawa, 27th Sept., 1873.

Our summer here has been cold, and not at all favourable to early ripening.

Tomatoes and melons were generally late in coming to maturity.

My cherries, common red, have had upon their leaves a small greenish-looking snail in
quantities, and I have observed other trees in this vicinity similarly affected. Can you tell
me the name of the snail (or whatever it is), and how to destroy it 1

One of my pple trees is badly mildewed ; can you tell me what to do with it?

Fire blight has been very destructive this year in and near this city ; several instances
have come wilhin my own personal knowledge.

Of the trees which I have received from the Association, the Wagner apple is growing
well ; Clapp's pear is also doing well ; the McLaughlin plum does cot like my sandy soil ;
nor does Grimes' apple, which has failed to grow altogether.

In my cold vinery, I have this year fruited (for first time) Black Hamburg, Gros Col-
mar, and Grizzly Frontignan. My other vines are not yet bearing. Out of doors I have
Delaware, Israbella, and Concord ; all doing well.

William White.

ESSAY, WRITTEN FOR THE REPORT, BY R, B. WERDEN, PICTON.

Mr. Secretary, — At the request of your Association, I desire to make a few remarks
in my humble way, on my experience and observations of fruit growing in this section of
Prince Edward County; but with some reluctance, as there is so much up-hill work
respecting its cultivation, that it may have a tendency to discourage some from undertaking
what they might otherwise do, but your request prompts me.

About thirty years ago I commenced planting fruit trees of all sorts, and soon found we
had a very ungenial climate to contend with, partly by nature and partly by our country
having been denuded by the merciless axe-men of its forest ; opening up inroads for the cold
north winds, changing our climate and making it much more difficult to grow fruit than for-
merly; nothing to prevent our rain clouds from sweeping by us and carrying the rain to other

249

parts, leaving us to be parched up with the extreme droughts and cold frosty winds ; leaving
nothing but destruction to vegetation and disappointment to the planter. Learning the causes
and effects, I saw every branch reaching out its hand for help ; I heard every voice cry out
for protection.

And it was too plain to be misunderstood, that if man and the animal kingdom re-
quire protection, so with the same principle the vegetable kingdom does likewise require to be
sheltered from the extreme changes of heat and cold that our climate is so subject to. Seeing
the necessity, I set to work in right good faith planting a belt ot forest trees around my
orchard, but, alas ! too late for many of them, for the breath of the north-wester had already
breathed its poisoned atmosphere on many of them to the tune of thirty degrees, and some-
times more, below zero, to which tune they could not dance long, especially those -with long
triramed-up distorted trunks, thereby causing the sap t6 be diseased and disarranged, causing
the tops to become blighted, and the sun to scald their bodies, and the bark to peel off, and
ultimate death.

I then thought I would try another plan. I let the trees grow as nature had designed
all trees to grow, in the open fields, with the limbs branching out from the ground, what
some call Dwarf Standards. But I call them Self Protectors, as they ward off the Whipple
trees, and the plough, keeping them at a proper distance from tearing off the best roots, and
causing the cold winds to sweep over them instead of through them. I considered then
I had them safe in the fold from all enemies, but not so, for on comes the extreme drought
we are getting subject to here for the past summers, penetrating and drying every particle of
moisture to the very ends of the roots, causing many of the trees to become weakened in their
constitution, and then the cold winters would finish them.

And to my observation, this is the doom the most of the trees meet with when planted
on hi^h and dry soils, without any lakes to the north of us to protect them from the poison-
ous dry north-easterly winds. Thus my belief is the dry summers are as detrimental to our
trees as the cold winters are, being the first cause to weaken and make them tender.

But I would not have you think that all our orchards are so badly affected. There are
some sandy loamy soils that do not suffer so with the drought, and along the lake shores and
points projecting out into the lake, where we have some fine orchards. They are doing well,
but not to be compared with those I saw this summer at Rochester, Lockport, and at Niagara,
where I saw large orchards, and was told they were from fifty to eighty years old, without a
scald, blight, or a decayed trunk about them.

And now I hope I have said nothing to discourage any one from planting, for every tree,
if it don't live to over twenty years, will pay all expenses in half that time. So plant
away and keep on planting ; abandon many of what we had learned to consider as our best
or most desirable varieties of fruit, but too tender, and substitute for them those that have
come to be designated as Iron Clads, because of their ability to withstand our trying winters
and summer droughts. Then let us plant a screen of forest trees for their protection
around them, not forgetting our hardy sugar ma^le, so useful for the production of that
article, sugar — the emblem of our Dominion — until they will attract the passing clouds of
rain, as the rod draws the electric fluid, and the tops will catch and tear open and let
the rain fall on us ; also serving as pumps, drawing the water from the great reservoir below,
and emitting it from the leaves; keeping the air moist, which makes it so beneficial for all
vegetation.

Then for a noble and good cause let us go to work in right good faith, and try to restore
that paradise which has been lost by our transgression, and be as great benefactors to our coun-
try as Lord Athol was to Scotland, who planted over fifteen thousand acres of a barren waste of
sandy plains to forest trees, and made it, to valuable and green pastures, and lived to build ships
and sail across the ocean on timber of his own raising. Now can't we do as much as one man, if
not, then let us petition to the Legislature to help us, and pass laws as they have done in other
countries, and release any one from a portion of his taxes by his planting trees along the road
sides, for timber and shelter, theraby save our country from famine and destruction that may
await us. For, among all the utilities relating to the improvements of our great country, no
one thing interests us more than the cultivation of trees, trees for fruity for timber, for
ornament. &c. All our waste places should be dotted with acres of forest trees. Our mountain
tops and sides, our hills, ravines and vallies, may, and should be planted to trees. It has long
been considered an admitted fact that the existence of timber growths in a country, has the

250

effect to secure to such country a more considerable rainfall than would otherwise occur, and
as evidence of such fact, it is stated that the Island of Madeira, when first disrovered by
Europeaus, was clothed with timber, and enjoyed an ample and well distributed rain-
fall, but since their advent the forest has been gradually melting away, till little is now left
to decoy the moisture from the passing clouds, and as a consequence, droughts have been
steadily becoming more and more severe, occasioning the failure of the crops, and compelling
the levy of contributions in other countries to save the population from the horrors of
famine.

Germany, Spain and France are also quoted as furnishing a similar result from the same
causes, and extending over a far more lengthened period. A very striking instance of change
of climate from this cause is said to be even now in progress on the Island of Barbadoes, one
of the West Indies, on a portion of which the timber has been entirely removed, thus
giving the ocean full sweep from shore to shore. The portion of the island so denuded of
timber, is said to have become in consequence almost, or quite a desert from lack of rain, and
this process is extending over the now fertile portions of the Island, as rapidly as the forest
disappears.

Science, with unerring finger, is pointing to our treeless plains, swept by parching winds
in summer, and arctic gales in winter, as the true and present cause of the dire calamity. The
acceptance of this conclusion, carries with it the further conclusion that the work of destruct-
ion is yet far from complete, but is rather proceeding at an accelerated rate, and that if al-
lowed to progress unchecked, it is difficult to imagine when, and at how calamitous a point
the evil will culminate.

R. B. W.

REPORT BY GEORGE PEACOCK, MOUNT SALEM.

Fruits generally about Mount Salem scarce. Strawberries were a good crop, and sold
at 12J cents, 10 cents and 8 cents per quart, main crop Wilson of course. Raspberries bore
well this year, which sold for about 8 cents per quart. Blackberries none in market.

Cherries very good yield this year, sold at 6 cents to 4 cents per quart, some wormy ones
for less.

Peaches none, all winter killed.

Plums, heard of* none in market except by one individual who attended to Curculio catch-
ing, prices consequently were 3 to 4 dollars per bushel, while more customers went without
plums than could be supplied.

Apple trees suffered last winter so much that some have not yet recovered. We have
King of Tompkins and Baldwin trees nearly dead, which would have borne from 10 to 12
bushels each. Some trees look like recovering, others seem like dying.

REPORT BY GEORGE COWAN, CRAIGVALE.

I became a member in '71. The pear and raspberries sent me that year are all dead, the
two raspberries died at once, the pear lived and did well until this spring, It came out
in leaf in the end of May, but on the nights of May the 30th and 31st it was a very
hard frost; it burst all the bark of this tree from top to bottom ; it died at once. The trees
sent in '72 are doing well, pear and plum, also '73 pear and apple, both doing well. Fruit
in this part was a great crop this year, especially old orchards, young trees being more ten-
der. Plums were the largest crop I have ever seen ; the trees had all to be propped up to prevent
splitting. All kinds were alike, Lombard, Washington, Golden Drop, Green Gage, and others.
I got two first prizes at the County Show for Lombard and Coe's Golden Drop. Plums sold
from 1 0 to 1 5 cents per quart. Apples from 1 2 J cents to $2 per bushel, for early sorts; good keep-
ing apples about $1 per bushel. In mostly all the old orchards here are seedling apples. Or-
chard planting is going on very brisk just now. Several agents have been travelling here for the
Rochester Nurseries, this summer, and taken a great many orders. We had two worthies in
this neighbourhood this spring from the State of Ohio, grafting. They came round last fall,

251

with a book showing the different kinds of apples. Parties selected the scions from the book,
all were to be brought from Ohio, true to name ; their operations extended from Bradford to
eight or ten miles north of Barrie. It has now been found out that these grafters pruned a
a man's orchard near Bradford, and got their scions there, for their trouble. They grafted at
the rate of one hundred per hour, two scions to every limb,or cut at 8 cents each, some trees, large
ones, they put in a considerable number, twenty to thirty. Some parties had to pay from thirty
to forty dollars for a few hours' work; in about four weeks they took from the district mentioned,
eleven thousand dollars ($11,000). There is also a considerable number of shade and orna-
mental tree-planting, such as. hard and soft maple, spruce, balsam, cedar, hemlock, larch or
tamarack. I myself supplied parties with about 1,200 of the above.

FKUIT REPORT, BY DANIEL MACPHERSON, LANCASTER.

Mr. Secretary, — You will doubtless think me very careless and ungrateful in neglect-
ing you so long. At your request I made inquiries, and obtained all information possible
when I travelled in Glengarry and Stormont. The only information of any value was varie-
ties successfully grown. Waiting to receive promised lists of them is the cause of my wait-
ing so long. Unfortunately, I have not yet received them, and I will send you a few hurried
items of information in the meantime. I found that seedling apples, some very valuable,
were formerly successfully grown in nearly every locality; that the "blight" killed or in-
jured the apple trees through all this section ; that seedling apples seem yet to grow well in
many places, though a failure in others : that improved varieties of apples introduced within
six years have generally failed ; that native plums do well in nearly all sections, where soil is
suitable ; that pears are not grown ; a few were in old orchards, and seemed as hardy as the
apple ; but there is not a single specimen now in the County.

Very few berries grown.

Strawberries grow well when tried, but generally neglected, and so with all small fruits.

Currants all destroyed by worms, and cultivation neglected.

There is a general want of information on the subject of fruit growing; ; and the result
of these efforts, in nine cases out of ten, is complete failure.

Though the majority of those experimenting with fruit trees blame the nurseryman for
their want of success, and doubtless in many cases the trees furnished were very much abused,
still the almost universal ignorance is a great cause of failure also. Dozens of parties take no
care of their trees, know nothing of varieties, and when they have a few surviving specimens
cannot say what they are, or order more of same variety if they need them.

A great many Toronto trees were introduced and very extensively distributed three
years ago through Glengarry. Unfortunately, they are nearly all dead, and the parties have
decided to try no more. In nearly every case there are survivors, precisely the information
you want • but I could not ascertain the varieties. Still I have found trees, and in some
cases lots, which have all lived, procured from the same source. Of these I am promised
lists, and will soon be able to send names.

Several gentlemen are succeeding with young orchards ; a very few have very fine ones,
of which they are justly proud ; but the majority are hopeless of ever growing their own
fruit, and will take no interest in the matter.

To give you an idea of the interest taken in Glengarry generally. With the repeated
tale of anxiety to grow fruit, of efforts and failures, of confession of ignorance on the subject,
and wish for information, I succeeded in introducing in Lancaster about 15 to 20 copies of the
"Fruit Gardener" — about half of them to farmers ; in Charlottenburgh only 4 copies — a mem-
ber of Fruit Growers' Association, a Secretary of Agricultural Society, a manufacturer, and
a young lady interested in horticulture, being the only pajrties.

In the rest of Glengarry not one copy, though I called upon many hundreds.

Still a few are successfully growing apples, and a good many have set out from a dozen to
hundreds of apple trees last year ; and though my experience is limited, I have met with as
fine specimens of apples in Charlottenburg, especially at Mr. Cameron's, as I have ever
seen in localities considered more favoured.

Formerly a great many apples were grown. A good many — some very fine — are yet

252

grown in Charlottenburg ; a few barrels are imported yearly ; but the majority of the
inhabitants use very few green apples, or simply do witho ..t.

Several gentlemen have united in the effort to grow apples. Mr. Young, of Lanark,
has a fine young orchard of several hundred trees, all bearing, principally seedlings. Mr.
McLennan has set out within six years about 1,000 trees, a very small percentage lost with
the hardier varieties. He has many of the tender varieties which I believe are doing well,
but he pays attention to them. Unfortunately I have not his list, but I am aware of it being
a good selection, has been a fair test, and a success. Mr. Cameron has splendid Fameuse and
Golden Russets.

I must not forget that where I found there was a survivor of trees formerly introduced
before the " blight?' it has invariably proved to be Talman Sweeting, at least I presume so from
description given. Mr. Dingwall will shortly be experimnting on a very extensive scale, he
has a fine nursery and will test a great many varieties. His trees received from Association
are flourishing.

My pear Beurre d'Anjou received last spring lived, but did not look very thrifty.

Plum, ditto.

Of varieties which I grafted and budded in nursery and planted in spring of 1871, I
found during summer specimens of all living and doing well ; where some had died I knew
the cause had been want of shelter during the first early frost of December, 1871, the mulching
being removed to escape mice and snow not yet fallen to pack. I enclose a list. You must
excuse these horrid lines without any arrangement. I will give you a few notes from my
memorandum book, l€ Answer to enquiries made.'' I consider them satisfactory in many
cases, so far as showing that 25 to 60 and 75 per cent, of trees lived, and with more infor-
mation and a better selection, apples can be successfully grown here.

Front Lancaster, 4th Con.

Two or three good orchards, generally seedlings, '69, '70, '71. A great many young
apple trees set out lately, a general failure. A few summer trees planted in '72 generally have
succeeded .

Riviere Raisin, near Front.

I. M. L*. does not succeed in growing apples. 20 from Leslie 1870 ; 15 living.

Charlottenburg.

clay.

I. G. — Set out a great many young trees ; all dead.

McD. — Old orchard dead ; young trees all die in about two years. Suppose when reach

D. G. — Grew apples extensively formerly ; tried Seedlings, Swaar ; failed.
Native Plums do well.

Strawberries do well.

Cherries failed.

McD. — Apples did well previous to blight j cannot grow them now : all die.

Plums and Berries do well.

J. 11. H. — Grew Toronto trees ; did not live.

Plum do well.

Grapes, well.

Currants, not grown.

J. H. — Consider apples should do well ; succeed with seedlings.

A. McL. — Seedlings succeed.

Plums do. Foreign born, do.

E. Cherries; planted 20; few do well.

R- K. — Grew apples previous to blight ; fail now j consider drought the cause.

Native Plums do well ; curculio injured badly, 1870, 1871.

S. E. — Grew apples formerly ; Toronto trees all dead.

D. C. — A pples did well formerly ; all planted since failed.

Native and Blue Plums succeed.

253

New Peaches and Pears failed ; same with Grapes and Berries.

All through Charlottenburg I received nearly the same reply.

Old trees all killed by blight, and winter apples should do well, as formerly.

Mr. Murray Tried Toronto trees in 1870; 50 trees ; 3 living.

Tried Hamilton trees ; all dead.

Tried Montreal, 1 dozen ; 2 living ; a lot of seedlings have grown well.

Another account from Kenyon : — Failed with apples now. Tried 15 Toronto \ 3 living.
Hawthornden, Baldwin and Crabs ; Pear and Cherry of same lot, living.

It would appear that in the greater number of localities I have visited apples did well
formerly, and that in many cases seedlings still grew well ; but in nearly all cases the trees
of improved varieties introduced lately have died. As I went along, each party's statement
was but a repetition of the last, so I ceased making inquiries until I entered another route.
Of course many reasons were argued for the failure, and many in bitter terms expressed their
disappointment; however, the success of a few individuals will, I hope, encourage them to
make further and more intelligent efforts to grow at least their own fruit.

On receipt of the promised lists of summer apples promised by several parties, I will
send you a further statement, that will be more satisfactory than this my hurriedly written
letter. I hope shortly to send the names of several parties who will join the Association.

Please send me one of the first copies of report for 1872, as I go into the section this
winter.

I send list of trees out of my own memory, planted in spring of 1871, specimens now
being apparently healthy of following varieties:—

Fameuse. Spitzenberg.

St. Lawrence. King of T. County.

E. Harvest. Golden Russet.

Bourassa. Seek-no-furthcr.

T. Sweeting. R. I. Greening.

Red Astrachan. Ribston Pippin.

Sweet Bough. Primate.

Sour Bough. Fall Sweeting.

20 Ounce. Dormer.

Early Strawberry. Wegener.

Porter. Snow Apple. *

Baldwin. Colvert.
N. Spy.
With several seedlings of hardy varieties of Summer and Winter.

REPORT ON SEEDLING GOOSEBERRIES, AND RASPBERRIES.

26th July, 1873.
Seedling Gooseberries.

Mr. R. Ibson, Mnlton, sent two seedling gooseberries, from Whitesmith and Crown-bob.
Crown bob, fair sized and well • flavoured ; Whitesmith, scarcely ready, good size, and free
from mildew.

Seedling Goosebeeries, from Jas. Dougall, Esq., Windsor.

No. 1. Seedling from Houghton ; green, small, and indifferent flavour.

No. 2. Seedling from Houghton ; dark purple, small, pleasant wld flavour.

No. 4. Seedling from Houghton ; green, very small, indifferent flavour.

"No. 5. Seedling from Houghton; green, small, little flavour.

No. 6. Seedling from Houghton ; green, small, disagreeable after-flavour.

No. 7. Seedling from Houghton, male parent, English ; green, large, well flavoured, and
agreeable, worth propagating.

No. 9. Seedling from Houghton , light purple, small, flavour not agreeable.

254

No. 11. Seedling from Houghton j very light purple, medium size, thin-skinned, inferior
flavour.

No. 16. Seedling from Houghton ; green, small oblong, firm berry, scarcely mediocre in
flavour.

No. 17. Seedling from Houghton ; purple, rather small, watery, and insipid.

American seedling ; dark purple, small, wild flavour.

No. 13. Seedling from Houghton; English male parent, green, approaching medium,
poor flavour.

No. 2. English seedling; green, very small, indifferent, worthless.

No. 4. English seedling, Houghton male parent, green, very small, sweetish flavour ;
worthless.

No. 12. English seedling, green, small, soft berry, watery flavour.

No. 3. English seedling, Houghton male parent, dark purple, good size, good flavour,
resembling Ironmonger ; would preserve well ; worth propagation.

No. 8. Euglish seedling, Houghton male parent, green, small, disagreeable after-flavour.

No. 7. English seedling, green, rather small, very poor flavour.

No. 1. English seedling, green, very small ; worthless.

No. 6. English seedling, soft and indifferent.

The seedling gooseberries shown by Mr. Dougall are very much alike, in character and
colour, with few exceptions. A large number are worthless for cultivation.

No. 3 is really the only red one we can commend for propagation.

No. 7, green, is a good berry, and also worth propagating.

They came to hand in good condition ; they were well and carefully packed. All which
is respectfully submitted.

Seedling raspberries, sent by John McGill, of Oshawa. Good size, well flavoured, soft,
and therefore useless for market. — 21si July, 1873.

Peter Murray.
Robert Burnet.

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON SEEDLING APPLES, AT
THE WINTER MEETING AT HAMILTON IN 1873.

/

The first sample — Entered by Mr. Cornelius Sullivan, of Caledon East; medium size;
handsome apple; a little out of season. Committee are unable to say, from its present condition,
whether it be worthy of cultivation or not.

Second sample — Entered by J. W. Johnston, of Campbellford; medium size; pretty firm
flesh, and from its appearance, we judge, would be a good market fruit, flavour pleasant.

Third sample — Entered by Mr. W. Brooking, of Ancaster. It was ascertained to have
originated in the United States, and therefore not in competition with Canadian seedlings.
But the Committee cannot pass by remarking that this fruit they consider worthy of cultivat-
ion. Size over medium ; handsome flesh ; crisp, juicy and good flavour.

Fourth sample — Entered by W. Nicoll, of Cataraqui, very large; over-ripe; fine, showy
apple, but not in a fit condition to judge of its quality.

Fifth entry by Amos Chamber, of Winona; medium size; handsome and showy dark
red apple ; almost sweet ; lacking flavour.

Sixth entry by Wm. L. Stott, of Markham; above medium; yellowish ground; sprinkled
with russet; fine grained; agreeable aromatic flavour. Committee think this apple worthy of
extended cultivation, and would recommend it for the prize offered by this Association for
the best apple exhibited at this meeting.

Seventh entry by D. Vanduser, of Grimsby; below medium in size; fine grained; white
flesh ; past its true season ; might be a good dessert apple in its season.

Eighth entry — Mr. Charley Arnolds, No. 4 ; scarcely medium; not showy; mild spicy
flavour ; rather over ripe. Committee think it would be a good dessert apple in season.

No. 3 — Committee see nothing in its appearance or flavour to recommend its cultivation.

No. 1 — Above medium ; juicy; rather acid ; think it would be a good cooking apple.

Ninth entry by Mr. Jonas Neff, of Port Colborne ; small ; not attractive nor suffi-
ciently high flavoured to recommend it as a dessert fruit, or large enough for cooking.

255

Ten entries by James Cowtherd, of Newport : —

No. 3. Below medium ; imperfect specimens ; all its characteristics very much resem-
bling Vandevere.

No. 4. Medium size; acid, pleasant flavour ; specimens imperfect.

Of the eight others, the Committee regret that the specimens are so imperfect that they
would not be warranted in expressing a decided opinion of them.

One entry by A. B. Bennett, of Brantford ; small ; high coloured ; agreeable sprightly
flavour • quite juicy. Wc think it would be a good dessert apple.

PEARS.

One entry by James Reid, of Hamilton ; very large handsome fruit ; not yet ripe, but
very juicy and free from grit; having all the characteristics of a good baking pear. We
cannot judge of it in its present unripe state as a dessert fruit, but consider it worthy of the
prize offered by this Association for the best seedling pear now on exhibition.

One entry made by Mr. James Hislop, of West Flamborough ; rather above medium
size ; flesh rather fine grained ; pleasant flavour, even in its present unripe state ; and although
not so handsome a fruit as that of Mr. Reid. we think it has points of excellence of its own
which entitle it to an equal prize.

Mr. Brooking, of Ancaster, exhibits ten varieties of apples in good preservation, em-
bracing some of the leading varieties. The Fallawater, we consider particularly fine ; also
fair samples of Vicar of Winkfield and Doyenne Sieulle.

Mr. Bennett also exhibits fair samples of the following pears : — Lawrence, Winter Nelis
and Jaminette.

Some fine samples of unusually well-preserved Isabella grapes are shown by Mr. Vau-
duser, of Grimsby.

President Burnet exhibited nice specimens of Hubbartson's Nonsuch in good pre-
servation.

Mr. Freed also had on exhibition, from Elwanger and Barry, of Rochester, handsome
specimens of Hubbardston's Nonsuch and Bed Canada.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO PROCEED TO LONDON,
TO VISIT MR. SAUNDERS' FRUIT FARM.

During the course of this summer the Direction of the Fruit Growers' Association, at
the request of Mr. Saunders, of London, appointed a committee composed of Messrs. Ar
nold, Beadle, and Burnet, to proceed to London, examine and report on the hybrid seedlings
of Mr. Saunders, and generally give such a vidimus of his doings, successes and failures, as
might be profitable to the members of our Society. In pursuance of our commission, your
three members of committee put in appearance at London on the days designated by
Mr. Saunders. We need not say how cordially we were received by Mr. Saunders, and wel-
comed by a thousand nameless courtesies. Indeed he did everything to render our labour of
love agreeable and pleasant, and explained and unfolded every mystery connected with his
intellectual and refined pastime of hybridization To a less modest worker than Mr. Saun-
ders, the results of his labours would have called forth a large amount of trumpeting. Issues,
however, were left to do all this, and verily they did this with trumpet-tongue. We lost no
time in finding our way to the farm. On our way, having an invitation extended to us, we
cursorily examined the grounds of the London Institution for the Insane. The place is just
in its infancy ; the planting, however, has been judiciously performed, and shortly the trees
will afford an abundance of shelter, which is at present much needed. The ribbon culture
was much admired as exhibited in the different flower plots in front of the main building ;
the taste was good, and the varieties of plants very choice. From the delight arising from
viewing the finely adjusted hues of nature's flowers, we were ushered into the Institution,
where several hundreds of immortal human beings had been deprived of the godlike rays of
intellect, and where drivelling idiocy proclaimed in unmistakable language that the flowers
of Divine genius were withered, and the full fruition of reason nipt in the bud ! The offi-

256

cers were to us all that could be desired in the way of guides, and various curious episodes
with the inmates afforded us food for talk for hours to come. Thankful to the Sovereign Dis-
poser of all events, that reason, use of sense, a sound mind in a sound body, were vouchsafed
to us, we left the close stifling atmosphere of the corridors of the Asylum for the exhilarat-
ing beauties of nature, and the nice manipulations of human genius as presented to us on
Mr. Saunders' fruit farm.

The farm to be visited lies immediately opposite the Asylum on Dundas-strcet. It has
a pleasant aspect, the location being admirably adapted for the purposes of the owner. The
day being warm, a severe thunder storm looming afar in the western horizon, we stript for our
work. The first sight that greeted our astonished vision were some rows of very heavily
loaded Raspberries. Entering through the gate we found them to be :

. The Philadelphia.

They were really fine, a most abundant crop, and ready for gathering. They bore no
evidence of winter-killing, and as usual justified the almost universal experience of being ex-
ceedingly hardy. To them succeeded

The Clarke.

A very fine crop, large berries, bright, very bright red fruit. The grains were very
large, noticeably large, but soft, this latter quality being the great drawback to the excellence
of the fruit as a good market variety. In succession to these were

Wilson's Early and Kittatinny Blackberry.

In the rows of these varieties of blackberry, we found unmistakeable evidences of the
severity of the winter Indeed we might say with truth, that they had suffered much. The
Wilson was almost killed to the ground, the Kittatinny had not suffered quite so much — here
and there branches in sheltered positions had escaped, which were loaded with unripe fruit.

The Doolittle Black Cap
Succeeded, and showed a good, fair crop.

Mammoth Cluster
Followed, with fair fruit, and very heavily laden. We then examined

White Cap.

Fruiting very heavily. We noticed and noted that the wood of this variety was poor,
ill-grown, but such of the fruit as was fit to taste, rich and well flavoured.

The Hornet

Came next, which we found had partially withstood the winter ; it had in consequence made
weak growths of wood, but the berries which were matured were indeed very fine.

Brinckle's Oeange,

We found a complete failure ; only a small cane here and there having survived the winter.

Currants.

Black, white, and red currants succeeded these other varieties of fruit. The foliage of
the red and white currant was damaged a good deal from the ravages of the currant worm.
We learn that they had been tre ited with hellebore. The insect had been very abundant.
The berries, notwithstanding the multitude of enemies, of the white and red varieties were
very fine.

257

The Franconia,

Raspberry came next. It had suffered much from the winter. Here and there was
found a cane with fine fruit.

The Gooseberry.

We found in the rows of gooseberries an almost indefinite number of hybrids, exhibiting
almost every characteristic of colour, of fruit, variety of wood-growth, fruitfulness and bar-
renness. There were twenty-three varieties of hybrids, which claimed and received our
especial attention. Mr. Saunders made us acquainted with the genealogical descent of his
pets, of which he had great reason to be proud. Houghton's seedling was the female, crossed
with Roaring Lion, Ashton seedling, and Warrington.

The first of those, viz., Houghton seedling crossed with Roaring Lion, which we noticed,
though net the first examined, was No. 6. We may mention, once for all, that sometimes it
happened that the fruit was unripe, or perhaps, during this season, some of the hybrid plants
had not borne. In such cases, with some exceptions to be noticed, we altogether omitted
mention of such varieties, and hence the many blanks in our enumerated list. To return to

No. 6. We found it of medium size ; thin skinned ; sweet ; colour, red. There was no
difficulty in characterizing it as promising, a verdict passed unanimously.

No. 11. Was larger than "American seedling," sweet, and good. The emphatic word
"propagate" was unanimously recorded after our examination, which means that it is well
worthy of propagation, as a serviceable variety.

No. 17. Fruit large, and promising.

No. 19 was a hybrid betweeu Houghton seedling and Ashton seedling. Large berry,
pale, very prolific ; unripe when examined. Mr. Saunders afterwards forwarded samples of
this sort to the President, who found it good flavoured when matured.

No. 21 was a cross between Houghton and Warrington. The berries were larger than
Houghton, with the colour of Warrington, being similar in form of berry ; very promising,
good and sweet.

No. 24. The same parentage as the last. Large, white fruit, thin skinned, rich and
sweet ; very promising.

No. 26. Same parentage, very promising, fruit large.

No. 31. Same parentage. In shape subovate, abundant bearer, larger than Houghton
seedling, red, sweet, good.

No. 33. From Houghton seedling with Warrington ; has a long, reddish, large berry.
Our Secretary, who always has an eye to the practical and useful, at once with some emphasis
exclaimed "propagate." This expression became identified as a kind of free masonry, as the
other members of the committee were ready to acquiesce when the result of the examination
warranted the exclamation. The peculiar merit of No. 33 is, that it is a very late variety,
and will serve to lengthen out the season of the gooseberry. The flavour is fair and good,
and from partial examination when matured, the berry is all that it is here represented to be.

Black Currant.

The seedlings of the black currant were found generally not to be an improvement on
the Black Naples, although it ought to be mentioned that on a second investigation, we were
inclined to note one of these hybrids as bearing a berry over the average, and with a very
decided black currant flavour. This is true of Nos. 35 and 42. The fruit of these two were
large, sweet and good. They will probably prove to be superior to the Black Naples, and will,
at least, be worthy of further trial.

Raspberries.

These hybrids were from the Philadelphia, crossed with Brinkle's orange. . No less than
49 of these varieties were carefully examined, 2fi of these were worthless from not setting
their fruit well, of the remainder many seemed no improvement on the Philadelphia, though
varying somewhat in form and size.

No. 3. Fruit large, large grain, bright red, fair flavour, promising.

17

25cS

No. 4. Did not appear perfectly hardy, fair size, rather large fruit. It was observed
that some canes were partially winter-killed. On further examination th e ground was found
to be a little damp, probably the growth had continued longer in the Autumn than usual, and
contributed to this result.

No. 6. Fruit fair size, red, conical, moderately promising. It was noticed that its soft-
ness of berry was against it.

No. 7. v late variety, fair, — not ripe, but promising.

No. 9. Also a late variety, promising, berry red, did not seem perfectly hardy.

Nos. 15 and 16. Were both noted as of fair promise.

Nos. 31 and 33. Good medium sized berries, good bearers, promising.

No. 34. Late berry, very abundant bearer, large size, very large grain. Note, the
grains separate from each other very readily, which was considered a disadvantage by the
committee as affecting the value of the berry for market purposes. This berry was modera-
tely firm.

No. 36 was an abundant fruiter, not extra large, red, fair flavour.

No. 39. Conical berry, very promising, gjod bearer. The flavour very like Brinckle's
Orange, the berry considerable firmer than Brinckle's and begins to ripen about the 24th of
July.

No. 40. High flavoured, softish, good bearer, fair size.

No. 72. This plant we found growing in Mr. Saunders' garden in town. It was very
prolific, large, fine flavoured, strong grower.

No. 73. Not so good a bearer as the former, though growing near it, equally sheltered
and cared for. Prolific, sweeter, fair size, good flavour.

Doolittle Blackcap crossed with Philadelphia Raspberries.

Mr. Saunders' hybrids from the Doolittle Black Cap, crossed with the Philadelphia
Raspberry, are very interesting, and surprising in many respects. There is nothing so ap-
parent as that they are perfect hybrids, so perfect that there is no predominant feature of
either parent, and yet there is such a blending of the characteristics of both parents as to
prove the complete hybridization. In taste as well as in appearance this is the case. There
is a remarkable blending of both parents in the flavour of the fruit of these hybrids. The
growth of the plants, the fertility of some individuals, the habit of the bush, all proclaimed
the respective family connection to the practised eye. It may be worthy of note, too, that
while in the former class of hybrids, there were many worthless from imperfect setting of
blossom and fruit, only one of this class could be said to be so.

No. 28. Examined. A very large proportion of these were similar in their characteris-
tics, though firm and good sized, but rather too acid to meet with general favour. There are,
however, among them some berries of great promise.

No. 5£ is an enormous bearer, fruit large, fine flavoured, firm berry, sweet. In report-
ing on the colour of the whole of these berries, we may say once for all, that they are uniformly
of a dark purple colour, sometimes of a very deep purple, especially when a little over-ripe. In
form, they are intermediate between that of a large Black Cap and Philadelphia Raspberry.
They are propagated by rooting from the tip j the plants are Black Cap in growth, the berries
grow in clusters, similar to those of the Mammoth Cluster, but looser. The wood varies very
much in colour, from pale to very dark purple. We may mention that they vary in the
season of ripening as much as several weeks, a consideration not to be lost sight of by pro-
ducers, seeing that the season of the raspberry is so brief. The hardiness of these hybrids is
all that could be desired ; all are perfectly hardy j there is not even the least sign of winter I
killing ; they had received no protection, no extra nursing, no special care. Last winter,
from its severity, was well calculated to test the hardiness of these plants. The com-
mittee are unanimously of the opinion that having stood the test of last winter in the
neighbourhood of London, they would flourish much further north and west with a little
care and protection. This judgment was the more readily arrived at, as these plants have
had no protection whatever beiore or since the seed germinated.

In reference to this particular No. our Secretary emphatically remarked : " Propagate
this, Gentlemen, propagate it by all means." A testimony not to be lightly received, con-
sidering the temperament and correct judgment of the speaker.

No. 55. First class, sweet, well flavoured, late.

•

259

No. 60. Late, good, sweet. Mr. Saunders, in imitation of Mr. Beadle's last exclama-
tion, cried : " Propagate, propagate"

No. 62. A like sentence was unanimously passed on this number : " Propagate, because
promising."

No. 63. Was superior to the .ast in many respects, although a little more acid.

No. 67. First class. The fiat went forth regarding it also, that it was to be propagated.

No. 69. Proved to be the Belle of the whole. The committee beg leave to direct par-
ticular attention to this plant. Our Secretary's opinion was that it was the most promising
of all hitherto examined. In this opinion there was perfect unanimity. It is an immense
bearer, having, in this respect, the characteristic of its parent the Philadelphia. Your com-
mittee never saw anything like it in productiveness — the berries were very large and fine in
quality. Indeed, the flavour was most excellent. This variety will probably turn out a
great acquisition. We think it might, with some propriety, be styled "Saunders' ne plus
uHra." (Scotice " it caps aa !")

No. 70. About equally good, scarcely so sweet, would suit more palates. There is little
difference in other respects between the two plants.

In concluding our report on these hybrids, your committee would take the opportunity
of congratulating Mr. Saunders on his marvellous success, and would rejoice that fruit culti-
vators have, through his hydridization, been put in possession of another variety of raspberry
— a variety which immensely lengthens out its season. Members of your committee were
favoured with samples of the varieties marked " late" in the foregoing report, after they had
matured, and in almost every instance, they proved to be of superior merit, great size, and
good flavour. Some believe that hybridization is only in its infancy, but if such results have
flowed from these essays, what may we expect in the future. Whatever may transpire in the
future, we are persuaded that these efforts of Mr. Saunders will gain for him a name and a
fame, which will always rank among the premier hybridists of our country.

Perhaps it may not be considered an unnecessary digression for us to state, that having
tasted these fruits, after being cooked, we can also testify to their singular adaptation for the
table after the culinary process.

Grapes.

New Seedling Grape Fines. — The members of our Fruit Growers' Association will be par-
tially prepared to hear a report of Mr. Saunders' Seedling Grape Vines, from the publication
of certain particulars regarding them in last year's Report.

At the first blush of our examination of these seedlings we were much struck with the
appearance of the foliage — its variety, its colour, its form was most interesting. Every now
and again we were ready to exclaim in wonder at the (to us) new colours and forms of beauty
which they presented. Judging from appearances — and we had no other criterion — we may
indulge great expectations. Many of the plants were singularly thrifty, short-jointed, some
showing the characteristics of both parents. One claimed our attention simply from the

^beauty of its foliage — a hybrid between the Concord and the , which would

well reward its cultivation as a beautiful creeper. Were it even to turn out worthless as re-
gards its fruit, we are still of opinion that it ought to be propagated for the singular beauty
of its leaves. We trust, however, that the fruit as well as the foliage will prove an acquisi-
tion to our grape list.

Seedling Pears

Mr. Saunders has a goodly list of seedling pears. They nearly filled two long rows.
They had all the appearance of being thrifty ; not being yet in bearing, it would seem to be
almost premature to pronounce any judgment. We had noted several for comment, but we
esteem it better to wait and let them prove themselves. By their fruits we shall yet know
them. The variety of foliage and wood was as remarkable in them as in the seedling grape
vines. Some seedlings from the Seckel were of themselves quite a study. Some of them
bore unmistakeable marks of their parentage ; others of them were, in wood and foliage,
not unlike the Glout Morceau. In the language of one of the committee, " the foliage was
queer, and the wood very strange."

Your committee also inspected seedlings of a younger growth and earlier stage, which

260

had not yet fruited — seedlings of gooseberries and raspberries, vines, &c., many of which ex-
hibited unmistakeable signs of vigorous growth. We trust that a rich harvest awaits Mr.
Saunders' labours, and much important information and instruction to the members of our
Association.

We examined seedlings from seedlings. Mr. Arnold declared that in his eyes these were
the most interesting plants that we had yet seen.

A few seasons, of course, will test the utility of these plants. Some looked very prom-
ising— there is a something about a plant, just as about an animal, that you cannot doubt is a
good token. Some of these seedlings from seedlings in appearance, at least, were very taking
to our fancy. Probably there were not less than a thousand of these plants.

General Remarks.

Your committee believe themselves to be safe in saying that the fruit farm of Mr.
Saunders in the immediate neighbourhood of London is the most extensive in the western por-
tion of the Province of Ontario. It consists of a hundred acres under the closest fruit culture.
The pear orchard received careful attention. We found over 2,300 trees, divided in the fol-
lowing proportions between summer, autumn and winter varieties, viz : nearly 500 summer
pears, about 1,500 autumn pears, and 300 winter pears. Last winter was very trying to the
pear orchard. Mr. Saunders assured us that 300 to 400 trees newly planted last year died
from frozen sap blight. These blanks were replaced with fresh trees this spring.

On examination, and much to our surprise, we found that these orchards have suffered
but little from fire blight. Our astonishment arose partly from the fact that fire blight has
been severely felt all over the Niagara, Toronto, and Hamilton districts, and great damage
from that cause has accrued to fruit growers. The trees, many of them, were in bearing.
We had thus an opportunity of seeing the fruit of the Beurre Clairgeau, Belle Lucrative,
Duchess D'Angouleme, Beurre D'Amanlis, Osband's Summer, Doyenne D'Ete, Tyson, Bart-
lett, Baron de Mello, Sheldon, Seckel, Urbaniste, Winter Nelis, Beurre Giffard, Kinsessing,
Kirkland, Dearborn's Seedling, Brandywine, Beurre Diel, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Ott's Seed-
ling, Doyenne Dillon, Fleur de Neige, Vicomte de Spoelberg, Jules Brevort, America, Flem-
ish Beauty, &c, &o.

The soil is clay loam, and well drained, and to your Committee seemed admirably
adapted for the growth of Clapp's Favourite, Beurre Clairgeau, and Beurre Diel. We noticed
that the trees were doing well, little blight, good fair growth, and no crop cultivated between
the rows.

Apple Orchard.

Apples can scarcely be said to be Mr. Saunders' specialty. He has indeed planted a
large number of apple trees, but his apples bear no proportion to the number usually planted
by orchardists. 2,500 comprise the number of his apple-trees and these embrace all the
leading varieties, such as the Golden Russet, Rhode Island Greening, Baldwin, Grime?'
Golden, Famuse, Northern Spy, Swayzie Pomme grise, Roxbury Russet, King of
Tompkins County, Spitzenburgh, Ribston Pippin, &c, &c, and thirty or forty other varie-
ties, for testing their respective merits. These trees had nice shaped heads, the bark was
fair and clean, the whole appearance indicating good cultivation and consequent healthy
action. The same may with truth be said of the 150 varieties which we saw. As we have
said the bulk of the trees consisted of old well tried sorts; other sorts being represented by
one, two, three, or four trees, as the case might be. The trees sent out by the Society
were growing, that is almost all that can be said of them ; they had nothing to boast of in
their growth.

There was a row of Clapp's Favourite, very fine indeed, bearing splendid samples of
fruit, which might be characterized as grand. There was not the least appearance of suffering
from blight or winter. The foliage was luxuriant and beautiful, showing no indications of
fire blight as yet.

Plum Orchard.

The Plum Orchard consists of about 700 trees, comprising forty-seven varieties, embrac-
ing most of the sorts cultivated. Many of the plum trees had made but poor growth, some

261

were dead, and many sickly-looking. Mr. Saunders accounted for this state of things in the
plum orchard by saying that the ground was not drained before the trees were put in.

Planters cannot be tod particular on this point. We are persuaded that draining will
not dry the ground too much. It is almost proved to a demonstration by the condition of
Mr. Saunders' plum orchard, that draining should in all cases precede the planting of fruit
trees.

Notwithstanding the activity of the curculio there was a fair crop oi plums. There were
fine specimens of McLaughlin, Washington, Pond's Seedling and Lombard. Mr. Saunders
had a large number of other varieties fruiting, which were only cursorily examined by your
committee. We noticed among others Coe's Golden Drop, which has the excellent property
of coming in late, when other varieties have almost all disappeared.

Cherry Orchard.

We had looked forward with great pleasure to an examination of the cherry orchard.
There was felt, however, considerable disappointment, when we found the trees not in such
good feather as we could have wished. The number of cherry-trees was over 330, comprising
35 varieties. We know of few cultivators with more varied experience than Mr. Saunders.
Pie has spared no expense in gratifying a natural taste for fruit trees, and the choice he has
made has always been after careful deliberation. A portion of the cherry orchard was in the
same state as the Plum patch. The ground had not been properly drained before planting.
The trees had died, and have all been replaced. If we mistake not, some of them more than
ance.

This was apparent from the size of the trees, exhibiting an aspect entirely different from
the pear and apple orchard, which were generally regular in size, with well shaped and propor-
tioned heads. The older trees presented a melancholy aspect, the bark having burst,as itwere,
calling for our utmost commiseration — pity, however, for the planter, not for the planted.
We learned, for the season of cherries was past, that some varieties bore fair crops during the
past season. We found that the winter severity had killed limbs here and there, and some
have had whole sides destroyed from the same cause. The Reine Hor tense, we observed,
badly affected by the bursting of the bark, while the Elton in the immediate neighbourhood
was free from this scourge The impression left on the minds of your committee on the
survey of the disaster to Mr. Saunders' plum-trees, was, that the cultivator of the cherry,
under such drawbacks, must certainly be a man of unwonted patience and indomitable per-
severance.

Peaches.

The report of your committee on the peach orchard is as brief, as the facts are disas-
trous. The orchard comprised at least 100 trees — which had been planted for four years.
They have never borne a single peach yet. The winter has invariably killed trees, buds and
fruit. Peach culture may with propriety be said to have run its course at London and neigh-
bourhood. We are persuaded, however, that were a straw rope to be used in protecting the
trees, by gathering in the heads and saving them from the cutting winter winds, peaches
wrould flourish even in this forbidding climate.

Vinery.

Mr. Saunders cannot be said to have succeeded with his vinery, nor has he failed. He
las planted 500 vines. Clinton and Concord are the two prevailing varieties. There are
lot less than 350 rlants altogether of these two sorts ; about 100 Clinton and 250 Concord.
Probably on account of the unsuitability of the soil, the better varieties of vines have not
mcceeded. The plants that were fruiting fruited finely ; indeed, we were inclined to think
:hat they were a magnificent crop. They did not seem to please Mr. Saunders, however.
There was a portion of the vineyard composed of younger plants, which were not yet in
>earing. They appeared, however, to be healthy and vigorous, and free from thrip. We
loticed the cultivation, the cleanness of the land, abundance of care bestowed on this culture,
is well as the other portions of the farm, and did not wonder at one attending to the first
♦rinciples that good crops were the issue. Indeed, Mr. Saunders is to be fairly commended

262

for his unusual perseverance. Obstacles, drawbacks, blights, which would have overcome
other men, seem only to have inspired him to go forth to combat with and conquer them.
All honour to such a fruit culturist.

Protection.

Shelter, and the means of shelter, have been carefully studied by Mr. Saunders. Its ad-
vantages are too apparent to need to be insisted on. Hence Mr. Saunders has all along the
front line a belt of trees planted, which subserves several important purposes — 1st, for winter
protection against hyperborean blasts ; 2nd, against intruders, or those who but for the blind
would intrude. The latter object is gained by obstructing the view of the fruit trees. Out-
side is an eight foot picket fence, which is a pretty formidable front of itself. Then there
succeeds, two feet from the fence, an osage orange thorn hedge, which, although it does not
stand the winter well, grows vigorously, and the mixed dead and living wood forms an ad-
mirable fence against interlopers. Three feet from that is the barberry, growing thriftly and
doing well. At a distance of four feet is the acer dasy carpum (silver maple), which, having
made fine growths, presents a fine row of trees. The next row is composed of Scotch fir
and Austrian pine, planted in the following fashion : —

We were at a loss whether to admire most the beauty of the Scotch fir, or the lovely colour
and fine spray of the Austrian pine. Both were superb. The next row consists of Norway
spruce, the whole making 27 feet of unsurpassed wind break. The trees are planted di-
agonally, already almost meeting, presenting a mass of foilage, which, for beauty and useful-
ness, is difficult to be excelled. This frost windbreak, as hinted at already, serves a double pur-
pose : — It runs along the northern road, and serves to hide the view of the fruit farm from the
road, a most necessray object, and it at the same time screens the trees from the sweep of the
biting northern blast.

Along the west side suitable provision is also being made for future protection. Im-
mediately west of the vinery, is a closely planted row of Norway spruce, planted three feet
apart, to make a close evergreen hedge of 8 or 10 feet in height, which will serve as a protec-
tion against high winds, and even when it does not entirely serve this purpose, it will in effect
sufficiently break the force of all winds, and thus prove of essential service to the vineyard
and trees.

Following and bounding the apple, cherry and peach orchards, is a belt of thrifty maz-
zard cherry stocks, which are forming nice heads. Planted ten feet apart, they promise to
make a handsome belt of beautiful trees in a very short time, and besides serving the purpose
of windbreak, it is hoped that the fruit, which they will bear, will be a source of attraction
to the birds, and keep them from the other cherries. Should this experiment prove success-
ful, our friend, Mr. Saunders, will give an impetus to tree planting for shelter, which it has
never heretofore had in this country.

For a short distance there is a double hedge of wild apple stocks, which are being grown
as an experiment — the remainder of the boundary being fenced with a double hedge, the
westerly and outer one being honey locust, and the inner one barberry, extending nearly the
whole depth of the farm on that side.

Along the eastern border, the hedges are as yet only partially planted. Five or six
hundred feet are planted — that nearest the northern boundary, already described, being a
double fence ; the eastern row is composed of alternate plants of barberry and honey locust,
the inner row being entirely of English white thorn.

Drainage.

This fruit farm is thoroughly drained with over three miles of drain tiles. We visited
one of the outlets, and then only fully understood the power of thorough draining. Though
it was in the driest season of the year, the drain was accomplishing its purpose. The flow,
indeed, was wonderfully less than in spring or fall, but there was enough to show the utility
of good under drainage. Over the whole farm there were three outlets, all built of four-inch
tiles. The smaller tiles are two inch, the mains four-inch.

263

Thus terminates a report, the subject-matter of which has given your committee abun-
dant pleasure. We trust that it may be accepted by your honourable Board, that hereafter
it may stand in your Reports, a testimony to the unflagging zeal of one of our most earnest,
most disinterested, and most talented of our co-labourers.

All which is most respectfully submitted by your committee.

D. W. Beadle.
C. Arnold.
R. Burnet.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FRUIT-GROWING AND THE FARMING
INTERESTS OF THE PROVINCE.

(Read at the Winter Meeting.)

Your President is in a position to know that no subjects have been prescribed for Essays
to be read at the present meeting. It has occurred to him that a volunteer paper with the
above caption might not be out of place, and might prove acceptable to the members present,
as it might afford a peg on which to hang some useful remarks by the hearers.

That there is an intimate connection between fruit growing and the farming interest of
our own, and of the sister Provinces of our Dominion, cannot be gainsayed. The subject of
fruit-growing is looming up in such large proportions that it is beginning to affect all the
large productive interests of our country, and through the fostering care of the Fruit Growers'
Association of Ontario, it is assuming such a shape and bulk as to interest the Government
and the Parliament. This is as it should be. There is no class of persons, however, more
benefited by the furtherance of fruit interests than the farmers. As yet, being almost the
only producers of the staple fruits of Ontario and the States, they must be brought to the
conclusion that whatever affects fruit-raising, less or more, affects themselves. On the
threshold of our paper, we may be met with the oft-started difficulty that, as a general rule,
farmers, as a class, have too many irons in the fire- — that the rearing of cattle, the cultivation
of the ground, and the rotation of crops is enough to engage the attention of any man, or any
body of men. This assertion, to a certain extent, is true, and it has been truly said that one
man can only carry out one business well. But there are many good reasons why farmers
should plant, care for, and reap the full advantages of a good orchard. The trees are grow-
ing and bearing when he sleeps. The product of the orchard is singularly conducive to his
health, and the recreation and pleasure which it affords to the mind are not to be overlooked.
It is, however, on the pecuniary benefits of fruit-growing to the farming community that we
would like to say a little. In New York State, especially in the more favoured sections for
fruit-growing, fruits are becoming not only an interest, but an object of immense wealth. It
is a low calculation, I understand, which infers that there are not less than 300,000 barrels
of apples exported from the Genesee valley alone, every year. It may be easily summed up
what amount would be realized on this quantity at the low estimate of a dollar and a half the
barrel. Our fruit is not inferior to that of any part of New York State. In fact, we are
led to believe that the Niagara district, the Hamilton, the Toronto, the Lake Erie and Lake
St. Clair districts, produce fruits not a whit behind the choicest samples in New York State,
or, indeed, in any part of the Union. What we require is to foster fruit-growing • recommend
the best varieties, the kinds that have the most money in them, and advertise the best mar-
kets for the choice fruits. Much has been done, much remains to be done.

An objection commonly heard from farmers is the difficulty of procuring a man to prune
and care for their trees. We are persuaded that the time is not far distant when the ad-
vance of fruit growing will necessitate several farmers joining to secure the services of a com-
petent pruner. After all much depends on the care bestowed in training the trees. After a
few years from the planting, trees require less and less attention. Early attention secures a
good head, prevents interlacing of the branches, overcrowding of the limbs, and generally as
the result good crops. The outlay necessary to secure these objects will soon pay for itself.
A season's good crop, fair prices and a ready market will bring the cash into the farmer's
pocket, and it is almost found money. It is within my knowledge that some tenants who oc-
cupy rented farms of one hundred acres pay their rent from the produce of their ill-attended,
neglected orchard. What would be the result were proper care and cultivation given to the trees?

264

Farmers sometimes say, as some have said to us. trees require attention in spring, just when
the farm requires attention, and in the fall when work is not to seek in securing the crops.
True ! The orchard work, however, ought to be done in early spring, and done by competent
hands. The apple crop may be easily gathered by selling the fruit to the buyer, who himself
should be ready to gather them. Let the farmer team the loaded barrels to the nearest mart
or shipping place ; let the purchaser be at all necessary expenses. We believe that every
sack should bear its own seam, and where the farmer cannot grow fruit to make it pay, he
ought to let it alone, and allow others to grow and reap the benefit. It not unfrequently
happens in our latitude that the summers are warm, dry, and the cereals suffer in conse-
quence. With a diminished crop there is probably a diminished income. Such seasons, it
may be, are just those prolific in fruit. Apples may abound, grapes are luxuriant, and the
deficiency from the farm may be partially made up, if not entirely covered, by the income
from the abundant fruit crop.

Farmers have not yet sufficiently estimated the benefits of fruit as an article of diet.
In almost every case fruit is wholesome. From the present mode of living it is especially bene-
ficial to the farmer, and that both in winter and summer. Few articles of food are more
conducive to health than dried or canned fruit. It tends to add to one's comfort, happiness,
and health. In the south of France, on a parallel of latitude similar to our own, fruit con-
stitutes a large staple of the food of the cultivator. It would be peculiarly beneficial in
summer, when our temperature is so high as to render much animal food greatly prejudicial
to health. An outcry is sometimes made that the best trees for plan ing are not known. The
following kinds of apples will be found profitable for pleasure or for market, and give a con-
tinuous succession the season through :— Red Astrachan, Hubbardston's Nonsuch, King of
Tompkin's County, Rhode Island Greening, Swazzie Pomme Grise, Roxburgy Russet, Graven-
stein, Fall Pippin, Cayuga Redstreak, Kibston Pippin, Pomme Grise, Swaar, Norton's Melon,
Snow, Golden Russet, Northern Spy, Newton Pippin, .Baldwin, St. Lawrence, Esopus Spitz-
enburg. Such a collection will not only enable the farmer to compete wiih his fellows at the
county or township shows, but if produced in sufficient quantities, would take the highest
prices in the European markets. No farmer, however, need be at a loss for a list of good
apples, who has the opportunity of consulting the back numbers of the Reports of the Fruit
Growers' Association.

There is no good reason why pear culture should not be made to enhance the profits of
the husbandman. Sir William Hamilton used to say to his students, " Gentlemen, read non
multa sed multvm" So we wonld say to pear-growers, cultivate not the many varieties, but
the few. If our experience is worth any consideration, we would be inclined to recommend
the few following varieties for the suitable localities of the Province : — Louise Bonne de Jer-
sey, Duchesse d'Angouleme, White andgrey Doyenne, BeurreClairgeau, Beurre d'Anjou, Gras-
lin, Supreme de Quimper, Doyenne du Cornice, Josephine de Malines, Bartlett, Winter Nelis,
Lawrence. i

Fruit drying and canning have both important bearings upon fruit growers. In the
United States the questions for discussion at most horticultural meetings are less or more
connected with improved modes of fruit preservation. Most farmers have good cellarage, and
where the cellarage is dry, and even in its temperature, fruit can be kept considerably beyond
the season. Pear is an important item, and has a ready sale in the markets of Boston, New
York and Philadelphia. Large prices are also to be had for the Bartlett, Beurre d'anjou and
Clairgeau in Montreal and Ottawa.

There is also nothing to hinder, but a want of sufficient energy, any farmer from having
his five or six acres of vineyard, which would furnish him with means of adding to the com-
forts of his table beyond his most fabled wishes. Grapes preserved, grapes dried, grapes from
the vines are most valuable as an article of diet. Where the usages of society demand the
moderate use of win© as a health preserver and invigorator of the human system, we can con
ceive of nothing more conducive to a manly feeling than the fact that, from his own vintage,
he has derived the means of cheer and soberness.

A cultivation of fruit little thought of by the farming community, and yet very impor
tant in its connection with the farming interest, is the culture of the cranberry. There
are very few farms in which there is not a swale or spring swamp, from which, with very little
trouble in grubbing up the useless scrub which luxuriantly grows in our marshes, and plant-
ng a few thousand plants of the cranberry, our farmers might not raise a bountiful supply

265

of berries for their own table, and from which their wives might not add to their house money,
by carrying with their butter to the nearest market a few bushels of this delicious fruit. In-
deed we are not sure but that our professional gardeners might do something in this way, and
speedily earn a competency to enable them to retire comfortably in their latter years.

We notice in the printed report of the Fruit Growers' Association, that Professor Buck-
land has introduced the coloured lithographs of our society into the Agricultural Report. This
is as it should be.

Who can estimate the silent influence of our utilized works thus spread broadcast among
our farming community ? Men learn as much by the eye as they do by the ear.

We regard this as one of the best directions which our efforts can take for the quiet
advancement of our fruit interests. The more we can amalgamate the agricultural and hor-
ticultural interests*of our Province, the more successful will be the ultimate results of both.
Let us only excite a general interest in two of the principal productive industries of the western
Province, and not one of the other industries will suffer.

Robert Burnet.

REPORT ON FRUIT PROSPECTS, BY MR. JAMES DOUGALL, WINDSOR.

Mr. Secretary, — Last winter was a most severe one on many kinds of fruit trees here.
The old peaches are either killed entirely or badly injured. Many of the old cherries and
plums are also killed or injured, and all the bearing quinces are killed to the ground. Pears
have also in many cases suffered severely. The young trees in nursery, however, suffered
very little, being more vigorous. What is most strange is that a great many apple trees in
thrifty bearing orchards, have been killed or injured so badly that they will never recover.

There will be very little fruit here of pears, plums and cherries, and no peaches or
quinces The' trees were loaded with blossoms, but I noticed that the blossoms were very
small in general and weak, and at the time I did not think they would set. I think we may
attribute this to the weakening influences of the two previous years of intense drought, not
enough of rain falling here during the whole two years to reach the roots of the trees, caus-
ing them to succumb to the severity of last winter, which healthier trees would and did with
stand with ease,

Yours, &c, J. D.

REPORT OF INJURY DONE TO GRAPE VINES AT HAMILTON,

JUNE 8, 1872.

The grapes of J. B. Bagwell, as they appeared on June 8, 1872 : —

Good order.

21 Clinton vines 4 years planted 17

24 Concords " 20

18 Delawares " ". 16

6 Dianas " 0

3 Isabellas " 0

4 Israellas " 0

3 Hartfords " 2

2 Rogers 15 " 1

2 " 19 " 2

2 " 4 " 0

2 " Salem " 1

3 Iona " 1

1 Creveling " 1

91 Vines 61 10 20

illed.

Injured

3

1

0

4

0

2

0

6

3

0

0

4

0

1

0

1

0

0

1

1

1

0

2

0

0

0

260

REPORT OF PERMANENT SEEDLING COMMITTEE, MET AT LONDON,

JULY 17, 1873.

Samples of two seedling cherries were exhibited by Mr. J. Rattenbury, sen., of Clinton'
Co. Huron, one a seedling from the White Heart, a light red cherry a little below medium
size, tender, juicy and sweet. The other a seedling of the Mazzard, under medium size,
black, juicy, sweet and of good flavour. The President was requested to write to Mr. Rat-
tenbury to get further information in reference to the hardihood and productiveness of
the trees.

Mr. Arnold, of Paris, submitted samples of seedling raspberries, raised from seed of
Hornet, crossed by Orange King, and from seed of Orange King, crossed with Hornet. No.
1, which belongs to the latter cross, is a large conical orange yellow berry, a good bearer.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO EXAMINE FRUITS AT ANNUAL

MEETING IN LONDON.

A very promising seedling grape is exhibited by Mr. Dempsey, of Prince Edward County
— a cross between the Hartford Prolific female and Black Hamburgh male. Bunch large
and slightly shouldered, berry large, sweet, with a pleasant melting flesh ; in flesh and flavour
it very much resembles the Black Hamburgh. The foliage, which is also shown, is very
much like that of the Hartford.

Also a promising white grape, from the same cross. Mr. Dempsey informs us that out
of a number of seedlings of this cross five out of every seven were white.

In view of the fact that the first grape mentioned, although grown so far east, is now
fully ripe, and of so good a quality, your Committee are so favourably impressed with it, that
they would recommend the Directors of the Association to appoint a Special Committee to
visit the grounds of Mr. Dempsey next season, and see this grape and any other seedlings he
may have in fruit, so that we may learn more of them.

Mr. Wm. Haskins, of Hamilton, has on exhibition two new seedling grapes, one of
which is also a cross between the Hartford Prolific and Black Hamburgh, and is very pro-
mising. This Mr. Haskins calls seedling A. Bunch compact, above medium size, slightly
shouldered ; berry of medium size, sweet, juicy, with readily melting pulp, and of fine flavour.
Seedling B is a cross between the Oporto and Black Hamburgh. Bunch large, loose and
heavily shouldered; berry black, scarcely medium in size, with a melting pulp and sprightly
flavour. A very promising wine grape.

A number of seedling apples were shown, some of them of promising appearance, but in
consequence of their unripe condition, your committee are unable to express any opinion
regarding them. One exhibited by Mr. Stibard the Committee think favourably of, and
would suggest the propriety of Mr. Stibard's submitting this apple again to the Seedling Com-
mittee when in perfection. Mr. R issell, of London, also exhibited a handsome seedling apple,
but unripe..

By special request of the meeting your committee on the following morning examined
the seedling apples of Mr. Cowherd shown in the Brantford collection at the Provincial
Exhibition ; —

No 1. Is a fall apple : large greenish yellow, splashed with red in the sun, mixed with
russet. Flesh fine grained, yellowish, and of good flavour.

No. 2. A handsome looking apple, medium to large, very much resembling Ribston
Pippin in appearance. We think it promising, but it is not ripe enough to judge of.

No. 16. A very pretty looking winter apple, resembling Maiden's Blush. Nos. 3, 26,
21, 20, were also winter apples.

Nos. 37 and 32 are fall apples, which your committee do not think are equal to some of
the varieties already in cultivation.

A seedling from Snow in an unripe state is, we think, promising, of medium size and
good appearance. Also one other variety without name, resembling Ribston Pippin ; a fall
apple above medium size, juicy and of good flavour.

267

An interesting specimen was shown of No. 19 of the crop of 1872, m an excellent state
of nreservation It is a pretty dessert apple, below medium in size, of a green colour, and as
tParrcoula judge from a sample so long kept, of good flavour. We should like to see

""''^M^'cowTerd also exhibited some ten varieties of seedling Crabs, some of them very
pretty; these may prove of value in some of the colder sections of the country, where the

aPP GMr. Ge0orgeCSmith, of Brantford, also exhibited several varieties of seedling apples, which
we should like&to inspect again under more favourable conditions.

William Saunders.

Charles Arnold.

SPECIAL EXPLANATORY NOTICE TO THE MEMBERS.

The Directors have to intimate that they proposed to send out the Barry Grape
(Rogers' 43) in the Spring of 1874, and instructed the Secretary, by correspondence with
leading nurserymen, to secure them. He was only able to find one man who would undertake
to furnish the required number. Late in October, he received word from this person that
owino- to the drought of the last summer, his plants were poorly grown, and that he could
not conscientiously send them as agreed upon, and sent samples to the Secretary in verification
of his opinion. After consultation, it was determined to issue, instead of the Barry another
of Rogers' hybrids— the Salem— a grape by some esteemed equal if not superior to the Barry.
This course was made imperative from the fact that it was impossible to obtain more than
two hundred plants of the Barry anywhere, and the Salem was the only one of the Rogers
Grapes that could be procured in sufficient quantity.

Those members who do not wish to receive the Salem will have the Barry sent to them
as far as the number we have will allow, if they will intimate their wishes to the Secretary,
on or before the 1st of March, 1874, when remitting their annual fee.

The Secretary, in distributing the Barry, will be instructed to act upon the rule, First
come, first served." In order that credit may be given to those to whom it is due?< it is
further proper to notice, that the gentleman who acted thus honourably with your Association
was Dr. Schroeder, of Bloomington, Illinois, from whom we have received the small number

of Barry which we have. ,,-,■,. *r \r i

The Salem grape vines have been obtained from Mr. Hubbard, Fredoma New York.
The gooseberries sent out this Fall were procured from Graves, Selover, Willard & Co.,
Geneva, New York, and those that will be sent in the Spring from Mr. Arnold, Fans,

Ontario

We regret to hear from various quarters that a number of the Grimes' Golden Pippin
sent out in the Spring of 1873 have died. From what has been represented us, we are in-
clined to believe that they were injured before they were received. Owing to the impossibility
of procuring a sufficient number from any one person, they were obtained from several
different sources, so that we are unable to trace whence the defective trees came. Unfor-
tunately, our finances are in such condition that we are unable to replace those trees that
failed to grow last Spring. We trust, however, notwithstanding occasional failures m the
apple trees, enough will have survived to test their adaptability to the climate of the various
sections of our Province. . , „

It gives us much pleasure to learn that the pear trees, although they were obtained trom
very many different nurserymen, have generally lived, and made a healthy growth.

The Directors have learned that there is a wide-spread desire to make a trial of the
English Filbert. In order to meet this wish, they will distribute it, in the Spring of J 875,
to those members who may intimate such wish to the Secretary, on or before the 1st March,

1874.

Those who choose the Filbert will not receive from the Association any other trees in
3 Spring of 1875. , ,

It is necessary that we should know, as early as the 1st March next, who desire to have
the Filbert, in order that arrangements may be made to procure the requisite number of

268

PRIZE LIST.
Permanent Prizes.

First. — An Honorary Medal to the originator of any new fruit which, having been
thoroughly tested for a series of years, is found to be worthy of being placed among the
fruits of its class for cultivation in Ontario.

Second. — Fifty Dollars for the best Canadian Seedling Late Winter Apple, to be at
least equal to the old popular varieties now in cultivation.

Third. — Thirty Dollars for the best Canadian Seedling Harvest Apple of like merit.

Fourth. — Twenty Dollars for the best Canadian Seedling Autumn Apple of same
excellence.

ANNUAL PRIZES.

Prizes for 1874.

First. — Awards may be made by the Committee on Seedling Fruits of sums not exceed-
ing Ten Dollars for any seedling fruit that may be submitted to them during the year which
they may deem worthy, although they may not yet be prepared to advise the Directors to
bestow either of the permanent prizes. Such award shall not in any measure disqualify the
exhibitor from eventually receiving, for the same fruit, one of the permanent prizes.

Second. — Five Dollars for the best Winter Seedling Apple, fruit to be grown in
1874, and exhibited at the succeeding winter meeting of the Association.

Third.— Five Dollars for the best Autumn Seedling Apple to be shown at the next
Provincial Exhibition.

Fourth. — Five Dollars for the best Summer Seedling Apple, to be sent when in
condition for examination to the President, Rev. R. Burnet, Hamilton, all charges prepaid,
and to be by him submitted to the Committee on seedling fruits.

Fifth. — Five Dollars for the best Seedling Winter Pear, fruit grown in 1874, and
exhibited at the succeeding Winter Meeting of the Association.

Sixth. — Five Dollars for the best Seedling Autumn Pear, to be shown at the Provin-
cial Exhibition.

Seventh. — Five Dollars for the best Seedling Summer Pear, to be sent, when in con-
dition to be examined, to the President, Rev. R. Burnet, Hamilton, carriage prepaid, for
submission to the Committee on Seedling Fruits.

Eighth — Five Dollars for the best Seedling Plum, to be sent to the President when
in season.

Ninth. — Five Dollars for the best Seedling Peach, to be sent to the President when
in season.

Tenth. — Five Dollars for the best Seedling Grape, of any colour, to be sent to the
President, when ripe.

Eleventh. — Five Dollars for the best Seedling Strawberry, to be sent, if possible, to
the Summer Meeting ; if not possible, then to the President.

Twelfth. — Five Dollars for the best Seedling Raspberry, to be sent, if possible, to
the Summer Meeting ; but if that be impracticable, then to the President, when in season.

Thirteenth. — Five Dollars for the best Seedling Gooseberry that is not subject to
mildew, whether of European or American parentage, or a cross between them • to be sent
to the Summer Meeting, if possible, otherwise to the President.

Fourteenth. — Five Dollars for the best Seedling Blackberry sufficiently hardy to
endure the climate of Ontario. Fruit to be sent to the President, when ripe.

Should two or more Seedlings of equal merit be shown, the prize shall be awarded to
each. The Committee shall in all cases withhold the prize altogether, if they do not deem
the fruit worthy.

A Seedling to which one of these annual prizes has been awarded cannot compete a se-
cond time in this class, but may compete in the class of Permanent Prizes.

A Seedling Apple which has received one of the money prizes in the class of Permanent
Prizes cannot again receive a money reward, but may be offered in competition for the Honor-
ary Medal.

269

Certificates op Merit.

SeedliDg fruits which have received any of the foregoing money prizes may be offered in
competition for certificates of merit.

The Committe on Seedling Fruits will report to the Directors those fruits which they
think to be worthy of a Certificate of Merit. The Directors will then make full inquiry
and examination concerning the character of the fruit, including size, appearance and qua-
lity, the habit, vigour, health, hardihood and productiveness of the tree or plant, and its
general adaptation to the climate of Ontario; and bestow such Certificate, if any, as they
may think it worthy to receive.

A fruit which has received a Certificate of Merit may be offered in competition for the
Honorary Medal.

The Honorary Medal may be given any number of times to the same person for different
fruits, but only once for any one fruit.

Conditions of Competition.

Seedling fruits offered in competition for these prizes must be shown in quantities of not
less than half a dozen specimens of each sort, if they be Apples, Pears, Plums or Peaches ;
if Grapes, not less than three bunches; if Berries, not less than one pint. Each sort or
variety must be accompanied by a statement, signed by the person sending the fruit, setting
forth the origin of the tree or plant, if known ; if the origin be unknown, then so much of
the history of the tree or plant yielding the fruit sent, as may be ascertained — its vigour,
hardihood and productiveness, the character of the soil in which it is growing, and what, in
the estimation of the sender, are the peculiar excellencies of the fruit. This rule must be
observed in all cases, whether the fruit be shown at the meetings of the Association or sent to
the President for the examination of the Committee.

DISTRIBUTION OF FRUIT TREES.

The Directors would call the attention of the members to the following announcement of
the trees and plants which it is their intention to distribute to all members of the Associ*
ation in the several years mentioned below.

1874
The Downing Gooseberry. — The Salem Grape.

See page 267 of this Report for explanation of the necessity for substituting the " Salem'
Grape in place of the " Barry," (Rogers, No. 43.)

1875.

The Swayzie Pomme Grise Apple, and either The Goodall Pear or The

Flemish Beauty Pear.

Members in sending in their annual fee to the Secretary will please to notify him which
of these pear trees they prefer to have sent.

1876.
Glass' Seedling Plum.

This variety of plum was originated by Alexander Glass, of Guelph, Ont. It is of more
than usual promise as a very valuable market plum. It is of large size, dark purple colour,
and attractive appearance, ripens after the bulk of the plum crop is harvested, keeps a long
time after being gathered, bears handling and carriage well, and, so far, has been exempt from
the rot.

270

The tree is a strong, upright, vigorous grower, very productive, quite hardy at Guelph
and Berlin, and gives promise of proving hardy generally. The trees will be grown by Mr.
Glass at Guelph.

The Directors find that it wil not be possible to send any other tree with this, and feel
assured that members will be well satisfied to receive one tree of such a promising Canadian
seedling fruit, and one which they could not purchase for less than a dollar per tree.

1877.

New Canadian Hybrid Raspberries.

Members will find in another part of this Report an account of some of theVonderful
results produced by our indefatigable Hybridists, W. Saunders, of London and Charles
Arnold, of Paris. Your Directors have made an arrangement with these gentlemen whereby
they are enabled to announce that these interesting and very promising raspberries will be
distributed among the members, for trial by them, and it is believed that those who receive
them will find that they are exceedingly valuable additions to our list of small fruits.

' 1878.

New Canadian Hybrid Grape.

Believing that P. C. Dempsey, of Albury, County of Prince Edward, Ont., has produced
a Hybrid grape that excels in quality any grape now in cultivation, and which ripening as
early as the middle of September in that County, gives promise of ripening throughout a
large part of ths Province ; your Directors have entered into negotiations with Mr. Dempsey
to have a sufficient number of vines grown for distribution among the members, and now
announce that they expect to be able to send it out in the spring of 1878.

1879.
New Canadian Hybrid Apple.

This apple is the product of the labours in cross-fertilization of Charles Arnold, of Paris,
whose skill in this department of labour is so well known to most of our members. This
apple sprung from the seed of the Northern Spy, fertilized with pollen of the Wagoner and
Spitzenburgh. It shows unmistakable marks of its parentage, combining many of he ex-
cellencies of all of these valuable fruits. The trees will be grown by Mr. Arnold, at Paris,
and will be sent out to all who may be members at that time.

1880.
Souvenir du Congres Pear.

This is a new French Pear that is but recently introduced to the notice of fruit growers
on this continent. It is of very large size, ripening a little before the Bartlett, and much
resembling that popular variety. We shall endeavour to perfect arrangements for securing a
sufficient number of the trees to enable the Board of Directors to send a tree of this splendid
variety to each of the members of 1880.

REPORT ON EXOTIC AND HARDY GRAPES, &o.

By Robert Russell, Brantford.

»

I have growing at present in my vinery, viz. : —

White Frontignan. — Bunch medium, but good flavour.
Chasselas Musque. — Bunch medium, but berry liable to split.

i71

Chasselas Golden. — Splendid flavour, bunch medium but pretty.

Chasselas Rose. — Flavour medium, bunch medium, good keeper.

Madresfield Court Black Muswt. — Not yet fruited.

White -Mce. — Bunch very large but poor flavour.

Black Hamburgh. — The very best, take it all and all.

Grizzly Frontignan. — Bunch medium, flavour No. 1, but last season the berries shrunk and

wilted bad (vine appeared in splendid health all season), would thank any one to give

me a reason.
Victoria Hamburgh. — Flavour good and fine bunch.
Black Frontignan. — Not much account, going to inarch it.
Bowood Muscat. — Flavour good, large berries but shy setter.
Duchess of Buccleuch. — Very good flavour, but rather shy setter. Don't think that it will

realize all that is said about it.
Muscat Cannon Hall. — Fine berry, good flavour, shy setter.
Muscat of Alexandria. — For a cold vinery, not to be depended on.
Muscat Hamburgh. — Flavour No. 1, bunch a little loose.

In regard to open air grapes, some of them I have succeeded very well with, such as the
Concord. — One of the best for this locality.
Delaware. — Answers well, bunch small but good flavour.
Isabella. — Good bearer, but altogether too late.
Sweet Water. — Did splendid when the vines were 3, 4, 5 and 6 years old, but since have

not done near so well.
Hartford Prolific. — Some seasons done well.
Rebecca. — Not to be depended on, too tender.

Have tried a few of Mr. Roger's Hybrids, but have not succeeded well in starting them,
but going to try again.

Now for a few words in regard to that excellent fruit the plum, and its great enemy the
Little Turk or Curculio.

I cultivate the Yellow Magnum Bonum, Duane's Purple, Bolmer's Washington, Brad-
shaw and Imperial Gage, Pond's Seedling and Purple Magnum Bonum, which are all doing-
well now, thanks to the information received, I think from the report of 1867.

My expectations when I first beheld them all covered with blossoms, and after the fruit,
were high indeed, but must say they were like the plums to be brought very low — being at
the time a novice at growing fruit. However, I thought if this is growing fruit, there is not
much pleasure in eating it. Having made up my mind not to be discouraged, after some
inquiries as to the cause, I soon found out what it was like, also its name. Now as to the
jarring of the trees, I must say that my success was small indeed, taking into account the
havoc they had made. On examining the fallen plums I found a small insect or worm in the
most of them, so I came to the conclusion if I could not catch the old ones, I would the young
ones, leaving the old ones to die the death of Jenkins' hen for the want of breath. I, there-
fore made a contract with my family that for each quart of fallen plums, and also the plums on
the trees that had the Turk's mark, by bringing them to me I would pay them 5c per quart.
No doubt I paid attention to them by burning them entirely up. Now I have the pleasure to
say that the sign of a Curculio is a rare occurrence on my premises now a days. It is my
opinion that if this was carried out to the letter of the law, the place that knows them now
would soon know them no more.

REPORT OF STRAWBERRIES SHIPPED FROM OAKVILLE.

Oakville, Nov. 27, 1873.

Dear Sir, — Having noticed in last year's Report of the Fruit Growers' Association
that there was no return or report from Oakville of the Strawberries grown there, I beg to
send you the following, thinking it may interest members and others : —

Total of cases shipped from Oakville, 2,682, or 144,828 quarts. . The principal growers
are : —

272

Mr. Robertson, who raised off 4J
Mr. Shelley " 6^
Messrs. Jones & Lackie " 4J-
Mr. W. Martin " 4
Mr. M. Phelan " 3f
Mr. Baker " 4

acres, old and new, 22,000 quarts.

17,000 "

« 15,000 "

14,017 "

12,000 "

6,048 "

D. W. Beadle, Esq.,

St. Catharines.

•

Yours truly,

Arthur L. F. Brymer.

List of the Contributors and their Contributions to the Exhibition op
the American Pomological Society, held at Boston, on the 10th. 11th,
and 12th of September, 1873.

A. M. Smith, of Drummondville and Grimsby, sent in 22 varieties of pears, 38 varieties
of apples, 4 varieties of crabs, a large assortment of peaches and other fruits. Charles Wool-
verton also contributed.

R. E. Hammill, of Ancaster, sent in plums, pears and apples and crabs. Those
contributing were John Hyslop, John Cruickshank, Fred. Shaver, Daniel Shaver, M. J.
Olmstead, W. E. Garner, S. N. Olmstead, W. B. Garner, Edward Armstrong, William
Hardy, J. Trotman, Allen Smith, A. J. Swaizzie, John Robertson, Charles Phillips, Charles
E. Whitcombe. Eyre Thuresson, Thos. Bauslaugh, John McMillan, George Thomson, John
Curry.

John B. Osborne, Beamsville, sent 8 varieties of grapes, several varieties of apples, 5
varieties of pears, seedling peach, from Royal Kensington, and 1^ dozen almonds.

James Hyslop, Ancaster Township, sent in 10 varieties of apples, pears and crabs.
Moore and Kitchen helped.

Charles Meston, of Hamilton, 5 varieties of apples.

D. Nichol, of Kingston, varieties of apples.

Charles Arnold, of Paris, was a very large contributor, and took much pains to make the
collection complete. He sent in a large variety of rare apples, pears, grapes and plums. His
coadjutors were William A. Smith, Paris Road ; C. Whitlaw, Paris ; N. Hamilton, J. W.
Acres, John Arnold and Henry Hatt.

Mr. Arnold also sent 18 varieties of seedling apples, which were brought under the at-
tention of the Seedling Committee appointed by the Pomological Society.

They were all from seed of the Northern Spy, crossed with pollen from the Wagener and
Spitzenburg.

A. J. Faulds, Walkerton, sent in apples, plums, crab and seedling apples. His assist-
ants were Wm. Rowan, Rev. M. Moffat, William Lamb.

W. H. Brooking, Ancaster Township, sent in 21 varieties of apples, 2 seedling apples,
called the Wentworth Seedling and Ancaster Seedling, a variety of plums, 10 varieties of
pears, and took much trouble and pains to forward the views of the Association.

Beadle and Buchanan, St. Catharines, sent 43 varieties of apples, some of them rare
varieties, 24 varieties of pears, good specimens, and some of them not otherwise to be had ;
42 varieties of hardy grapes, including common sorts, Rogers' and Underbill's varieties.

T. H. Graydon contributed a large number of choice varieties of grapes.

W. H. Heid sent his seedling grapes.

Geo. B. Wilson got up the collection from R. N. Ball and S. J. J. Brown, of Niagara ;
Gage Miller, Wm. Longhurst, and J. A. Wilson, of Virgil ; R. Niven, Wm. J. Parnall,
Seymour Parnall, and W. H. Nelles, of Grantham ; and Mr. Bowman, of Harrisburgh.

A. M. Ross, Goderich, sent a box of splendid plums. The Victoria and Pond's
seedling from A. Watson ; and the McLaughlin from J. Brophy.

George Elliott, Guelph, sent 14 distinct varieties of plums, nicely and carefully packed.
They carried almost without a bruise. David Allan, Wm. Alexander, Thos. Halliday,
Charles Davidson, And. Armstrong, and Alex. Taylor were contributors. Alexander Glass's
seedling plum arrived in good condition.

273

William Sanderson sent 5 baskets of apples, pears, grapes, &c. We regret we cannot
give the names of our friends at Bran tford who aided Mr. Sanderson. The contributors'
names were written on the address on the baskets ; amid the haste in getting the fruit ready
for Boston, the names of the gentlemen contributing were forgotten to be copied. A. Rainey
contribute .

James Dougall, Windsor, sent a large basket of pears, a large number of which are only
cultivated by himself. A seedling grape, which was submitted to the Seedling Committee
of the Pomological Society. A few varieties of apples not usually cultivated. The sum total
was about 70 varieties of pears. Among the apples, Garden Royal, Fenouliet Beausoleli,
and Scarlet Nonpareil.

W. Mackenzie Ross, New Rossford, Chatham, 25 varieties of apples, and a seedling of
Mr. Ross's No. 1. Alex. McDougall, Kent, Geo. E. Tate, Alexander Dolson, James Higgins,
David Wilsyn, E. Smith, Jas. Smith, Michael McGavin were his coadjutors.

Jonas Neff sent some splendid samples of apples. William Faris, South Wainfleet,
sent two varieties of apples.

D. Hammond Sheridan sent 4 varieties of seedling apples, of large size, and very fine
samples.

William Saunders, London, sent some magnificent samples of plums, grapes, apples and
pears. He took immense trouble, and contributed much to the successful issue at Boston.

Simon Roy, Berlin, sent 33 varieties of plums, and made every effort to make the
Association's Exhibition at Boston a success.

A. W. Taylor, of Hamilton, sent 2 varieties of apples.

Warren Holton, of Hamilton, sent in pears and apples.

John Freed sent in pears and apples.

Rev R. Burnet, 64 varieties of pears.

REPORT ON SEEDLING FRUITS FORWARDED TO PRESIDENT OF FRUIT

GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

The following members of the Association have sent in fruits for the purpose of being
submitted to the Seedling Fruit Committee, viz : —

William Saunders, London, samples of his No. 55 hybrid raspberry (Doolittle Black
Cap with Philadelphia) of his Nos. 34 and 39. These latter are both crosses between Phila-
delphia male and Brinckle's Orange female. 39 resembles Brinckle's Orange somewhat in
shape. 34 is unlike either of the parents, but inclines to the conical form. They are both
very heavy bearers.

Isaac Rattenbury, senior, Clinton, Huron, sent in three varieties of cherries, which were
examined by Seedling Committee, and reported on. (See Report.) I. Rattenbury says the
trees are perfectly hardy. The last variety sent was tough-skinned. Keeps for weeks after
it i> gathered. The tree is prolific ; the fruit growing in handfuls. The winter does not
injure a single bough.

A sample of seedling peach was also sent, but they were rather inferior fruit.

W. Haskins, of tlamilton, forwarded to the annual meeting a seedling grape, from the
Hartford Prolific cro sed with Black Hamburgh. This was the first fruit ; four years from
the seed. Is as early as the Hartford in a similar situation. (ISee Report.)

Also, a aWine Seedling," from the Oporto, crossed with the Black Hamburgh. The
vine on which this grape grew was six years old, and this was its second year of bearing.

D. Nicol, of Kingston Nurseries, sent in a sample of seedling apple, well adapted, he
thinks, for central Canada. Ripe about middle of August, and beginning of September.
This is a promising seedling.

J. H. Williams sent in a splendid specimen of accidental seedling grape. Owing to J.
H. Williams not sending his post office, it has been found impossible to communicate with
him.

J. D. Roberts, Cobourg, forwarded No. 1 and No. 2 seedling apples. No. 1 of poor
quality, large core. No. 2 somewhat better, but not valuable.

P. Pennock, Elgin, Ont., sent in three winter varieties of seedling apples. They cannot
18

274

compare favourably with other samples sent to the committee. The small white apple has a
good flavour.

G. G. Hamilton. Ailsa Craig, 3 seedling apples : No 1 Red, raised by John McEwan.

No 2 Yellow do do.

No 3 Red do Alex. Henderson.
These are fine, large, showy fruit, but not equal to well known varieties ripening at the same
time with them.

Charles Arnold, Paris, sent Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 seedling apples. No. 5 was fully ripe
when received. It has been pronounced by competent judges a fine dessert apple. The
other varieties are being kept for trial in their season.

Levi Turney, Colborne, forwarded a large, first class baking seedling apple. The tree,
on which it grew, is over 70 years old.

Col. McGill, Oshawa, forwarded some seedling raspberries — highly flavoured, large berry,
but a little soft.

From D. Hammond :

Apple No. One.

Fruit large, roundish, slightly conical ; skin, thin, smooth, yellow, striped and splashed
with pale and dark red on the sunny side ; stalk 1 J inches long, slender, set in a deep rather
broad, cavity ; calyx small, closed, set in a basin of moderate depth ; flesh white, tender, juicy,
sprightly, subacid ; very good, core small. Ripe middle of October.

Apple No. Two.

Fruit large, globular, a little flattened ; skin, yellow overspread with light and dark red
stripes ; stalk short ; calyx small, closed, in a shallow corrugated basin ; flesh pale yellow,
mild, pleasant subacid ; core large.

Apple No. Three.

Fruit large, roundish, conical ; skin yellow, splashed and dotted with red deepening in
the sun ; stalk short and stout in a narrow irregular cavity ■ flesh white, moderately juicy,
very mild, subacid, almost sweet ; core, medium or rather large.

To Revd. Mr. Burnet.

s Dear Sir, — Your note with the apples came to me when I was exceedingly busy with
my fall delivery of trees. They were put aside and overlooked until to-day. I have just
made the above short descriptions of each as they now appear to me. No. 2 was over ripe,
and they all 1 believe were past their best state. No. 1 appears to me to be the best and
well worthy of further notice. Hoping the above may be of some service and begging you
to excuse the delay.

I am very truly, Yours,

W. Holton.
Saturday, 25th October, 1873.

FRUIT TREES VERSUS TREE AGENTS.

(Written for the Annual Report)

We are strongly impressed with the conviction that a mine of wealth — a mine as yet
but very imperfectly developed — lies at the door of almost every one of our Canadian farmers,
in the cultivation of fruits, more especially apples and pears. We still find many timid and
over-cautious people who are unwilling to set out orchards through a fear of the market get-
ting overstocked ; but the great majority of our farmers are now being awakened to a full
sense of the importance attaching to this matter, and are taking immediate steps to remedy

275

the supineness which has only too long held possession of them. The danger to be appre-
hended from a "glut" in the market — especially of choice specimens — is very remote indeed,
so long as our wealth and city populations continue to increase at their present ratio, and the
Atlantic remains navigable to our steamers. The reception accorded the " Beaver -Brand "
in the Mother Country should be enough to dispel all fears on this head, even were no other
market open to us. Let our farmers produce a superior article — which can only be done by
careful planting of the best varieties, and afterwards giving them generous treatment — and
we vouch for it, that the demand will at all times be greater than the supply, and the prices
realized be fifty per cent, more remunerative than from any other crop. Of course, bad
varieties, and good varieties badly grown, will ever remain a " drug" in the market — home
or foreign. We are pleased to find our Canadian farmers awakening to a full sense of the
importance of fruit culture. Too long, and by too many, has it been looked upon as a
luxury to be indulged in only by those farmers and others in the enjoyment of " easy circum-
stances," and altogether beyond the reach of the struggling farmer, or of those whose sole
object is a pecuniary one. Every day is making it more apparent that this is an erroneous
and very mistaken idea. It is urged that the land occupied by young fruit trees is practi-
cally lost for some four or five years, until they come into a bearing state, and that for two
or three years more they will barely pay current expenses. This is another mistake, as there
is no good reason why ground set out with fruit trees should not be employed to raise other
crops until the trees come into full bearing, and be all the better for the cultivation necessary
for their production • always provided that due care is taken to return to the soil, by proper
fertilizers, what is being in the meantime abstracted from it.

There are indirect ways in which the cultivation of fruits pay, although in a manner not
generally recognized. The influence exerted by fruit culture upon the youth of our rural
districts — who, unfortunately, are only too much dissatisfied with the routine and mo-
notony of ordinary farm life — cannot be over-estimated. It is an influence not to be
determined by dollars and cents, but which is, nevertheless, inestimable. And when some of
our agricultural friends wish to part with their farms, either by letting or selling, the advan-
tage of having a well stocked fruit garden on them will soon become apparent. Of course, a
great deal will depend upon the judicious selection of varieties and the health and vigour of
the trees. And as thrifty young trees of the best varieties cost no more when obtained from
the proper source than do indifferent varieties of forced, unripe stuff, we cannot help asking
how much longer will men, men who are intelligent and shrewd business men in every other
respect, allow themselves to be made the dupes of Yankee speculators, whose only object is to
obtain their " dimes," irrespective of the value rendered, who are totally irresponsible, having
no stake or interest in the country which can be affected by their dealings, and who most
probably will never be seen or heard of after once the purchase is completed. What prospect
can there be of obtaining a really genuine article from such parties, and what remedy is there
for the victim when such is not obtained 1 The very fact of their being absolutely irrespon-
sible renders them utterly negligent, while the absence of any remedy or protection simply
offers an inducement to unscrupulous characters to defraud many of our too' confiding farmers.
We do not by any means include all the so-called " tree agents " in this category. Far from
it ; as it is well known there are many upright, honourable men amongst them, men who
would scorn to do a mean or dishonourable act ; and we quite mistake if these very men will
not be the first to join us in denouncing those confreres whose sole desire is to take advantage of
the carelessness or ignorance of purchasers. Nor are these remarks intended to apply to parties
directly representing particular " firms," who assume, or are more or less responsible for their
acts — and who, of course, have the same right to send out their representatives as any other
branch of commerce — but are intended solely to apply to those unprincipled men who do not
obtain their trees from the parties they pretend to represent, but furnish inferior trees, or
what is worse still, inferior varieties, or varieties not true to name, the prices charged being
the same — often more — as the best trees, of the very best sorts, could be had for, if procured
from some respectable Canadian nursery. While the after consequences can scarcely be put
down as peculiarly agreeable ; when, after years of patient care and good culture, the trees
arriving at the bearing state are found to be utterly worthless, not only is there the incal-
culable pecuniary loss, but the chagrin and disappointment of finding that, after years of
watchfulness, your trees are at best but fit for grafting other and better sorts upon. It is
claimed for these parties that they have been productive of good, that, by sheer importunity

276

and effrontery, they have induced many to make purchases who, it is more than probable,
would not have done so. Granted ; but the good done is entirely of a negative character ;
and it is a question if they have in those very cases not done more harm by supplying
indifferent and worthless stuff, thereby causing many to desist from planting who otherwise
would have done so had their friend's or neighbour's venture turned out successful.

In selecting and purchasing fruit trees of any description, it is of the first importance to
uet the best, and the sorts most suitable to the peculiar locality. We don't believe the best
results are likely to be obtained from young trees which have been raised in some mild section
of the United States and transferred from thence to the cold, bleak regions of some of our
own northerly counties. We would rather not be responsible for the results— more especially
when sorts are employed which, through climatic reasons, are wholly unsuitable. And yet
this is what is taking place continuously. Every section of the country is being overrun
twice a-year by gentry whose constitutional element is evidently " brass," and whose educa-
tional training has been so shaped as to render them wholly incapable of understanding a
simple answerwhen it assumes the form of •" no," but who are sufficiently conversant with
that portion of natural history known as human nature, as to have at all times on hand a
ready and an inexhaustible supply of "soft sawder;" and so high is their appreciation of
this, that it is generally applied ad libitum. The successful results arising from this appli-
cation is seen each spring and fall in the dissemination all over the country of thousands of
fruit trees which could he had equally cheap, and immeasurably superior, almost at their
own door. In almost every town of any pretension all over the Dominion, the leading sorts
of apples and pears are raised, and can readily be obtained, with the incalculable advantage of
having been tried and found suitable to the particular locality , while, dotted over the
country, within easy access, are many eminent nurseries, at which everything adapted to our
climate which is worthy of cultivation may be obtained, at prices which will compare favour-
ably with our smart cousins across the line. With the agents under notice, it is a favourite,
and to many, unanswerable argument, that the bulk of fruit trees sold as Canadian have in
reality been raised in the United States. That, in the ordinary course of business, any
nursery establishment may have an unprecedented "run" on a particular age or variety of
tree, and that to fill existing orders they may be obliged to obtain them whence they can, is
no more than is daily happening in every other branch of business. When such and similar
cases do arise, we may rest assured that every necessary precaution will be taken to obtain
the very best to be had from the proper source, the "trade," in all cases, having facilities
quite unknown to private individuals. To say that this occurs frequently, and as a matter
of course, is simply to state what is manifestly untrue; and to prove this, we have only to
remind our readers of the difference in the cost of labour in the United States as compared
with Canada, besides the additional expense of freight and duty, which amounts to no incon-
siderable item. With the increasing interest now taken in fruit culture, we hope this portion
—the foundation upon which all success or failure depends— will receive a degree of attention
from intending purchasers commensurate with its merits. To those purchasers our advice is
to deal only with some one of our respectable Canadian nurserymen— there is plenty of
choice— who have a name and character to lose, and whose future prospects are dependent
upon their supplying a genuine article, instead of patronizing strangers, whose commodities
have been frequently found to be dear as a gift— a form, bye-the-bye, they are never found
to take. In our opinion, Canadian nurserymen are far from blameless in this matter ; to us
there is an evident supineness, a want of " push," anything but creditable to them. While
we are being pestered bi-annually by agents who hail from all parts of " Yankeedom," such a
thin<> as the representative of a Canadian firm is a ram avis.

John M. Bothwell.

REPORT OF THE DELEGATION TO BOSTON.

To the Directors of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario.

Gentlemen,— By your appointment we were delegated from your Asosciation to the
meeting of the Pomological Society of the United States, at Boston, on the 10th, 11th, and
12th September. It is befitting that we should give you an epitome of what was seen, said,
and done for the furtherance of your views as Canadian fruit growers. The members of youi

277

delegation were appointed a Committee to collect samples of the fruits of our Province. A
large amount of correspondence, some travel, and a deal of trouble and work were involved
in the undertaking ; pains and labour wHch were cheerfully undertaken by a large number of
your Society's members, and by which alone could the objects contemplated have been accom-
plished. Elsewhere the names of prominent collectors and contributors are fully acknow-
ledged. The entire collection reached Boston in good condition, and, what was unexpected,
in good time, the express agency doing everything within their power to forward the packages.

Our Secretary took considerable trouble in announcing the objects of the Pomological
Society, and issued the following circular to prominent members, soliciting their assistance
and co-operation: —

•'• Dear Sir. — The American Pomological Society — an Association formed by fruit grow-
ers from the United States and Canada, and therefore an International Society-- proposes to
celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of its existence, by an unusually attractive meeting,
and large display of fruits. The Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario at its last meeting-
voted the sum of one hundred dollars, which has been increased by a grant of two hundred
dollars from the Lieutenant Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Hon. Com-
missioner of Agriculture, for the purpose of defraying the expense of sending a collection of
fruits of Ontario to that meeting. The meeting will be held at the City of Boston, in the
Hall of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, on Wednesday, September 10th, 1873, at 10
o'clock A. M., and continue for three days.

" The members of this Association who were present at the last meeting, were very desi-
rous that Ontario should be represented at this Exhibition, not only by her men who take an
interest in fruit culture, but also by a full display of her fruits. They felt that the fruits of
Ontario ought to be placed side by side with the best that North America can produce, be-
lieving that they can hold an honourable place even in such a great Fruit Exposition.

•: In carrying out the trust thus committed to them, the Directors have instructed me to
ask you if you are willing to visit the principal fruit growers of your vicinity, and ascertain
what specimens of fruit can be obtained of Apples, Pears, Plums, Peaches, and Grapes ; also of
Seedling Apples, Pears, Plums, Peaches and Grapes ; and induce the growers of the fruit to care
for it, by proper thinning out where it is needed, &c, so that the fruit samples may be well
developed, and communicate the result of your enquiries to the Secretary. Also if you will
be willing to undertake the trouble of having these specimens gathered, three of each variety,
each one carefully wrapped in paper, and then all carefully packed, so that they cannot shake
in the box or barrel, and sent to our President, Rev. R. Burnet, Hamilton, by express, in time
to reach him not later than the second day of September next. The funds at the disposal
of the Directors for this purpose do not admit of any compensation being given you tor this
trouble, but the express charges on the fruit will be paid by the President on its arrival in
Hamilton, and any necessary disbursements made by you will be refunded.

i: Each person so contributing fruit should be named by you, with a list of the samples
sent from him, so that due credit may be given to each contributor in the Report which the
Directors will make, and both the person furnishing the samples, and the section of the Pro-
vince from which they came, will in this way receive full acknowledgment for whatever they
send.

•'You will not need to send more than three specimens of each variety of Apple, Pear,
Plum, Grape, etc., but you should obtain specimens from different persons, and send the three
best you can select from all that are offered you.

"Please to have the kindness to reply to this circular as soon as possible, and if you cannot
spare the time to attend to it, have the goodness to mention the name of some one in your
locality who can devote the requisite time, and who would feel an interest in this matter.

" The silver medal of the American Pomological Society and fifty dollars are offered to the
State, Province, or Society, which shall exhibit the largest and best collection of Apples, cor-
rectly named : and a like prize for a similar collection both of Pears, Plums, Peaches and
Grapes.

" We believe Ontario ought to carry off one or more of these prizes, and that such a result
would do much towards turning attention to the fruit products of this Province.

" Please give the Association then such help as you can, and if we fail — we fail. But let
us each do what we can, and we will not fail. Try then ; please stir up the fruit men to thin

278

out their fruit at once, and prepare for the contest. Send at the above mentioned time, to
the President, the best you can select — from these the cream will be chosen, and Ontario
will win.

u Your obedient servant.

"D. W. Beadle,
"St. Catharines, July 25th, 1873. " Secretary:1

The response was a noble one — from Goderich, Chatham, London, Paris, Guelph, Ham-
ilton, St. Catharines, Niagara, Port Credit, and Kingston, contributions poured in, and were
duly contributed.

At Boston the expectations of your delegates were more than realized. It was the grand
est exhibition of fruits ever seen, and the greatest gathering of eminent horticulturists ever
held in the United States. It was the fourteenth session, and the quarter centennial cele-
bration of the American Pomological Society. In connection with the fruit exhibition of the
American Pomological Society, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society held its annual Floral
Exhibition in the Music Hall, of most rare and beautiful exotics.

The chief contributors of the London district were as follows : — W. Saunders, pears,
plums, apples, crabs ; Dr. W. Woodruff, magnificent specimens of plnms, of many of the
leading varieties ; Dr. V. A. Brown, some very choice pears and plums ; W. Birrell, many
varieties of apples, also some pears ; E. West, a number of very fine pears and apples.
Henry Taylor, some excellent pears and a few apples ; Wm. Barker, pears, plums and apples ;

including Grimes' Golden ; Waddel, very fine specimens of Belle Lucrative and Flemish.

Beauty pears. Dr. Francis, of Delaware, pears and apples ; John Williams, of London, good
specimens of Flemish Beauty; G. Watson, apples and pears. George Birrell; some very
fine apples.

All those called upon contributed most willingly, and with many good wishes for our suc-
cess. Many other members of the Society and lovers of fruit, would have aided us just as
willingly, had there been time to call upon them. As it was. the fruit brought together filled
five half-barrels in which they were carefully packed, each wrapped separately in paper, and
with paper shavings between the different layers. On the day appointed, these packages were
forwarded to our worthy President, and by him forwarded with the other contributions by ex-
press to Boston. The large number of packages got together, some thirty-eight in all, taxed
the carrying powers of the express company, and grave doubts were entertained of their ability
to deliver them all in Boston in good time. It gave us much pleasure and no little relief, to
find when we reached the place of meeting on Tuesday morning, that all our barrels, boxes, &c,
were on hand in the building awaiting our disposal. The only thing which in any way mar-
red our pleasure, was an intimation to the the effect that our esteemed friend and fellow dele-
gate, Mr. James Dougall, would be prevented, in consequence of illness in his family, from
being present with us. These untoward circumstances at home did not, however, prevent him
from doing his utmost to aid us in the undertaking, by contribnting from his own and neigh-
bouring collections, a number of very choice pears, &c, &c.

Now began the tug of war. On every hand we were surrounded by competitors in all
departments— all most good-naturedly greeting and welcoming us to this great gathering,
while, at the same time, each one was anxious for the success of his own particular State.

Nebraska had spent a large sum of money and much labour in bringing her collection to
its greatest possible state of perfection, and every precaution had been taken to preserve the
fruit from injury during the long journey from the so-called "Great American Desert " to
Boston. A special car had been built for this purpose, and some of her leading agriculturists,
along with the Governor of the State, sent to represent her interests. Kansas, also, had made
great efforts to hold the position she had so well won at the previous meeting (two years
before) in Richmond, where she carried the palm over all others. California and Utah were
also represented, as well as nearly all the Middle, Western and Northern States, as well as
some of the Southern ones.

The Committee of Arrangements treated us very handsomely, giving us what wc con-
sidered as the place of honour in the Hall, viz., the head and forward half of the large centre
table, which was about GO feet long, by 12 or 14 feet wide, Nebraska occupying the lower
half; so here, on entering the main hall, the first thing that struck the visitors' eye was the
display from Canada — of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association. By dint of many hours

279

still when we overlooked our enure stock, we had so umch to select from-tnanks to our
many kind contributors-that our display, when completed, was truly magnificent At the
he^ofou, table, as visitors entered the room, fifty varieties of the choicest plums first
.reeled the eye. In this department no other collection came near us. Our plums astonished
Slmost every one Next, fifty varieties of grapes, arranged on plates stretching across the
thole widt/of the table.' Next, the peach!, which were very fine and most o. which had
been contributed by our esteemed friend and former Director A. M Smith, of Grimsby-
fifteen var eaese in \n Thea followed a truly superb collection of pears embracing one
hunared nlTwenty^wo sorts, together with a beautiful private col ection «f our P^jdent s
including one hundred and ten varieties ; and last but not least our valuable and most
ereditabFe collection of apples, numbering, in all, one hundred and forty kinds

On Wednesday morning before we had fully completed our arrangements the ^ hall was
thrown open to the public, aud soon the passages were crowded w't\d^'y-~t^;PneaCnia;
tors Notwithstanding the fact that we had large placards, on which Canada s fair name
w «Jj7STZo^™t our collection, .as well as that of " The Ontano Fruit Gt were
Association.^ here, there^and everywhere, still we met with many such remarks as the ^follow-
ing:-" Is this the California table ? " « These fruits are from California, aren t tney .
And when told that they were all from Canada, eyes were opened wide r than before, and t he
greatest astonishment expressed, and sometimes doubts expressed as to their being grown m

the °mbZk« had the best display of apples, consisting of 190 named varieties, besides a nun,
ber unnamed. Nebraska also exhibited a few varieties of pears , ,ft ~™Hm

Kansas brought a very fine, collection of apples, second only to Nebraska, also .0 varieties
of pears, 5 varieties grapes, and specimens of the fruit of the Osage orange

Connecticut had less than half the display which Canada produced. About 100 varieties
pears, 80 or 90 apples, 10 varieties of grapes, and several sorts of eranbernes.

Ohio's display consisted of 100 varieties of apples. „„„=„„1W

Georgia exhibited 12 or 14 varieties of pears, among which we noticed some unusually
fine Seckel, and very large specimens of Duchess d' Angouleme.

Ptroimo, 12 to 15 varieties of apples, among which were immense samples of Mam
moth Pippb! 25 pears, including enormous Seckel and Duchess, also five varieties of figs

"VutnTofColumbia, from 70 to 80 varieties of pears, and 3 sorts of peaches.

California exhibited 12 varieties of grapes grown in the open air, among whicl .we ob-
served five bunches of Black Hamburgh and Muscat of Alexandria, one dish of sweet green
oranges, one plate green olives, about 22 varieties of pears of immense size, among them were
Seckel, Vicar! Duchess, Easter Beurre, Beurre Clairgeau and Belle Angevine ; 44 varieties
apples among which were very fine specimens of Spitzenburgh. Wegener, Greening, and No. -
them Spy, afso several varieties of lemons of enormous size, and specimens of Shaddocks an
immensely large variety of the orange, but of inferior quality, with a plate of Pomegranate

Mr Clapp of Dorchester, Mass , exhibited a magnificent plate of his Clapp s favourite
pear, with samples of 86 other varieties of seedling pears, ffis No. 83 was a very handsome
pear-No. 37, a seedling of Beurre Bosc, was not unlike the Beurre Clairgeau in form and
colour, but his No. 33, as far as appearance goes, cames_ the palm. It is of a lovely pear
shape, a bright colour, and ripens with the Clapp's Favourite ; it seemed to be inclined how-
ever, to rot at the core. No. 117 was also a handsome pear, not unlike the Vicar in form
No. 22 was a large and very beautiful pear. No. Ill not so handsome in form, but ruddy
aud of good sizef No. 55 resembled Marie Louise in form and size. Besides those mention-
ed there were many others of promise. We anticipate with great interest the appearance of
the report of the Committee appointed to examine these seedling truits

John B. Mann, or Moore (I don't know which), of Massachusetts had on exhibits .55
new seedling grapes, many of them much resembling the Concord, and some of them wry
handsome. No. 1 is a large black grape, which claims to be 10 days earlier than the Hartfo.d
Prolific. If it is as good as it looks it will be a valuable acquisition.

280

Missisippi exhibited 8 varieties of green oranges attached to the branches on which they
had grown.

I 'iah had about 40 varieties of apples and about 20 of pears ; none, however, of any special
interest ; some plates of peaches and plums were also shown from that distant region, but they
were both in a very bad state of preservation.

lou-a had 125 varieties of apples.

Delaware was first in peaches, having about 30 varieties, some of which were very large
and handsome ; also about 40 varieties of pears, among which we observed very large Sheldon,

lett. Duchess, Beurre d' Anjou and Seckel. i

Indiana had rather a meagre display ; about 14 kinds of apples, 10 of pears and 6 of
peaches.

Wisconsin — about 75 varieties of apples and 13 varieties of pears.

Michigan showed some bottled fruits, plums, peaches, red and white raspberries, straw-
berries and figs, also 9 plates of peaches, consisting of not more than two or three varieties,
and two large plates of Delaware grapes. Besides this, Michigan had 16 varieties grapes, 11
of plums, and about 25 of pears, and 75 of apples.

Illinois was very poorly represented in one corner by about half-a-dozen varieties of
pears and one variety of apple.

Vermont made a very good display, consisting of 117 varieties of apples, 26 of pears,
and 20 of crabs.

New Hampshire showed only 8 varieties of apples, 22 of pears, and 16 of grapes.

Connecticut had on exhibition from 70 to 80 varieties of pears.

Among the private collections entered for competition, that of Ellwanger & Barry, of
Rochester, demands first notice. It consisted of varieties of pears, being a most complete
collection of the rarer as well as the standard sorts, and attracted general attention from their
great beauty. Almost every specimen was perfect in form, well coloured, and in an admirable
state of preservation. It was in all respects a first-class collection, and well deserved the
award made to it of a silver medal and $50. Among the newer varieties which, as far as
appearance went, impressed our minds most favourably, were the following : — St. Crispin, a
magnificent-looking pear; A clams, very handsome ; General Canrobert, large, and much like
Vicar ; Black Worcester, a large Winter sort ; Horton, a beautiful-looking Fall pear ; Lieu-
tenant Poidevin, a late Fall pear, not unlike Duchess, Niles, a handsome pear, something-
like the Sheldon ; Therese Appert, very like Beurre Clairgeau ; Hericarte de Thury, a hand-
some Winter variety, and of fair size ; Loriol de Ramay, of Vicar shape, a fine Fall pear •
Madame Andre Leroy, a handsome Winter pear; Hebe, ripens in early Winter — resembles
Beurre Clairgeau ; Schenck, a beautiful Fall pear ; Souvenir de Congres, a very large early
Fall fruit ; Lodge, a handsome russetty Fall fruit ; Beurre oV Assomption, a large Summer
pear.

Mr. Moody, of Lockport, had a very fine display of pears, consisting of over a hundred
varieties. Among them we observed a magnificent plate of Beurre d'Anjou, also extremely
fine Slieldon, Flemish Beauty, Bartlett and Kirtland,

Messrs Hoag & Clark, of Lockport, showed twenty-two varieties of hardy grapes, some
of them very fine.

Messrs. Smith & Powell, of New York, about sixty-seven varieties of pears and one of
grape. Beside* these, there were several other smaller collections of seedling and other fruits,
consisting of apples, pears and grapes.

The Massachusetts fruit growers did not enter their fruits for competition, but merely
for display, and were shown in a large room below. Here that enterprising and worthy
veteran, President Wilder, filled an entire table with pears of his own growing, comprising
404 varieties. Messrs. Hovey & Co. were not far behind the President, having on exhibition
no less than 325 varieties of pears. N. Durfee, of Fall Kiver, showed one variety of nectarine,
nineteen of peaches, and twenty -two of grapes grown under glass. There were also quite a
number of other smaller contributors to the Massachusetts department.

First Day.

Everything done in Boston, in connection with the gathering of Pomologists, was done
in good taste aud with exquisite unanimity and forethought. The members of the Pomologi-

281

cal Society were considered the guests of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. President
Strong welcomed the members in the Wesleyan Hall, where the business meetings were held.
The welcome was responded to by the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, than whom no man can bet
ter discharge the duties devolving upon him.

Letters were read from Mayor Pierce, extending the hospitality of the city to the Society,
and tendering a public reception at Faneuil Hall ; from Mr. Gray, inviting the Society to
breakfast, at his residence in the Highlands j and from H. H. Hunnewell, to visit his grounds
Your President was made Chairman of, the Committee on Credentials, and appointed a vice-
President of the Society.

The reception at Faneuil Hall was really magnificent. The surroundings, audience,
speakers, and notabilities, were singularly impressive. Though no American, your President
could appreciate the reminiscences and struggles of the pilgrim fathers. At every allusion
to their achievements, and they were many, he felt himself more thoroughly a Briton, for the
men who vindicated American liberty and stood by human rights, could only act as they did
by themselves, being Britons. President Wilder's mention of Washington, Webster, and
other heroes, called forth hearty plaudits.

The next meeting of the Pomological Society was fixed to be held at Chicago two years
hence. In the afternoon President Wilder gave a long, eloquent, and thrilling address.

Second Day.

The proceedings of this day began very early, especially to those who had been diligently
at work late the night before. The cars to take visitors to Mr. Gray's residence started
promptly at 7 o'clock from the Temple. We were greatly struck with the public spirit and
munificence of the proprietors of the beautiful private country residences in the neighbourhood
of Boston. When one enquired for a ticket for the journey, the answer was, step in, nothin
to pay. The streetcars on this occasion were free, and in the afternoon, when proceeding to
H. H. Hunnewell's, railway accommodation was again provided free of cost. The grea^
wealth, and horticultural taste of the Boston princes, have made that section of the United
States famous over the world for its horticultural products. The unselfishness of their wealth
was surprising. Possessing large means, and spending their money freely on the beautifying
of the face of the country, they desire to give to others the enjoyment of the beautiful crea-
tions of their wealth, as they themselves enjoy. Many of the grounds surrounding princely
mansions are open to the public, who eagerly avail themselves of the privilege without any ap-
pearance of vandalism, either in wandering through the parks, flower gardens, conservatories
or orchard houses. H. H. Hunnewell and William Gray, jr., are not only munificent patrons
of horticultural art, but public educators, whose ennobling lessons characterize the splendid
civilization of Boston society, and the reflex influence of which will sooner or later find its
way to more western cities, and even penetrate, we trust, to western Canada.

Public recognition of 'Sf.r. Gray's munificence was made on assembling for business. In
fact every thing seemed to be done in the right way, and at the right time.

At four o'clock, the members of the Society proceeded to the station of the Boston and
Albany Railroad, where a special train took them to Wellesley, the country seat of H. H.
Hunnewell, Esq., who had courteously invited the members to visit his grounds. On arrival
at the villa, the party were not formally received, but were at liberty to stroll in such direc-
tions as they desired. The large assemblage, therefore, divided itself into several parties, and
scattered over the extensive grounds. The wonderful perfection of the grounds, which com-
bine the highest refinement of landscape gardening, elicited universal wonder and surprise,
and many exclamations of delight were heard on every side. To give a description of these
grounds, which are justly acknowledged to be the finest in America, would require volumes —
a passing notice being inadequate to do them justice, or convey an idea of their transcendent
beauty. The Italian garden, with its grand terraces and exquisite evergreens trimmed in
fanciful shapes, and in the perfection of the topiary art, together with the granite balustrades
of the parapet, and its vases and statues, reminded many of the visitors of the splendours of
the Lake of Como, in Italy. Without question, this is the most successful attempt on this
Continent of this unique feature of gardening. The flower garden, where exquisite combi-
nations of ribbon bordering were in profusion, was not less admired ; the magnificent lawns,
with the grouping of the different trees, forming a most perfect instance of landscape garden-

282

ing, together with the very extensive ranges of green and orchard houses, were only succes-
sive displays of beauty which surprised the delighted guests at every step. To crpwn this
feast for the eye, the doors of the mansion were thrown open, and a superb collation of the
most elaborate productions of the culinary art was served. After enjoying the generous
hospitalities of Mr. Tlunnewell. the party returned to the city, highly pleased with the rare
opportunity which was afforded them of seeing this earthly paradise — it being unanimously
conceded that Providence, in allotting to Mr. Hunnewell a large share of this world's goods,
had bestowed it with a discriminating hand, as he had wisely expended a portion of them in
creating such a marvel of rural art and taste, from which the public were not excluded, thus
giving to others a share of the pleasure derived fromuts possession.

The following Committee on Award of Premiums for fruits was announced. We give it
just as it was passed, that our fruit growers may have a list of the eminent fruit judges of the
United States.

Apples. — Messrs. Downing, of N.Y. • Bateham, of Ohio ; Richmond, of Louisiana ; Bow-
ditch, of Massachusetts ; Moore, of Rhode Island.

Pears. — Berckmans, of Louisiana ; Hooker, of New York ; Manning, of Massachusetts ;
Earl, of Illinois ; Quinn, of New Jersey.

Grapes. — Hoag, of New York ; Shaw, of New Hampshire; Hamilton, of Nova Scotia ; Sar-
gent, of Massachusetts ; Thurber, of New York.

Seedling Fruits — Messrs. Thomas and Ellwanger, of N. Y. ; Hovey, of Massachusetts ;
IJurnet, of Canada ; Median, of Pennsylvania.

Figs, etc. — Messrs. Leighton, Breckinridge and Swazey.

Peaches. — G. W. Campbell, of Ohio ; Edward Adair, of Michigan ; Judge Schley, of
Georgia ; Dr. E. W. Sylvester, of New York; H. Saltonstall, of Massachusetts ; Dr. Prettyman,
of Delaware.

Plums. — P. T. Quinn, of New York ; W. M. Howsley, of Kansas ; F. M. Hexamer, of
xNew York.

John J. Thomas, gave in a report on rejected fruits and synonyms. He said that cata-
logues had been long ago prepared, separating worthless varieties of fruit from the valuable
ones, and now the really worthless kinds would pass away without a list.

Mr. Barry gave in the report of the Fruit Committee. The reports received from
societies in the States, territories and the provinces, were ordered to be compiled for
publication in the proceedings of the convention.

President Wilder introduced the subject of money premiums for fruit. Dr. Howsley
hoped that hereafter medals only would be offered for new and specially meritorious produc-
tions. This opinion carried generally, and a resolution was brought in to give it effect.

The catalogue of fruits was then taken up. The discussion elicited the fact, that State
reports from one individual do not give satisfactory information as to the excellence of a par-
ticular fruit over the whole area of the State. Examples were given, where at one point of
New York State, Northern Spy was pronounced a failure, aftd at another point, as fine
specimens as could be imagined were produced. The result comes to show evidently that cer-
tain peculiarities of soil, good culture and managemnnt, influence certain varieties more than
the climate of a certain geographical zone.

Third Day.

President Wilder took the chair at the hour named in adjourning, and reports were pre-
sented by the Committee on foreign fruits, apples, peaches, figs and oranges, these were held
as read, to save the time of the Society. They will all appear at full length in the published
proceedings.

A Committee was appointed to investigate the origin of the Phylloxera Vastatrix, an in-
sect which is devastating the best wine growing districts of France, and whose introduction

. mi

there has by some French wine-growers been attributed to American nurserymen The ob-
ject of the Committee being to practically refute this accusation.

The 1 'resident submitted an essay by Professor Asa Gray, entitled, "Were the Fruits made
for Man, or did Man make the Fruits?"

Awards were then submitted by the Committee as follows :

Apples. — The report of the Committee on apples stated that the collection was very large

283

md excellent, and embraced some 2000 plates, of which the best were from Nebraska, 190
varieties, to which was awarded the first premium of the Wilder Silver Medal and $50 for
he largest and best collection of apples, correctly named, from any State or Society, three
specimens of each variety. The second premium, the Wilder Bronze Medal and $25, to
Kansas for 175 varieties. For the largest and best collection, correctly named, grown by
me individual, the first premium of the Wilder Silver Medal and $50, to J. W. Ross, of
Derrysburg, Ohio, for 100 varieties. The first and second premiums which follow, are the
;ame as these above.

Pears. — First premium to the Cambridge Horticultural Society for 133 varieties ;
econd, Connecticut State Board of Agriculture, 122 varieties. Best grown by one mdi-
idual, Ellwanger and Barry, Rochester, N. Y., 317 varieties ; second, Hovey & Co., Cam-
bridge, 325 varieties.

Grapes. — Best collection of named varieties, Ontario Fruit Growers' Association ; second,
South Haven, Mich., Pomological Society. Best grown by one individual, J. H. Rickets,
^ewburgh, N.Y. ; second, Hoag & Clark, Lockport, New York. Largest and best collection
:rown west of the Rocky Mountains, James Rutter, Florin, California. Best collection grown
mder glass, George B. Durfee, Fall River, Mass.

Peaches. — Largest and best collection from any State or Society, Central Delaware Fruit
Growers' Association ; second, Ontario Fruit Growers' Association. Best private collection,
)avid F. Myers, of Bridgeville, Del.

Plums. — Best State or Society collection, Ontario Fruit Growers' Association ; second,
)eseret Agricultural and xManufacturing Society, Utah. Best private collection, C. H.
rrierman, Milton, Wis. ; second, C. P. Peffer, Pewaukee, Wis.

Nebraska, Connecticut and Ellwanger & Barry returned the money premiums awarded
hem to the treasury of the Society. There was also a large number of silver medals awarded
is special premiums, and gratuities for fruits and seedlings.

The foregoing result will show well how Canada stood among the States of the Union ;
nd the following synopsis, from the pen of Mr. Beadle, will give a fair view of the results
iccruing to Ontario as a whole.

GREAT INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF FRUIT.

Most Gratifying Success of Ontario.

There has been the largest and most brilliant display of fruit at Boston, under the
tuspices of the American Pomological Society, the world has ever seen. Premiums were
iffered for the largest and best collection of apples; also of pears, plums, grapes, peaches, &c,
hown by any State or Province. The Government of our Province, on the recommendation
>f the Hon. Commissioner of Agriculture, granted the sum of $200 to the Fruit Growers'
Association of Ontario to aid in defraying the expense of sending a collection of the fruits of
his Province to that exhibition. The officers of that x\ssociation, with a most commendable
;eal, undertook the labour of gathering and exhibiting our fruits, and the results we announce
o-day are surprising even to ourselves.

The State of Delaware, as might well be expected, received the first prize for peaches ;
)ut Ontario carried off the second prize, thus showing that in an unfavourable year, such as
he present, we stand second to the greatest peach growing State, in the number and quality
)f the varieties of this most luscious fruit.

But in hardy, open-air grapes, Ontario took the lead, and carried off the first prize
?or the largest collection. Much has been said over the border about the peculiar advantages
vhich one State possessed over the other for the cultivation of grapes, and we think it must
lave opened their eyes a bit to the peculiar advantages we enjoy in Ontario, to have as step
n and carry off the Silver Medal.

And yet, again, Ontario bears the bell. Her collection of plums distanced all competi-
ion, and the first prize was again borne away, carrying with it another Silver Medal.

sNor were these all the honours. Although quite out-numbered by Massachusetts and
Jonnecticut, in the number of varieties of pears exhibited, so that Ontario could not carry
)ff either of the prizes offered ; yet such was the excellence of the sample shown that the
udges awarded a Silver Medal to Ontario for her collection of pears.

284

But we have not yet enumerated all. Her total collection of fruit was so large, and of
such fine appearance, as to astonish every one ; and the judges expressed their admiration of
its beauty and excellence by bestowing another Silver Medal upon Ontario for the entire
collection.

In addition to these awards for the Provincial collections, there was awarded to the
• President of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario a Bronze Medal, for his own fine and
varied private collection of pears grown in his own grounds.

Thus it will be seen that Ontario comes off with flying colours, having been awarded
Six Medals, four of them silver and two bronze, and of these two at least were won in earnest,
downright competition with each and all of the States of the American Union.

These competitions have a value in bringing before the world the fruit productions of
different States, and we doubt not many will be surprised to learn the high place we really
hold among the fruit growing countries of this Continent.

* A Delegate from Philadelphia made a statement relative to the coming Centennial,
which is to take place in that City in 1876. He said that the Commissioners of Fairmount
Park had assigned 300 acres for that purpose, some 39 of which would be devoted to the
Horticultural Department. He sought the co-operation of the Pomological Society. It
would be well for Canadian fruit growers to begin early to prepare for this grand display. I
notice that Count Bismarck, of Germany, has promised the countenance and aid of his
Government, and that of His Majesty the German Emperor to forward the objects contem-
plated. Canada ought not to be behind, and now is the time to prepare.

A grand Banquet was given on Friday evening, in the Music Hall, by the Mass.
Horticultural Society, to the Delegates of the American Pomological Society. The Hall wag
transformed into a scene of festivity and fairy-like splendour. " The fragrant offerings of
Flora, and the luscious fruits of Pomona ; the bright colours of the northern conservatories,
and the dark, feather-like foliage of tropical growth ; the brilliancy of flashing silver, relieved
by delicate twining vines ; the elegant costumes, bright faces, and sparkling eyes ; the deep
tones of the great organ, and the sweet strains of the Germanic orchestra, combined to please
the eye and the ear, and gratify that finer taste in which cultured men and educated wome
find the highest delight."

W. F. Strong presided ; and after a speech of kindly welcome to the members of the
American Pomological Society, and to the guests, he gracefully requested the Hon. Marshall
P. Wilder to preside, which he did, giving universal satisfaction.

Sentiment, song, speech, and response followed in quick succession, after the viands and
delicacies had been done ample justice to by all present. Your President and Secretary were
honoured with a position near to the place of honour on the platform.

The main attraction of the hall was a large table, which ran lengthwise of the floor from
the centre of the platform, and was covered with the most elaborate silver ware as an appro-
priate offering to the silver anniversary of the Society, in whose honour the banquet wag
given. Tall flower stands of solid silver, wrought into the most perfect semblance of the
ferns and floral ornaments they upheld ; brilliant candelabras of silver, and all of the necessary
accessories of the table, made of the same precious metal, were festooned and linked together
in the most graceful designs, with graceful cables of smilax, which sprang from the nicely
arranged pyramids of flowers placed at regular intervals. Tall ferns and palms waved their
delicate green foliage above the heads of the passing throng, and the sides of the hall were
bordered with a variety of variegated plants and flowers.

Governor Washburn, Mr. Shaeffer, of Pennsylvania, Mayor Pierce, of Boston, Governor
Furnass, of Nebraska, the Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, the Hon. M. Daniels, of Virginia, Dr.
George B. Loring, your President, Judge Schley, Rev. Dr. Parker, London, England, Mr.
Meehan, of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Rowe, of New York, took an active part in this glorioufi
reunion of horticulturists.

The Hon. Marshall P. Wilder gave a brief address, and expressed his thanks for the
various congratulations bestowed upon him and the Association.

Friendly farewell greetings having been indulged in, the Delegates and guests departed,
carrying with them the most pleasant reminiscences of the Quarter Centennial celebration of
the Pomological Society at Boston.

285

Miscellaneous Notes,

My note-book contains more memoranda than you would like to hear. There are a few,
owever, which might prove profitable and interesting, which, in conclusion, I crave your
adulgence in submitting.

A dish of the most gorgeous fruit seen at Boston was one of Clapp's Favourite pear.,
•Ir. Clapp, whose acquaintance I made, is a gentleman of great and varied attainments, and
.as successfully hybridized a vast number of splendid varieties of pears. It was something
tartling to see the size and beauty of Clapp's Favourite, a pear not unknown to Ontario,
'he flavour is as good as the appearance of the pear would indicate. There were exhibited
n the same table a large number of seedling hybrids from " Clapp's Favourite." 83 equally
andsome as the parent; 135 large and good; 114, 113, 78, 112, 117, and No. 37, a seed-
ng from the Beurre Bosc • 13, 23, 105, a very large dark-green spotted pear; 93, a very
irge handsome dark-spotted pear; 44, bright gold, very large ; 111, a remarkable red pear,
,nd superb ic. flavour ; 92, 2, 49, from Beurre Bosc ; 78, large, green , 104, medium-sized,
ark-green spotted pear ; 10, beautiful shape ; 25, 73, handsome, over medium ; 34, a seed-
ing from Beurre D'Anjou; 57, from Bartlett ; 50, 71, large; 64, lovely shape; 26, from
lapps Favourite ; 31, from Beurre D'Anjou ; and 55, peculiar shape, like Louise Bonne
e Jersey. These all may be relied on as commanding both look and taste. When they are
nee in the market, a large number of superb pears will be added to present collections. Mr.
^homas, in speaking to me of them, said of the seedlings of Mr. Clapp, " that they were
urtied in Nature's finest lathe."

Dr. Sylvester showed a seedling early Fall apple, red cheek, white crisp flesh • an exqui-
ite apple, cooks well, with sub-acid flavour.

Ellwanger and Barry's List

St. Marc, medium fair fruit. Beurre de Waterloo like Louise Bonne de Jersey in
hape (a).

Louis Vilmorin, large, handsome, dark red pear (w).

Puebla, very large, rough green (/).

Duchess Precoce (s), Bartlett like.

Calabasse D'Octobre (/), very large, green fruit.

Bonne de 2ees (/). Beurre D'Assomption (s), large yellow beautiful pear. Dr.
Souvier (/), large pear. Jackson (/), deep red, under medium.

Tarquin (10) ,bright green, large. Bonne Boi Rene ( /), handsome, pale blush Edmond's,
ellowish green (s), very large. Lodge (/), drab, yellow green, over medium, large. St.
Francois Seigneur (s), Bergamotte shape.

Souvenir de Congres, monster size, handsome, remarkable pear, French origin (s).

Vandcrpool (/ ), pale yellow, handsome shape. Cabot Golden (/), small. Coits' Beurre
/), small, pretty pear.

Henkel (/), stem singularly inserted, a very remarkable pear. Van Asche (/), round,
lark red spots, marbled red and green.

Rouge D'Anjou ( / ), blush pear.

Hebe (early w), shaped like Beurre Bosc, warm red cheek.

Piccola (/). like peach; hence, I suppose, the name.

Beurre D'Anjou (/), lovely pear.

Doyenne Robin (/), pale, spotted, roundish pear, large.

Belle Williams (w), large pear.

Paternoster (iv), large.

Marie Louise d' Uccles (/), large, dull yellow.

Madame Andre Leroy (iv), large, handsome pear.

Hericart de Thurry (w), very superb pear.

St. Crispin (/), rough, very large, bright green blush.

Uvedale's St. Germain (w) pound, very large monster.

Lieutenant Poitevin (late fall), monster, green, handsome

Note. — (a) signifies ripening in autumn ; (s) summer ; (/) fall ; {io) winter.

286

Newbury (/), large and handsome.

Ste. Therese (iv), large and handsome.

Black Worcester (tv), handsome.

Columbia (w), egg-shaped.

Horton (/).

Doyenne de Cercle (/). «

Grand Mogul (w), large, roundish pear.

Therese Appert (/ ), large.

De Tongres, yellow, deep red, pretty pear.

Duchess D'Angouleme Panache, a striped variety of the well-known Duchesse.

Beurre Gris D'Hiver Nouveau.

These varieties are first class in every respect. As regards to size, they are almost o
the largest size. In point of flavour, some are of the highest excellence.

Messrs. Hoag and Clark, Lockport, showed some splendid grapes.

Rogers', No. 39, a very large, handsome, purple grape.

Rogers', No. 4, large, well ripened for the season.

Salem, good.

Walter, light purple.

Delaware and Eumelan, both good samples.

Rogers' 30, handsome, light grape.

Iona, good.

Rogers' No. 3.

Adirondac, ripe and good.

Wilder, good, dark grape.

Rogers' No. 19.

Creveling, good bunches.

Perkins, large and compact bunches — good sized berry.

Mr. Moodie, Lockport, had a table of beautiful fruit, very large ; Sheldon, Winter Neli
Easter Beurre, Beurre D'Anjou, Bartlett, and Hosenschenck.

Much to the regret of the members of the delegation present at Boston, Mr. James Do
gall was absent, owing to the severe illness of his son. Many of the Pomologists on the oth
side made earnest enquiries after his wealfare, and the reasons for his absence. Mr. A
Bennett, of Brantford, ably supplied his place, paying his own expenses, and assisting yo
delegation in every way within his power. Mrs. Bennett accompanied her husband, and con-
tributed much to the kindly feeling that existed in our Canadian company.

Mr. Gibb, of the Province of Quebec, was more than an assistant. He became to us an
able coadjutor, and put to his hand in arranging the fruit with a hearty good will. His pre-
sence and worth were not overlooked by the American Pomological Society, which made him
one of their vice-presidents, as representing the Lower Province.

We met more Canadians who took an active part in the discussions, viz : Dr. C. C.
Hamilton, President of the Nova Scotia Horticultural Society, from Wolfville, N.S., and his
co-labourer, Mr. Starr, another enthusiastic fruit grower. Dr. Hamilton took an important
part in the discussions of the Society, and showed his experience in fruit culture, as that of a
gentleman of no mean attainments. The ladies and young people of our party, gave every
assistance in unpacking and arranging the fruit. But for their timely assistance, your delega-
tion would have had great difficulty in coming up to time. As it happened, everything was
ready for the Committee of Awards when they came round.

All which is respectfully submitted for the delegation, by

R. Burnet,

President. I

287

EXPERIMENTS IN HYBRIDIZING.

BY P. C. DEMPSEY.

Previous to the year 1865, I was frequently trying to cross the Clinton Grape with the
best exotic varieties we had, but was unsuccessful, having to keep the pollen in a phial for
some time, on account of those under glass blossoming in advance of those in the open air.

la 1864, I grew plants in pots, of Clinton, Creveling and Hartford Prolific. In the spring
of 1865, 1 set those plants under glass, arranged so that I could retard or advance the blossoms,
by raising or lowering the temperature of the house. When they were sufficiently advanced, I
removed the stamens of about one third of the blossoms from about two bunches on each plant,
the remaining were removed entirely. I fertilized the Hartford Prolific with pollen from Black
Hamburgh, the Creveling with White Sweetwater, and Clinton with Golden Chasselas.
(As I kept no record of the experiment, I must write from memory.) There was about equal
success, they were almost full bunches. But unfortunately a hen got at the Creveling and
Clinton and destroyed the most of them ; from the Crevelimr I grew three plants, two of
which were so tender in foliage as not to be worthy of trial ; one being a very fine plant, I
thought it almost perfect ; it disappointed me, having imperfect blossoms. From the seeds
of the Clinton I grew five plants. The Thrips lived on them as long as there was a leaf left.

From the seeds of the Hartford Prolific I grew over fifty plants ; they had the greatest
difference imaginable in foliage ; many of them would not resist the mildew, while some would
curl from the effects of the sun. A few, however, are promising to be worthy of trial or cul-
tivation. Nos. 18, 20, and 25, are white, and Nos. 5, 19, and 26, are black; the above var-
ieties are all large in bunch and berries, hold their fruit well, and appear to have good foliage.

In 1867, I crossed Allen's Hybrid with Delaware; got about twelve plants, only two of
which had foliage that would justify me in continuing the cultivation of them. One has fruit-
ed this year ; produces a white grape, or rather very light amber colour, with the flavour,
foliage, and wood, resembling that of the Delaware.

I have frequently made efforts to cross the different varieties of pear, in the blossom, al-
ways using bags made of tarltan, to protect the blossoms beiDg fertilized by natural means.
I think it a very poor protection ; I have several seedlings produced in this way in 1869 ;
nearly, or quite all of them are perfectly thorny. The varieties used were Beurre Clairgeau,
Beurre d' Anjou, Passe Colmar, Fondant de Noel, &c, but I kept no account of the ex-
periment and which varieties were used as male, but have a record of the varieties of the fruits ;
that the seeds came from, the female. I budded from fifty-eight of the most promising of the
plants the same year from seed (or in 1870), in a bearing tree, none of which have fruited or
shown fruit buds as yet, but nearly all are thorny.

In 1870, I experimeted largely with the pear; as I had been gaining experience, I ex-
pected success. The pear blight took every branch, except one, that was operated on, and that
was Osband's Summer, crossed with Duchess d'Angouleme. I only got one plant ; that one
is not thorny, it shows distinctly, in the foliage and wood, the habit of both parents.

In 1871, I planted some seeds of the Bartlett and Flemish Beauty (pear), intending to
use them for stock ; one plant resembled the former, and appeared to grow fine. I grafted
the tops in a bearing tree. Last spring, one year from graft, it had one bunch of blossoms,
that had so great weight, with the help of a little rain, the branch broke, it has now over
forty blossom buds. I only mention this as an exception to the rule laid down by some authors :
seventeen years from seed for a pear to fruit.

After so many years of failure, I adopted the theory laid down by Mr. Rivers, in his
" Miniature Fruit Garden," to root prune some of my pear and apple trees. I differ with Mr.
Rivers in the time to perform the job, he does it in the fall, I prefer the month of April, as
soon as the frost is out, and the land sufficiently dry to work. I take the tree up, shorten
all the roots that extend deep into the earth, and those side roots that are growing too strong,
and plant in the same place, being careful to raise the roots as near the surface as possible.
Manure on the surface. I prefer to commence with a tree one year from bud or graft, and
transplant each alternate year.

288

By this process and summer pinching or pruning, we can bring a tree into fruit when
three years from bud. and nearly two-and-a-half or three feet in height. I planted some trees
in pots, tubs, boxes, &c., such as were convenient.

The advantage in having these small trees are : First, we can operate on the whole or
a part of the blossoms, as we please, only remove those not required. Secondly, we protect'
them by making covers of newspapers or any refuse paper, by cutting them away the shape of
the tree, and paste together, and place them over it. If there comes a rain, as it so often happens,
these covers are supported by the ends of the branches, and the blossoms effectually protect-
ed. A strong wind will destroy them when wet • they must be carefully looked after, and re-
placed with others when anything happens; and the third advantage should not be lost sight
of. We take the tree up, and plant by the tree bearing the variety of fruit we wish to use
for the male. A large tree should always be chosen for this purpose, when it can be had.
The east side of the tree should be chosen, where possible to plant : in this way we can oper-
ate without any protection, providing there are no other varieties very near. I had, last
spring, twenty pear trees prepared as above. On some I used the protectors, and others were
planted as described above. They ranged in height from two to five feet. I operated on
the blossoms with great success, the results I give :

'so. of trees in

No. of fruit

No. of seec

operation.

Female Blossoms.

Male Blossoms.

obtained.

obtained.

1

Seckel,

Beurre Clairgeau,

27

6

1

Bartlett,

'• d' Anjou,

15

76

2

Beurre Clairgeau,

Duchess d'xlngouleme,

23

139

1

it ii

Flemish Beauty,

14

99

1

U ii

Josephine de Malines,

2

10

1

" d' Anjou,

Duchess d'Angouleme,

7

45

1

Doyenne Boussock,

Duchess d'Angouleme,

11

44

1

Belle Lucrative,

a a

30

37

1

Seckel,

a a

2

2

I

Josephene de Malines, Flemish Beauty,

3

19

1

Winter Nelis,

a a

1

5

1

Duchess de Bordeau,

Duchess d' Angouleme,

1

5

1

Madame Beauford,

a «'

1

10

1

Osband's Summer,

a a

78

380

1

Flemish Beauty,

a a

1

5

1

it a

Beurre Clairgeau,

2

9

1

A new variety, impc

rt-^

'VerJVnf December "
Pear, large.

1 Doyenne du Cornice, Flemish Beauty, failed.

1 Flemish Beauty, Beurre Hardy, failed.

1 Belle Lucrative, Louise Bonne, had one pear, lost.

As the trees were all exposed during the whole of the season, some of the fruit was blown
off in September, they were all saved but not separated ; there was nearly one hundred of
them, with about five hundred seeds.

I have made several efforts to cross pear with the apple, and the apple with pear, but
always failed till this year, 1873, and this remains still to bo tested, the seeds being in the
ground. In preparing for the experiment, I selected seven small apple trees, grown on pomme
de paradis stock, planted in pots, boxes and tubs, every thing I had that would do. The
varieties selected were Cellini, Lord Burghley, Lord Derby, Lord Duncan, Eckleuville Seed-
ling, Margil and Cox's Orange Pippin, mostly new varieties and all imported. Pear trees on
quince stock, treated and planted the same as the apples ; had one tree Duchess de Bordeaux,
and two trees of Josephine de Malines ; the trees were all set under glass about the first of April;
they came in blossom about three weeks sooner than those in the open air -} so there was no
chance for the blossoms to become fertilized from trees in the open air, or those growing out
of the house.

289

I carefully removed all the male part or stamens from the blossoms on the apple trees,
where there were too many blossoms I thinned them, and applied the pollen of the pear blossom,
three or four times a day, as long as they remained fresh. If they were fertilized by any natural
source, or with the aid of insects, it must have been with the pear. I applied the pollen with
i fine camel hair brush part of the time, and sometimes by picking the blossom off, and gave it
a, sudden twist over the apple blossom, by taking the stem between the thumb and finger. I
prefer the latter method, but they must both be in bloom at the same time.

The result of this experiment was four apples, all on one tree, variety Cellini, only seven
eeds.

Cellini apple is large, striped and splashed with red, very pretty fruit, and matures about
November to December. Those ripened in October, but they were about the size of a cent
jyhen those in the open ground were in blossom.

19

290

APPENDIX (3D).

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO.

1873,

INCLUDING \ REPORT ON SOME OF THE NOXIOUS, BENEFICIAL ANEJ
COMMON INSECTS OF THE PROVINCE; OF ONTARIO.

PREPARED FOR THE HONOURABLE THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE ON

BEHALF OF THE SOCIETY.

BY

THE REV. C. J. S. BETHUNE, M. A.

Head Master of Trinity College School, Port Hope : President of the Entomological Society t

Ontario ;

WILLIAM SAUNDERS,

Editor of the Canadian Entomologist ;

EDMUND BAYNES REED,

Vice-President of the Entomological Society of Ontario ; and

JOSEPH WILLIAMS,

Secretary-Treasurer of the Entomological Society of Ontario.

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PROVINCE
OF ONTARIO, FOR THE YEAR 1873.

To the Honourable the Commissioner of Agriculture, —

Sir,— I have the honour to submit for your consideration the report of the Entomologi
cal Society of Ontario for the year 1873.

The accounts for the past year duly audited, and the list of officers elected tor 18/4 ar<
also forwarded herewith. To carry out the design of the Department in promoting tin
knowledge of practical Entomology, the members of the Entomological Society again submi
the Annual Report on some of the noxious, beneficial and common insects of this Province
which has been undertaken and prepared by the Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, Mr. Wm. Saunders
Mr. Edmund Baynes Reed, and myself.

291

The Canadian Entomologist is drawing to the close of its fifth annual volume and its
general reputation and position as a scientific journal are well sustained ; owing, however, to its
necessarily limited circulation, the Society obviously can derive but little pecuniary addition
to their funds from its publication.

In preparing the Annual Report the Directors strongly feel the necessity of obtaining
a larger supply of woodcuts and electrotypes in order the better to illustrate its pa^es, and
thus the more clearly and faithfully to lay before their readers a correct knowledge of the
various insects treated of.

I have the honour to remain, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

Joseph Williams.
Secretary-Treasurer Entomological Society of Ontario.
London, Ont., Nov., 1873.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO.

The Third Annual General meeting of the Society was held at their rooms, on Dundas
Street, London, Ontario, on Thursday afternoon, September 25th, 1873.

The President, the Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, M. A., in the chair. The Minutes of the
previous meeting were read and confirmed. The address of the President, the Report of the
Council and the financial statement of the Secretary-Treasurer were then read and on motion
duly received and adopted.

Election of Officers for 1874.

The following officers were then elected :

President— Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, M.A., Trinity College School, Port Hope, Ont.
Vice-President. — Edmund Baynes Reed, Esq., London, Ont.
Secretary-Treasurer. — Joseph Williams, Esq., London, Ont.

Council. — Wm. Saunders, Esq., London ; R. V. Rogers, Jr., Esq., Kingston ; Rev. Canon
Innes, London; G. J. Bowles, Esq., Montreal; J. M. Denton, Esq., London.
Auditors. — Messrs. C. Chapman and J. H Griffiths, London.

The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Caulfield, of Montreal, on behalf of the Entomolo-
gists resident there, submitting their by-laws and requesting permission to found a branch
of the Society in that city. This was most cordially given, and the Secretary was instructed
to convey to Mr. Caulfield the best wishes of the parent Society for the future success of the
Montreal Branch.

The President having intimated that owing to his residence at Port Hope, he felt great
inconvenience in editing the Entomologist at London, and that he would prefer to resign
the position of Editor-in-chief.

Mr. Wm. Saunders, of London, was unanimously appointed Editor, and Messrs. Rev.
C. J. S. Bethune, E. B Reed, and J. Williams an Editing Committee.

Several Honorary and Ordinary members were elected.

A communication was read by the President in regard to the following resolutions, passed
at the late meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science : —

" We, the undersigned Entomologists, assembled at the 22nd meeting of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science, held at Portland, hereby respectfully petition
the American Entomological Society of Philadelphia, and the Entomological Society of Cana-
da, to appoint yearly meetings to be held at the same times and places with the annual meet-
ings of the American Association. The undersigned are moved to this memorial from the
considerations, that such prospective action of the Societies would ensure the annual assern-
blage of a large number of Entomologists resident over a wide extent of territory, and also
practically enlarge the sphere, and increase the usefulness of these Societies.

" Resolved — That the American Association for the Advancement of Science hereby en-
dorses the accompanying memorial, and invites the Entomological Societies to call yearly meet-
ings of their members in accordance with the request therein contained."

292

After some discussion Mr. Saunders moved, seconded by Mr. E. B. Reed—" That the
Entomological Society of Ontario has heard with much pleasure the above resolutions of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science, and will gladly do everything in its
power to carry out the proposed arrangements and facilitate the annual meeting of American
Entomologists."

" That we hereby tender our hearty thanks to the American Association for their cor-
dial invitation, and that the Secretary' be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the
above Association."

The meeting then adjourned.

Annual Address of the President of the Entomological Society of

Ontario, 1873.

To the members of the Entomological Society of Ontario :

Gentlemen, — Ten years have now gone by since a few of us met at the house of Pro-
fessor Croft, in Toronto, and organized this Society. We commenced with less than five and
twenty members, and now our Secretary informs us that we have over three hundred names
upon our roll. A twelve fold increase in a decade of years is certainly an evidence of pro
gress upon which we may well congratulate ourselves, and which ought assuredly to stimulate
all our members to use their utmost exertions for the maintenance and improvement of the
Society. Those of us who from year to year have been entrusted by you with positions of
office and duty in the Society, cannot but feel that it is for the best interests of our institu-
tion that more of its members should be led to take an active part in its work, and thus secure
more efficiency in all our departments, and more certainty of a permanent development of
our operations. Hitherto the work has fallen upon a few of us, and we have endeavoured to
perform it as efficiently and heartily as we can ; but we find that year after year our own pro-
fessional and other duties make increased demands upon our time and attention, so that with
all the desire in the world to devote ourselves to our favourite branch of Natural Science and
the operations of the Entomological Society, we are unable to do so to the same extent as in
earlier years. On this account— not from any diminution of zeal^ and interest on our own

part we are most anxious that more of you should take your share in the work, and aid us in

maintaining unimpaired the good reputation that the Society has already achieved. Each one,
we are sure, can do something, and the united efforts of us all must assuredly be productive
of satisfactory and permanent results.

Our sister Society— the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario— we rejoice to see is
rapidly growing in public appreciation and favour ; its members' list of oyer 3000 names,
its well-attended meetings in various parts of the country ; its judicious distributions of fruit
for experimental purposes, and the vigour and zeal of its executive, are all matters upon which
we may well congratulate its President, Directors and Members. That it may go on and
prosper, and extend its work throughout our land, till every resident of the Dominion enjoys
the fruit of his own vine and his own fruit-tree, is our most hearty aspiration.

During the past year but little has occurred in an Entomological point of view that calls
for especiaf notice on this occasion. A year ago I ventured to call your attention to the sub-
ject of Specific and Generic Nomenclature, which has been so unpleasantly exciting the minds
of Entomologists both here and almost everywhere else. My remarks, I was gratified to find
elicited a good deal of discussion in the pages of the Canadian Entomologist, and brought
forth a very able paper upon the subject from the pen of Mr. W. H. Edwards,of West Virginia.
The question, however, has by no means yet been set at rest, and will no doubt continue to
exercise us all for some time to come. At the Dubuque Meeting of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science, a sub-section of Entomology was formed, and a committee of
its adherents specially appointed to consider and report upon a series of rules upon nomen-
clature Unhappily- owing to various circumstances — no report was drawn up, though I
must in justice state that my friend Mr. C. V. Riley, of St. Louis, took a great deal of pains
to elicit the views of the members and to draw up some conclusions from them. Last month,
at the Portland meeting of the Association— which, to my very great disappointment, unavoid-
able engagements prevented me from attending— a new committee was appointed to re-consider
the subject, and we trust that some definite rules will have been decided upon by its mem-
bers before the meeting of next year at Hartford, Conn.

293

You will all, I have no doubt, be gratified to learn that, upon the suggestion of the sub-
section of Entomology, the American Association unanimously passed a resolution inviting
our Entomological Society of Ontario, as well as the American Entomological Society, to hold
a general meeting of our members at Hartford next year during their annual session. I trust
that this invitation will be cordially accepted and that a large number of us may there meet
our American friends and enlarge and strengthen these cordial feelings of scientific brother-
hood which have so long pleasantly existed between us. I may add, as a notable token of the
estimation in which our branch of science is now held, that the Association will meet next
year under the presidency of our ablest American Entomologist — Dr. J. L. Leconte, of
Philadelphia.

You have already heard from our Secretary-Treasurer's Report the satisfactory condi-
tion of our finances and other business matters ; I need not therefore trespass further upon
your patience and attention. Heartily thanking you, gentlemen, for your kindness towards
myself and my colleagues during our term of office, and for the honour which you have con-
ferred upon me by calling me to preside over you.

I have the honour to remain, with best wishes for the advancement and prosperity of
the Society,

Your humble and obedient servant,

Charles J. S. Bethune,
President Entomological Society of Ontario.
Trinity College School, Port Hope, Sept., 1873.

THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO.
Treasurer's Annual Statement for the Year Ending, Sept. 23, 1873

Receipts.

Government Grant— Additional for 1872 200 ) 7Q() ■ ■

Balance in Bank of Montreal, from previous year. $ 255 19

Members' Fees ., 173 50

-Statutory Grant for 1873 500 j

Cork, Sale of. , 15 58

Pins, " : 38 66

Canadian Entomologist, Sale of back numbers , 20 53

Lists and Labels, Sale of 1 90

American Naturalist 8 82

Individual Accounts „ 2 75

Expense Account, Discount, etc 26 56

Library Sale of Duplicate Books 15 00

Bank of Montreal, Accrued Interest 1 45

$1259 94

Disbursements.

Expense Account, including Salaries, Rent, etc $365 64

Engraving for Annual Report 140 72

Canadian Entomologist, Printing 375 26

Library 34 91

Pins 47 34

Cork , 101 01

Individual Accounts 17 44

Cash in Treasurer's Hands $ 6 35 )

Balance in Bank of Montreal 171 27* j 177 62

$1259 94

*This Balance will all be absorbed in meeting liabilities to the end of December.

294

We certify that the above is a correct statement of accounts for the year ending Sept.
23, 1873. as shown by the Treasurer's books, with vouchers for disbursements.

London, Ont., Sept, 21, 1873.

John H. Griffiths, ) * ,..
(has. Chapman. Audltors'

REPORT OF THE COUNCIL.

At the expiration of this the third year of the existence of the Entomological Society of
Ontario, it again becomes the duty of your Council to submit a Report of the state of the
Society.

Owing to various causes, such as pressure of business and the great distance between their
respective homes, the members of your Council have not been able to meet together so often
as could have been wished, both for the interests of the Society and for the promution of
that good feeling and mutual intercourse which it is so desirable to maintain.

It is gratifying, however, to be able to report the continued progress of the Society, and
to know that its efforts are being recognised as tending to further those agricultural interests
which form the main source of wealth of our fair Dominion.

It is with pleasure that your Council refer to the proposed formation of a Branch of our
Society at Montreal, and we feel sure that the members generally will gladly welcome this
addition to our ranks.

The publication of The Entomologist is still regularly maintained. and this termination
of our fiscal year also brings us towards the close of the fifth volume. It is much to be regretted
that we still experience a difficulty in getting our members toassisttheEditorbyfurnishingcontri-
butions from their pens. We feel sure that there are many amongst us whose powers of obser-
vation and daily experience of insect life might be rendered most valuable and instructive to
others by the aid of printers' ink. and we would again earnestly appeal to the members of the
Society to come forward and enable the Editor to keep up the regular issue of our periodical,
and to supply him with their notes on anything they may deem of interest to the lovers of
Entomology.

Submitted on behalf of the Council by

Edward Baynes Reed,

Secretary ■ Trt as urer.

LIST OF HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY

OF ONTARIO.

1. Francis Walker, Elm Hall. Wanstead, Essex, England. Elected Feb. 16, 1865.

2. E. T. Cresson. Philadelphia, U.S. " Nov. 10, 1868.

3. W. H. Edwards Coalbunih. Kanawha Co., Virginia West. U.S.

4. Prof. Townend Glover, Agricultural Department, Washington, D.C. " " "

5. Ausustus R. Grote, BuffUo, U.S. " " "

6. Dr.^Geo. H. Horn, Philadelphia, T

7. Dr. A. S. Packard, Jun., Peabody Academy, Salem, Mass. "

8. C. V. Riley, State Entomologist, Missouri, U.S. " " M

9. S. H. Scudder, Boston, Mass., U.S.

10. Dr. J. L. Leconte, Philadelphia, U.S.

11. Baron R. Yon Osten Sacken, Late Russian Embassy, New

York, U.S. " Sep. 22, 1869.

12. Dr. Herman Hagen, Cambridge. Mass. U.S. "

13. Dr. Asa Fitch, State Entomologist, New York. "

14. P. R. Uhler, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. " Sep. 25, 1873.

15. V. T. Chambers, Covington, Kentucky, U.S.

295

EDITORIAL.

From the late Editor of the Canadian Entomologist : Published by the Entomological
Society of Ontario.)

Our readers will observe, from the alteration in our title-page, that a change has been
nade in the occupant of the Editorial chair of this publication. At the annual general meet-
ngof the Society, held at London on the 25th ult., the Rev. C. J. S. Bethune tendered his
•esignation of the office of General Editor, and Mr. Wm. Saunders was unanimously elected
jO take his place. This change of personality will make no difference in the character and
Management of this journal, except in the direction of improvement in material and greater
Regularity in issue. For some time past Mr. Bethune has desired to vacate the position of
Editor — not from any diminution in interest in the publication, or from any cooling in zeal
ind attachment to the cause of Entomology — but solely because his position as Head Master
)f .Trinity College School, entails upon him so much labour, and engrosses so much of his
rime, that he cannot satisfactorily perform the duties that properly devolve upon the Editor
)f the Canadian Entomologist. Since the removal of the head quarters of the Society
X) London, the labour attending upon the issue of this publication has gradually fallen more
md more upon Mr. Saunders, though largely shared by Mr. Reed, the late energetic Secre-
;ary-Treasurer of the Society.

The retiring Editor — who will continue to aid in the maintenance of the journal, as far
is his time will permit — begs to offer his most cordial thanks to all those kind friends who
lave rendered him so much assistance in the past, and to request that the same hearty sup-
Dort and co-operation may be afforded to his friend and successor.

296

INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE RASPBERRY.

By W. Saunders, London, Ontario.

1. The Raspberry Rootgall Fly (Ithodites radi-

cum, Osten Sacken).

2. The Red necked Agrilus {Agrilus ruficollis,

Fab.).

3. The Raspberry Cane Borer (Oberea tripunc-

tata, Fab.).

4. The Tree Cricket (CEniveus canthus, Serv.).

5. The Pale Brown Byturus (Byturus unicolor,

Say).

6. The Raspberry Saw-fly (Selandria rubi, Har-

ris).

7 . The Raspberry Acronycta (.4 crony eta venillii,

Grote and Rob.).

8. The Fall Web Worm [(Hyphantria textor,

Harris).

9. The Oblique Banded Leaf-roller (Lozotcenia

rosaceana, Harris).

10. The Raspberry Plume Moth (Pterophorus

?)•

11. The Cucumber Flea Beetle (Haltica[Crer>id-
odera] cucumeris, Harris).

12. The Raspberry Geometer (Aplodes rubivora,
Riley).

13. The Flea-like Negro Bug (Corimelomai
Pulicaria, Germ).

While the wild raspberries in most sections of our country, owing to the gradual clearing
up of the lands, are yearly becoming scarcer, the cultivation of the better hardy sorts is on the
increase, and will doubtless continue to extend in a ratio corresponding to the lessening sup-
ply of the wild fruit. In the natural state the individual plants of the raspberry are compar-
atively scattered and wide spread, in a cultivated one compact and thickly growing ; and as
this latter condition is much more favourable to the increase and spread of insect life, we may
expect to hear in the future much more of " Insects Injurious to the Raspberry" than we have
heard in the past. Hence an acquaintance with our foes present and prospective, and the best
methods of successfully contending with them, will not be amiss, and in some measure to meet
this want the present paper is offered.

AFFECTING THE ROOTS.

1. The Raspberry Root Gall Fly (Rhodites radicum, Osten Sacken).

This is the only insect which has thus far been found injuring the roots of the Rasp-
fig. i. berry. It is a small fly which produces a swelling or gall on the

root, and although we have not yet heard of the work of this
insect appearing anywhere in Ontario, it will in all probability be
found here as it is common in Massachusetts and also in the
Western States ; hence as one of our prospective foes we shall
devote a small space to it.

Figure 1 gives a good representation of one of these galls,
which was found on the roots of a raspberry bush. The swelling
is composed of a yellowish pithy substance, scattered throughout
which are a number of cells, and in these are enclosed small white
larvae, the progeny of the little fly. These soon change to chry-
salides, and the latter in turn in a short time produce the perfect
insects, which eat their way out through the substance of the gall,
leaving small holes to mark their place of exit. This same insect
attacks sometimes the roots of Rose-bushes.

Whenever and wherever these swellings or excrescences are
found, they should at once be committed to the flames.

Colour Brown.

297

AFFECTING THE CANES.

Fig. 2.

2. The Red-necked Agrilus (Agrilus ruficollis, Fab).

This insect was first described by the great German Entomologist
Fabricius, in the year 1801, but for very many years after this nothing
was known of its earlier or larval history. In 1846, Professor S. S.
Haldeman contributed a paper to the "Quarterly Journal of Science and
Agriculture" in which details of the injury it does to the Raspberry
were first given. More recently Prof. C. V. Riley, in the second volume
of the " American Entomologist" has given a fuller account of the opera-
tions of this insect, and from this source much of the following has been
condensed.

In the spring time when raspberry and blackberry patches are being
pruned, the canes will often be observed to swell out in places to the
length of an inch or more in the manner shown in figure 2. This
swelling is a sort of pithy gall and has been named the Raspberry Gouty
Gall, Riibi podagra, Riley, and is produced by the irritation caused by the
presence of the larvae of the Red-necked Agrilus. The swollen portions
are not smooth like the healthy ones are, but have the surface roughened
with numerous brownish slits and ridges When these ridges are cut
into with a knife there will be found under each of them the passage
way of a minute borer. Figure 3 represents the little creature fully
grown on a magnified scale, the hair line at the side showing its natural
size. It is small, and with a body almost thread-like and of a pale
yellowish or whitish colour, but with the anterior segments flattened out,
somewhat like that of the larva of the common Flat-headed Apple-tree
Borer, Chrysobothris femorata, but in a less degree. The head is small
and brown, the jaws black, and the tail is armed with two slender dark-
brown processes or horns, each with three blunt
teeth on the inner edge. When full grown it mea-
sures about six tenths of an inch. In the earlier
period of its history it dwells chiefly in the sap
wood, and following a sort of irregular spiral course
Usually several of these larvae will be found in the
thus lenj thenii g the gall and causing it to assume a very irregular shape. It is
said to infest the Philadelphia raspberry, the Doolittle black cap and the Wilson blackberry
worse than other varieties. In April or May the larva penetrates into the pith, where it is
more secure from insect and other foes, and there changes into the pupa state, and early m
summer the perfect beetle appears. It is probable that the sexes couple some time in July
and that shortly after this the female deposits her eggs on the young canes, where they hatch
out tiny young larvae, whicheating into the cane, in process of time, develope the mischievous
results already detailed.

In figure 4 c we have the perfect insect magnified. It-
is about three tenths of an inch long, with a rather small
dark bronzy head, a beautifully bright coppery neck and
brownish black wing-covers. The under surface is of a
uniform shining black colour.

The best method cf getting rid of this troublesome
pest, is to cut out the infested canes and burn them in spring
before the beetle escapes.

Raspberry Cane Borer (Oberea tripunctata Fab.).

This insect in the larval state lives in the centre of the cane, where it burrows a
upwards and downwards often causing the death of the cane. Its natural home is among the

frequently girdles and destroys the cane.

same

298

wild raspberries, but it has taken very kindly to the cultivated varieties and appears to like
them at least equally well. The perfect insect is a long horned beetle, with a long and narrow
black body with the top of the thorax and the fore part of the breast pale yellowish. The wing
cases are covered with coarse punctures, and sometimes there are two black dots on the thorax.
It is usually about half an inch in length.

This beetle appears on the wing in June, and after the pairing of the sexes, the female
proceeds to deposit her eggs which she does in a very singular manner. She attacks the young
growing cane and girdles it near the tip in two places, one ring being about an inch below the
other. Between the rings — sometimes nearer the upper one, but more commonly nearest the
lower one — the cane is punctured, and an egg thrust into its substance, near the middle. The
tip of the cane above the upper girdle at once begins to droop and wither, and soon completely
dies, when a touch will sever it at the point where it has been girdled, and no further growth
takes place on that part of the cane.

The egg is a long and narrow one and quite large for the size of the insect ; imbedded in
the moist pithy substance of the cane, it soon begins to grow larger and in a few days it hatches
into a small grub. The egg when of full size much resembles the egg of an Orthopterous
insect, and this resemblance led both ourselves and Mr. Riley into an error, which was thus
made public in our " Essay on the Raspberry. Blackberry, Strawberry and Currant." After
having given details of the working of the beetle much as above, the following remarks occur :
■" A closer examination into the cause of girdling of the cane as described above shows that it
is not always due to the beetle referred to, viz., Oberea.

il Indeed we now think it is doubtful whether that insect ever girdles the cane as des-
cribed. We know that it does destroy raspberry canes, for we have found its larva late in the
season boring down the middle of the stem, but at the suggestion of Mr. Riley, State Entomo-
logist of Missouri, we have carefully examined a number of these examples of girdling during
the summer, and found in every case that they were the work of an Orthopterous insect, one
of the Grasshopper family which, girdling and puncturing the cane as already detailed, deposits
a single long yellow egg in it, which when hatched produces an insect at once similar to the
parent but without wings, which works its way out of the cane to enter it no more." Mr.
Riley examined specimens of these eggs with us and we both felt persuaded that the conclusion
then arrived at was a correct one, basing our opinion mainly on the appearance and size of the
egg. But during the past summer with the view of placing this matter beyond the region of
conjecture We collected specimens of these eggs, and on the 12th of July, while examining
them under a microscope had the good fortune to see a young larva in the act of escaping, and
fully satisfied ourselves that they were the larvae of the beetle before referred to, Oberea.

The following description of the young larva was taken under a microscope : —

Length y^th of an inch.

Head very small, reddish brown with a pale stripe down the front, and a few short yellow
hairs ; mandibles dark brown.

Body yellow, smooth and glossy, roughened a little at the sides with very minute hairs,
the second segment or ring larger than the head, smooth, tinged with reddish brown in front
yellowish behind. The third segment is much swollen, while the remaining ones are nearly
uniform in size, but less in diameter than the third — no feet perceptible. This larva lived for
a few days only, when for want of the moisture and abundance of food which surrounds it
when in its natural position in the cane, it drooped and died.

We have not yet seen the beetles in the act of depositing their eggs, but we have seen
them flying around among the raspberry canes, usually late in the day, towards evening, and
in a few days afterwards have noticed abundant evidence of their work in the drooping tips of
the ringed canes. When the young larva hatches it burrows down the centre of the stem
where it lives in the pithy portion until it is full grown. It is said to undergo the change to
the chrysalis state, also, within the stem where in due season the beetle matures and eats its
way out, thus gaining its liberty.

The presence of these enemies may be easily detected by the sudden drooping and wither-
ing of the tips of the canes, they usually begin to operate early in July and continue for several
weeks ; hence by looking through the canes occasionally at this season of the year and remov-
ing all the withered tops down to the lowest ring, these insects may be easily kept under, for
they are seldom numerous.

299

4. The Tree Cricket (CEcanthus niveus Serv.)

Of all the insects affecting the canes of the raspberry, this in our experience is the most
troublesome ; it is not, however, confined to the raspberry, we have already referred to it at
some length as injuring grape vine canes in our paper on " Insects Injurious to the Grape,"
in the report for 1870. We shall notwithstanding, even at the risk of a little repetition, detail
Fie 6 its history and describe its manner of

FlG- 6- working, since no doubt to many of our

present readers the report of 1870 is not
available. In the accompanying cut, fig 5
represents the male and fig 6, the female.
Their colour is pale green, and they are
exceedingly lively and musical, chirping merrily among the green leaves all
the day. The perfect insects appear in the fall of the year, and it is then
that the mischief making female in the carrying out of her instinctive
desire to protect her progeny becomes such an enemy to the raspberry
grower. She is furnished with a long ovipositor which she thrusts more
than half way through the cane and down the opening" thus made she
places one of her long narrow yellow eggs, a second one is then deposited in the same manner
alongside of the first, and thus the work is continued until from five to fifteen eggs or more
have been placed in a row. The stem of the plant thus operated on is very much weakened,
and is liable to break off on very slight provocation, or where this does not occur the branch
sometimes dies beyond the punctured part; should it, however, survive and also escape being
broken in winter, it is very apt to break from its own weight as soon as the foliage appears in
spring, and thus the crop of fruit which would otherwise be secured is lost.

Early in spring the eggs begin to swell, and about midsummer, or sometimes a little
earlier, the young insects appear, which much resemble the perfect insect in form, but lack
the wings. When first hatched they feed on plant lice, and very probably continue to do £0
until nearly full grown. We have seen the matured insect feeding occasionally on ripe plums.
Since they are known to destroy plant lice, it has been urged by some that they should be
treated rather as friends than enemies ; but we are of opinion that the injury they do far
more than counterbalances any good deeds which can be placed to their credit, and we should
heartily vote for their destruction. In the first place we would advise fruit growers to kill as
many of the perfect insects in the fall as possible, which may be done by suddenly jarring the
canes, when the insects fall to the ground, and then before they have time to hop or fly away
stamp on them with the foot. The second and probably the most effectual way to lessen their
numbers is to cut out, late in the fall or early in the spring, all those portions of the canes
which contain eggs, and burn them. Wherever the eggs are deposited the regular rows of
pinhole punctures can be readily seen, and ofttimes their presence is rendered more promi-
nently apparent by a partial splitting of the cane. We have dissected the bodies of many of
the females at different times, and found them to contain from twelve to sixteen eggs ; it is
possible that, in the case of all we have thus examined, some eggs may have been placed
before the insects came into our possession ; still we do not think that the number of eggs
ever exceeds much the highest figure given.

Besides attacking the canes of the raspberry and grape, the tree cricket often injures
those of the blackberry and the smaller branches of plum, peach and some other trees ; but
above all others they seem to have a preference for the canes of the Black-cap raspberry.

AFFECTING THE FLOWERS.

5. The Pale Brown Byturus (JBylurus unicolor, Say).

This insect is a small beetle which we have found to be very destructive to the blossoms
of the raspberry. It is a native of America, and was first described by Thomas Say in 1823
from a specimen brought from Arkansas. It is a little more than one-eighth of an inch long
—Say's specimen was three-twentieths — of a pale reddish or yellowish brown colour, and
densely covered with fine pale yellowish hairs. The surface when seen under a magnifying
power is thickly punctured. Dr. Packard, State Entomologist of Massachusetts, in his

300

11 Injurious Insects New and Little Known," states on the authority of Mr. J. L. Russell, of
Salem, Mass., that this beetle eats the leaves as well as the buds and flowers. He says : " It
eats long strips in the leaves but does the most injury to the fruit buds." For several years
past we have observed now and then a considerable number of the flower buds of our black-
berries and raspberries eaten into and injured or destroyed. On examining the buds a hole
would be found on one side of each, through which the enemy had entered and eaten away
partially or wholly the stamens as well as the spongy receptacle on which they are borne.
Where the damage was only partial the flower usually expanded, but appeared very imper-
fect ; but where the destruction of the sexual organs was complete, as was often the case,
the buds frequently withered without expanding. We did not succeed in ascertaining the
cause of this damage until the summer of 1872, when we secured several of these beetles ;
they were taken in the act of injuring the flowers in the manner already described, and we
have met with them again during the past season in greater numbers. They attack the ex-
panded flowers as well as the unexpanded ones, partially hiding themselves about the base of
the numerous stamens they are consuming. Dr. Packard speaks of their occurring about
the 18th of June, but we have found them much earlier than this, as early as the 27th of
May. On this date during the past summer we found one of these marauders about nine
o'clock in the morning eating a hole into a flower bud of a Black-cap raspberry, none of the
flowers of which were open. It had eaten a hole in the side near the base just large enough
to admit its body, and here it was consuming the internal organs of the flower. We found
additional specimens occasionally from this date up to the middle of June ; we have seldom
seen them about during the middle portions of the day, but chiefly during the earlier hours
of the morning and evening.

When the flowers are thus damaged, the fruit, if it forms at all, is always very imper-
fect, and should this insect become as plentiful as many others, it would doubtless prove a
great hindrance to the successful culture of the raspberry Fortunately it has never yet
shown itself in any great abundance ; long may its ranks continue thin ; should it in any case
become inconveniently numerous it might be destroyed by hand-picking.

AFFECTING THE LEAVES.
6. The Raspberry Saw-fly (Selandria rubi, Harris).

Although this insect is quite generally distributed, and at times is very destructive to
the foliage of the raspberry, it has, strange to say, been but little noticed by Entomologists
in their publications. There is a short reference to it in " Harris' Entomological Corres-
pondence," in a letter from Darling to Harris, written in 1846, where a very correct account
is given of the manner in which the egg is deposited. There is also a much briefer para-
graph in " Packard's Guide," and these are all the references we have been able to find.

The perfect insect, which is a four winged fly belonging to the order Hymenopterat ap-
pears on the wing about the middle of May. We noticed them during the past summer first
on the 10th; in the summer of 1872 they were not observed until the 21st; usually they
may be found from about the middle of >J ay until early in June. The wings, which are
transparent with a shining surface and metallic hue, measure when expanded about half an
inch across , the veins are black, and there is also a streak of black along the front margin
extending more than half way towards the tip of the wing. The anterior part of the body is
black, the abdomen dark reddish. In common with some other species of Selandria, these
flies have a habit of falling to the ground when disturbed, especially in the cool of the morn-
ing, and remaining inactive long enough to enable one to catch them ; but with the increasing-
heat of the day they are much more lively, and take wing readily when approached.

The egg, as it appears when squeezed from the body of the female, is about one-thirtieth
of an inch long, and a little over one-hundreth of an inch wide at its widest portion. In form
it approaches a long oval rather obtuse at the ends, with its greatest diameter a little before
the middle. Colour white, with a faint yellow tinge and a smooth, glossy surface, semi-
transparent. The enveloping membrane is very thin and easily ruptured, discharging watery-
looking contents. Only seven or eight eggs were obtained from the body of the female ex-
amined ; possibly it might have previously deposited most of its stock. The eggs are buried
beneath the skin of the leaf, close alongside of the ribs and veins, placed there by means of

301

the saw-like apparatus with which the female is provided, where it swells somewhat and pro-
duces a slight discolouration of the cuticle on the upper surface. The" skin covering the sur
face of the swelling is so thin and semi-transparent that the movements of the larva may be
observed a day or two before hatching, by the black spots on the side of the head showing
through. The larva escapes through an irregular hole made on one side of the swelling.

The young larva as it appears when fresh from the egg. Length, when in motion, about
one-twelfth of an inch ; head large, semi-transparent, greenish-white with a large black eye-
like spot on each side, and with a number of short whitish hairs ; mandibles pale brown.

The body above is nearly white, semi-transparent, and thickly covered with transverse
rows of white spines, nearly all of which are forked towards the tip ; some of the spines on the
anterior segments are more compound, having four or five branches ; the tips of all the
branches of the spines are blunt, nearly rounded. The under surface is similar to the upper
in colour and semi-transparency ; feet and prolegs partake of the general colour.

After the first moult the head is medium sized as compared with the body, of a pale
yellowish green, covered with short fleshy-looking hairs of the same colour. The body above
is of a uniform pale greenish-yellow colour, excepting along the dorsal region, where, owing
to the transparency of the skin, the internal organs show through of a deeper shade of green.
The surface of the body is thickly set with short greenish-yellow tubercles, most of which
are forked at the tips, the two branches spreading in opposite directions, the greater portion
of them extending anteriorly and posteriorly. Out of three specimens of this age examined,
one varied from the others in having a pale brownish-yellow head. The under surface, feet
and prolegs all pale greenish-yellow.

With the subsequent moultings slight changes take place in the colour of the head, first
pale brownish or greenish-brown, then bluish-green, and sometimes the branches of the spines
assume a brownish tint, especially on the anterior segments.

When full grown this larva measures a little over half an inch ; it is nearly cylindrical,
tapering slightly towards the hinder segments.

The head is rather small, nearly globular, pale green with a faint yellowish tinge, and a
dark brown dot on each side, and a few very fine short hairs visible only with a strong-
magnifier. The mandibles are tipped with brown.

The body above is dark green, thickly set with green tubercles, from which proceed
fleshy-looking, forked, pale green, hair-like branches, most of them with their branches ex-
tending anteriorly and posteriorly. On the anterior part of the second segment there is a
row of four spines with five branches each, most of the others are forked, but some few of
them have three branches each. There are eight spines or tubercles on most of the segments,
arranged more or less perfectly in a double transverse row. In some specimens the hair-like
branches or appendages are black at the tips, and occasionally entirely black from the point
of divergence.

The under surface is similar to the upper ; feet and prolegs green.

When mature— from the middle to the latter end of June — these larvae penetrate below
the surface of the ground, where they construct little oval earthy cocoons, formed by glueing
together particles of earth with silky and glutinous matter. These cocoons are toughly made,
and may be taken out of the earth in which they are embedded, and even handled roughly
without much danger of dislodging the larvae. The specimens which we have bred, when
examined a week or two after the cocoons were constructed, were still in the larval condition,
although somewhat contracted in length. They all dried up and died before changing to
pupae, so we are as yet unable to indicate when this change takes place, the appearance of
the chrysalis or its duration. As we have not met with more than one brood in the season,
it is probable that the larvae remain in the ground for some weeks unchanged, gradually
transform to pupse, and remain under ground in this condition until early the following
spring.

While in the larval state these insects may be readily destroyed by the use of hellebore,
as recommended for the gooseberry worm.

7. The Raspberry Acronycta (Acronyda venillii, G-rote & Rob.)

The caterpillar of this species although never very numerous, has been found by the
writer more or less injurious to the raspberry for some years past. It is a grey hairy cater-

302

pillar, which is found nearly full grown from the middle of July to the middle of August,
and sometimes later, feeding singly on the leaves. Its length when in motion is about an
inch and a quarter, but when at rest its body is contracted by some of the segments or rings
being drawn within the others, and measures then not more than an inch. The body is
thickest from the third to the seventh segment, tapering a little anteriorly and posteriorly.
The head is' medium sized, somewhat flattened, of a shining black colour with a few short
whitish hairs, the upper portion being overhung with the long hairs on the second segment.

The body above is of a brownish black colour with a transverse row of paler tubercles
on each segment from which spring clusters of brownish white or whitish hairs of varying
lengths ; there are from eight to ten of these tubercles on each segment. On the second seg-
ment these hairs are long and being arranged closely together they form a white fringe which
overhangs the head ; on the third segment the hairs are also tolerably long. Behind the third
segment there is a distinct space along the centre of the back between the tubercles widest
from the seventh to the tenth segments where the dark colour of the body is distinctly seen.
The hairs on those tubercles along the sides of the body, which are situated immediately above
and below the breathing holes are longer than the others, those clusters below the stig-
mata being more decidedly brownish in colour. Stigmata, oval, white. The under side is
dull, dark, greenish brown, on the fifth, sixth, eleventh and twelfth segments are a few shining
dots from which there arise a few short brownish hairs. The feet are of a shining black,
slightly hairy, prolegs are also hairy, dark brown on the outside, paler within.

Within a short time the larva changes to a brown chrysalis within a rather tough cocoon
formed of pieces of leaves or other suitable material interwoven with many silken fibres.

The moth measures when its wings are expanded about an inch and a quarter. Its fore
wings are grey, thickly mottled and spotted with spots and streaks and dots of darker shades
of grey and brown. The hind wings are of a dull, pale grey, deepening in colour a little
towards the outer margin. The under surface of both wings is paler than the upper.

The best method of destroying this insect, as far as we know, is by hand picking.

8. The Fall Web-Worm. (Hyphuntria textor, Harris.)

This insect has within the past few years become extremely abundant and destructive
throughout the greater portion of this Province, chiefly affecting our apple, pear and cherry
trees but sometimes found on our blackberries and raspberries, indeed scarcely anything
seems to come amiss to it. Besides the fruit trees already named, hickory, ash, elm, willow,
oak, birch and button wood are named among the trees of which it is especially fond.

In June or July a small, pure white moth or miller, c. Fig. 7, lays a cluster of eggs on
Fig. 7. a leaf near the extremity of one of the branches,

and from this deposit originates a host of mischief
makers. Soon the eggs hatch and the larvae at once
begin to feed on the green and pulpy portion of the
upper surface of the leaves, gradually enclosing the
whole branch and sometimes adjoining branches in
a slight silken web, by means of which many of the
leaves are drawn towards the stem. When seen
from a distance a branch thus affected has a scorched
aud withered look, as if it had been suddenly blight-
ed, a closer examination reveals the presence of the
Tf spoilers, a small army in numbers snugly enclosed
within the web, and here and there where patches
of the green substance of the leaf still remain, groups of these ever hungry caterpillars are
busy at work. Before attaining maturity they lose their love of society, abandon their
friends and scatter far and wide, feeding on almost every green thing they meet with.

When mature these larvae are a little more than an inch long, see A. in Fig 7, of a bluish,
black colour, with a wide band of a paler hue along each side, and a transverse row of little
knobs or tubercles on each segment, from each of which there arises a cluster of whitish or
reddish hairs. These larvae are very active apd run briskly when disturbed. Hand picking
is the best remedy here also, go carefully over the branches and give no quarter.

Fig. 8.

303

9. The Oblique-Banded Leaf-Roller. (Lozotcenia wsaceana, Harris).

This insect hasalready been referred to in previous Reports, in that of Mr. Reed, " On In-
sects Injurious to the Plum, 1870," and in that of my own, "On insects iDJurious to the Currant
and Gooseberry," but since it is equally destructive to the raspberry we call attention to it
here once more. It belongs to a family of moths called leaf rollers, from the fact that their
larvae have the habrt of rolling up the leaves or portions of them, and thus constructing a rude
case in which they live and by means of which they are partially protected from birds and other
enemies.

The caterpillar is about three quarters of an inch long, of a yellowish green colour, with a
pale brown head, and a few fine whitish hairs scattered over the surface of its body, arising
from very small slightly elevated shining tubercles or dots, so small as to be scarcely visible
without a magnifying lens. After becoming full grown it changes to a dark brown chrysalis,
usually within the case in which it feeds, and works its way partly out before the moth escapes.

In the annexed figure 8 the caterpillar is shown a little
enlarged, and the brown chrysalis from which the moth has
escaped is placed underneath.

The moth see figure 9 measures when its wings are spread
from three quarters of an inch to an inch, its fore wings
are of a light cinnamon Fig. 9.

brown colour, crossed by
bands and lines of a darker
shade. The hind wings
are pale yellow. The fore-
wings are very much arch-
ed on their outer edge, and are curved at the tip into a sort
of hook or short tail

Whenever these clusters of curled and twisted leaves are found, they should be picked and
crushed without delay.

10. The Raspberry Plume Moth, (Pterophorus. .?)

This insect has not in any instance nor is it ever likely to be very numerous or trouble-
some ; still it is an interesting creature and claims some attention. We first observed the
larvae feeding on Raspberry during the summer of 1872, and found them again during the
past season. When first met with on the third of June the larva was a tiny thing, two-tenths
of an inch long with a pale brown head sprinkled with hairs of the same colour and with two
small blackish dots on each side. The body was of a pale greenish white with transverse
rows of shining tubercles from each of which there arose from two to six fleshy-looking spread-
ing hairs. On the second segment these hairs were placed singly, a front row overhanging
the head with others behind them. Down the back was a row of depressed dots, looking
almost like punctures through the opaque skin, and through which the movements of the in-
ternal organs could be seen. The terminal segment was green, edged with dark brown behind.

This larva attained its full growth about the tenth of June, when it measured about 3J-
tenths of an inch in length ; the following description was then taken : — Head small, pale
green, with a faint brownish tinge, semi-transparent, with a few very fine short hairs, and a
faint brown dot on each side ; body pale yellowish green, streaked with pale yellow; termi-
nal segment green, its sides a little deeper in colour than the upper portion ; feet and pro-
legs greenish, semi-transparent, the prolegs very slender and rather long.

One of these became a chrysalis on the 1 1th of June, and immediately before this change
took place the larva spun a loose web of silk over the surface of a portion of the glass in which
it was confined. This web covered more space than the chrysalis did, and in it the hinder seg-
ment of the chrysalis was firmly secured, and besides this it seemed to be attached along its
entire length. The chrysalis was less than three-tenths of an inch in length, tapering behind
to a point, and enlarging continuously towards the front, where near the end it sloped abruptly

304

to the tip. Its colour was pale greenish, with the anterior segments hairy, with stiffish look-
ing yellowish hairs of varyiug lengths; along the back was a depressed line of a green colour,
margined on each side with a whitish ridge, and on each segment along these ridges from the
fifth to the twelfth inclusive, was a small whitish tubercle, from which arose a small spreading
cluster of stiff-looking whitish hairs. On the 20th of June this chrysalis was observed to be
growing darker, and on the 22nd the moth appeared.

The moth is a very heautiful and delicate creature, measuring when its wings are ex-
panded, a little over half an inch. The fore wings are of a deep brownish copper colour with
a metallic lustre, with a few dots of silvery white. They are cleft down the middle about half
their depth, the division as well as the outer edge being fringed. The hind wings, which ar e
similar in colour to the fore wings, are divided into three portions, the hind one being almost
linear, and all deeply fringed. The antennae are annulatedwith silvery white, the legs and body
are also spotted with the same.

Should this insect ever appear in sufficient numbers to require a remedy, hellebore would
probably prove efficient.

11. The Flea Beetle (Haltica [Crepidodera] Oucumeris, Harris).

•
The insects comprising the family to which this flea beetle belongs although they are
most of them smail, are on no account to be despised. The celebrated turnip fly or
more properly turnip beetle which lays waste the turnip fields in Europe, is one of them, and
the species we have now under consideration, as well as one or two others, are very destructive
to the turnip in this country, devouring the seed leaves of the plant as soon as they appear
above ground. But they do not confine their attacks to the turnip ; they injure the young
cabbage, the potato, and occasionally the raspberry. We found them during the past season
abundant on our raspberry bushes early in June, actively hopping about from leaf to leaf like
fleas, and eating very small holes in the leaves of the plants ; they did not however do any
very considerable damage. Harris says, " The flea beetles conceal themselves during the win-
ter in dry places under stones, in tufts of withered grass and moss, and in chinks of walls.
They lay their eggs in the spring upon the leaves of the plants on which they feed. The lar-
vae or young of the smaller kinds burrow into the leaves, and eat the soft pulpy substance
under the skin, forming therein little winding passages, in which they finally complete their
transformations. Hence the plants suffer as much from the depredations of the larvae as from
those of the beetles, a fact thathas too often been overlooked. The larvae of the larger kinds
are said to live exposed upon the surface of the leaves which they devour, till they have come
to their growth, when they are changed to pupae, and soon afterwards to beetles. The mining
larvae, the only kinds which are known to me from personal examination, are little slender
grubs, tapering towards each end, and provided with six legs. They arrive at maturity, turn
to pupae, and then to beetles in a few weeks. Hence there is a constant succession of these in-
sects in their various stages throughout the summer."

Powdered hellebore has been recommended as a remedy for this beetle, as well as Paris
green mixed with flour in the proportion of one part of the green to 15 or 20 of flour. The
latter we think would be likely to prove most effective.

AFFECTING THE FRUIT.
12. The Raspberry Geometer, (Aplodes ruhivora, Riley.)

The larva of this pretty geometric moth feeds principally on the fruit of the raspberry.
It was first described by Mr. Riley in his first Report "On the Noxious Insects of Missouri,"
where he described the larva and chrysalis as well as the perfect insect. Subsequently the
same insect was described by Mrs. Mary Treat, of Vineland, N. J., and from these two pub-
lished accounts most of the following is condensed.

As already stated these larvae feed chiefly on the fruit of the raspberry, although Mrs.
Treat says they occasionally feed on the leaves as well.

305

Fig. 10. Figure 10 represents the larva natural size,

on the fruit of the raspberry, at a. b shows
an enlarged side view of one of the rings or
segments of the body of the larva, showing the
hairs with which the body is furnishod. The
moth of its natural size is shown at c, while at
d we have an enlarged outline of one pair of
the wings.

With regard to the larva and its habits we
cannot do better than quote from Mrs. Treat :
" I found my little raspberry caterpillars had a
decided preference for the Philadelphia rasp-
berry, though I occasionally found them upon
the Black-caps. They also seemed to have a
great passion for ornaments, for they had stuck
all over their bodies dried anthers of flowers
and small bits of sticks and leaves, which gave
them a very comical and grotesque appearance.

" I confined several of these larvae in a box, giving them daily a fresh supply of raspber-
ries, and they seemed to thrive as well in confinement as in the open air. Knowing their fond-
ness for ornaments, I could not deprive them of these, [so I cut white paper and thread, to-
gether with leaves into small bits, and distributed them in the box. Very soon they were
decked out in these, the white paper and thread adding materially to their grotesque appear-
ance. Not always satisfied with their own accumulations, they would sometimes take the orna-
ments from their neighbours, and appropriate them to their own use.

" I once left the cover to the box not quite secure, and one of them made its escape, com-
pletely stripped of its ornaments ; it had left all in the box behind, in squeezing through the
aperture. I no sooner returned it to the box than it began to take the ornaments from its com-
rades to readorn itself, rather than to pick up its own, a process which those that were being
stolen from did not seem at all to relish.

" After they ceased eating and were ready to become pupae, they spun loose cocoons,
which they fastened to the top and sides of the box, taking their ornaments to decorate their
cocoons, which, in consequence, wore a very rough, uneven appearance. In a few days a little
pea green moth issued from these rough cocoons — the most delicate, beautiful little creature
imaginable."

The colour of this larva is light yellowish gray, darker behind each joint, with a promi-
nent thorn on each side of the back and with several smaller warts and prickles below : see b.
figure 10. Mr. Riley speaks of this insect as being quite common on both the raspberry and
blackberry in some parts of Illinois. He says. " It has the peculiar faculty of thoroughly
disguising itself with pieces of dried berry, seed, pollen, and other debris of the fruit which it
sticks to a series of prickles with which it is furnished. Add to this disguise the habit which
it has of looping itself into a small ball, and it almost defies detection. It is most numerous
during the months of June and July." This desire which the larvae has of disguising itself
has doubtless been given it as a means of protection against small birds, and predacious insects,
nevertheless it does not escape enemies altogether, Mr. Riley speaks of one species of parasi-
tic insect which he has bred from their cocoons.

The moth, c. figure 10, when its wings are expanded measures about half an inch. Its
colour is pale green with a very delicate semi-transparent appearance, crossed by two lighter
lines, body green above, white beneath.

13. The Flea-like Negro Bug (Corimelaena pulicaria, Germ).

This is a very disgusting pest which attacks the raspberry fruit. Its presence may be dis-
covered by the fruit having a very nauseous buggy odour, and the insect being so small it is

20

306

often taken into the mouth unnoticed until the nauseous flavour reveals its
presence. In figure 1 1, we have a magnified outline of this insect, with one
of the natural size along side of it. Its colour is black, with a white stripe
each side. It is furnished with a pointed beak or sucker which it thrusts
j *\ through the skin of the fruit and thus lives on the juices which it extracts.
k^" It affects the blackberry and sometimes the strawberry as well as the
raspberry although very seldom to the same extent. Mr. Riley in his
second Report refers at some length to this insect, where he says, " it abounds also in certain
weeds, among which may be mentioned the Red Root or New Jersey Tea Plant (Ceanothus
Americanus) and neck weed or Purslane Speedwell (Veronica peregrina). In the month of
June under these two last named plants, they may be found in countless numbers of all sizes
and ages, from the small light brown, wingless, newly hatched individuals, to the full fledged
jet black ones. In fact they breed on these weeds, and there is no more effectual method of
checking their increase and thus preventing their injuries to our cultivated fruits, than by
sprinkling these weeds, and the ground underneath them, with a good strong solution of cresy-
lic soap."

INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE STRAWBERRY.

By W. Saunders, London, Ont.

The Strawberry False Worm (Emphytus maculatus, Norton).

In that portion of last year's Report which treated of " Insects Injurious to the Straw-
berry," some reference was made to the strawberry false worm, and some details of its
appearance and history quoted from Mr. Riley's Reports ; up to that time we had no
personal acquaintance with the insect. On the 8th of July last, specimens of the larvae,
some full grown, others only partially grown were brought to us by Mr. William Russell, of
London, Ont., who found them destroying the strawberry plants in his garden. Mr.
Russell tells us that he had some of the worms last summer, for the first time — on his
vines, although not in snch numbers as he has had them during the present year. He
says they appear to come on the driest ground first. Three days later we visited Mr.
Russell's garden and found many of the plants badly eaten, some indeed completely
riddled ; it was nearly eight o'clock in the evening and many of the larvae were found
feeding on the upper surface of the leaves, although some were still half coiled up on the
under side. Mr. Russell says he can rarely find any on the leaves during the middle of
the day, either above or below, but finds them late in the evening and early in the morn-
ing, and thinks they must descend to the ground in the day time, and hide, and crawl out
again in the evening. He had tried hellebore with water freely, but with less success than
he anticipated ; probably the mixture of Paris green and flour would prove a more effectual
remedy.

The following description of the larva was taken July 9th, 1873. Length ^ths of
an inch j body thickest on the anterior segments, tapering behind. Head rather small,
pale yellowish brown, with six black spots or dots, two on each side and two in front, one
of the latter just above the middle, the other on the upper margin, the last rather the
largest and deepest in colour. Mandibles dark brown.

The body above pale greenish with a faint whitish bloom ; skin semi-transparent
revealing the movements of the internal organs in dark greenish moving patches. There
is a broken band along each side of a deeper shade of green, composed of spots or patches
which coalesce on the anterior segments but are distinct and separate behind ; below the
bands the body is paler with a faint yellowish tint.

307

Fig. 12

Under surface pale yellowish and semi-transparent ; feet and prolegs — of which latter
there are eight pairs — all pale yellowish.

A number of these larvae were put into a flower-pot with some leaves and earth, when
those which were full grown soon disappeared. On turning the earth out — in which they
had buried themselves— on the 23rd of July, we found that some of them had formed
oval cocoons by sticking together small fragments of earth, and within this enclosure
they were preparing for their next change ; they had already contracted in length, but
were still in the larval condition.

We insert again for the benefit of those
who may not have last year's report, figures
illustrating this insect in its various stages.
1, shows the underside of the pupa or chry-
salis ; 2, a side view of the same ; 3, an
enlarged view of the perfect fly, showing
the arrangement of the veins on its wings ;
4, the larva or worm crawling ; 5, the per-
fect fly of the natural size ; 6, the larva at
rest ; 7, the cocoon ; 8, one of the antennae
of the insect enlarged, showing the joints ;
9, an egg magnified.

The Strawberry Chrysomelan (Paria
sexnotata, Say).

This insect was first described by
Thomas Say, in a communication to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, in
the year 1824, who found it in considerable numbers on the common juniper in July. It
is a stout, shining small beetle, about ^-ths of an inch long, with a pale — sometimes darker
— body and wing-covers spotted with black, and ornamented with regular rows of punctures
which disappear towards the tip ; beneath it is blackish. This little creature is very active,
hopping briskly about when approached or disturbed, and is provided with an excellent appe-
tite. Specimens were brought to us by Mr. Deadman, of Delaware, Ont., on the 24th of
May, with loud complaints of the amount of damage they were doing to a large bed of his
strawberries. The leaves which were brought with them were completely riddled, innume-
rable holes being eaten through them. Four of these beetles were put into a wide mouth
phial with a portion, about one-third, of a large strawberry leaf, and in three days they had
destroyed the greater portion of it by eating irregular holes all over it.

This insect prevailed on Mr. Deadman's farm for several weeks in immense numbers,
and did a considerable amount of damage to his strawberry beds, destroying in all from
one-third to half-an acre. Mr. Deadman noticed a remarkable coincidence for which we
could suggest no reasonable explanation. Over certain portions of his strawberry beds
he had sown a mixture of lime and salt as a manure, and on all the portions where this
lime and salt mixture had been scattered, the beetle abounded on the vines, and along the
borders of such salted patches for a foot or two ; as far as the influence of this mixture
might be expected to extend ; all other portions of his strawberry beds were free from
attack. We were not able to discover anything in reference to the larva ; the beetle in
this case continued its depredations for several weeks, and then gradually died out about
twi, weeks before the fruit matured. As the fruit was partially grown at the time of the
appearance of this beetle, objections were made to using anything poisonous to destroy
them for fear of affecting the fruit ; we are not aware of its having been m ticed before as
injurious to any of our fruits.

308

ON SOME INNOXIOUS INSECTS

By W. Saunders, London, Ont.

Following the plan inaugurated in our Report for last year, we present our readers
with a chapter in which will be given the life history of several of our common insects,
which are neither injurious nor beneficial to the farmer or fruit grower, but which, from
the frequency with which they are met with, or else from something remarkable in their
appearance or methods of life, excite curiosity and claim attention.

The Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio turnus. — Linn.)

Everyone must have seen the large Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, floating about in the
warm days of July and August, enjoying the sunshine, and sipping the honey from
flowers. It is among our largest and handsomest butterflies. In figure 13 we have an

Fig. 13.

excellent representation of it, which will be readily recognized. When its wings are fully
expanded this insect will measure about four inches across. The ground colour of its
wings is a pale lemon yellow, which is banded and bordered with black. On the fore
wings are four black bars, the inner one extending entirely across the wing, the outer
ones shortening more and more as they approach the apex. The front margin is edged
with black, and the outer margin has a wide border of the same, in which is set a row of
eight or nine pale yellow spots, the lower ones less distinct. The hind wings are crossed
by a streak of black, which is almost a continuation of the inner band on the fore wings.
There is a short black streak a little beyond, at the end of the discal cell, and a wide
black border, widening as it approaches the inner angle of the wing. Enclosed within

309

this border and towards its outer edge are six lunular spots, the upper and lower ones
reddish, the others yellow above ; and about these spots, and especially towards the
inner angle of the wing, the black bordering is thickly powdered with blue scales ; the
outer margin of the hind wings is scolloped and partly edged with yellow, the inner mar-
gin is bordered with dusky for about two-thirds of its length, followed by a small yellow
patch, which in turn is succeeded by a larger black spot centered with a crescent of blue
atoms, and bounded below by an irregular reddish spot margined within with yellow.
The hind wings terminate in two long black tails edged on the inside with yellow. The
body is black above, margined with pale yellowish ; below, yellowish streaked with black.

The under surface of the wings somewhat resembles the upper but is paler.

This species passes the winter in the chrysalis state, and appears first on the win
from the middle to the latter end of May, but becomes much more plentiful during July.
Whether these July insects are a second brood, or whether the bulk of the chrysalides
which have wintered do not mature until about this time, we have been unable to deter-
mine ; individuals which we have wintered over have escaped from chrysalis as late as
the 3rd of June.

The eggs of turnus are deposited singly on the leaves of the different plants or trees
on which the larva feeds. They are between one-twentieth and one-twenty-fifth of an
inch in diameter, subglobular. flattened at the place of attachment ; colour dark green,
surface smooth, without reticulations, but showing a few small irregularly distributed dots
under a magnifying power of forty-five diameters. In about ten or twelve days they
begin to change colour, becoming darker, and very dark just before the young larvae are
hatched.

When fresh from the egg the larva is about one-tenth of an inch long, with a large
black head, and with a black body roughened with small brownish black tubercles. The
second segment is elevated or thickened and of a dull glossy flesh colour, with a promi-
nent fleshy tubercle on each side, and a patch of white on the seventh and eighth seg-
ments, which is wide anteriorly, and pointed behind ; there is also a dull flesh coloured
streak along the back on fourth and eleventh segments. The twelfth segment has a pair
of fleshy tubercles, rather prominent, but not so large as those on the second ; both those
on the second and twelfth have several short whitish hairs arising from them. The under
surface is brownish black, with the feet and prolegs of the same colour.

The full grown larva, see figure 14, taken
Fig. 14. July 14th, measured one and a half inches in

length. Its head is rather large, and of a red-
dish brown colour, sprinkled with very short
white hairs.

The body olive green, of a slightly darker
shade on the anterior segments, paler on the
sides of the body, over which there is a whitish
bloom produced by a multitude of very minute white dots, with small short hairs of the
same colour issuing from them ; the anterior segments of the body are wrinkled. On the
front edge of the second segment is a raised yellow fold slightly overhanging the head,
and on each side of the fourth segment is an eye like spot nearly oval in shape, yellow,
enclosed by a ring of black, centered with a small elongated blue dot, which is also set in
black, and has above it on each side a black line, nearly crossing the yellow spot. On
the hinder portion of the fifth segment is a raised yellow fold, bordered behind with rich
velvety black, the latter visible only when the larva is in motion ; on the terminal seg-
ment is a similar fold flattened above with a slight protuberance on each side. On the
fifth segment in front of the yellow fold are two blue dots, one on each side of the dorsal
line ; there are also faint traces on the hinder segments of a continuation of these dots in
longitudinal rows.

The under surface is of a paler green than the upper, with a whitish bloom ; prolegs
of the same colour, feet tipped with brown.

As the larva approaches maturity, and is about to change to a chrysalis, the colour of
the body gradually grows darker, until it becomes dark reddish brown, the sides nearly
black. The minute whitish granulations and the blue dots become much more distinctly
visible, giving the larva a very different appearance. It then selects some suitable spot

310

in which to pass the chrysalis state, where it spins a web of silk in which its hind feet are
entangled, and having prepared and stretched across a silken band to sustain its body in
the middle, it casts its larva skin, and remains a dull brownish chrysalis until the following
spring.

This insect is widely distributed, being found throughout the greater portion of the
United States and Canada. The larva feeds on a number of different trees, but chiefly
affects with us the apple, cherry, thorn, and basswood.

The Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia [Spilosoma] Isabella, — Sm.)

There are but few of our readers who are not familiar with the caterpillar of the
Isabella Tiger Moth, one of our commonest " woolly bears," and one found we believe in
almost every part of Canada and the northern United States. This larva in common with
many other members of the family (Arctiadse) to which it belongs, hybernates during the
winter. It acquires nearly full growth in the autumn, and then having selected a
cosy sheltered spot under bark, log, rail, stone or board in which to hide, it coils itself up
into a sort of ball and sleeps through the long and dreary winter ; and about the time
when the birds come back, and the warm days of spring begin, this bristly creature rouses
itself to commence life anew. At times it is deceived by occasional warm days in mid-
winter when it may be seen wandering about in search of food, but again seeks some
hiding-place and resumes its state of torpidity with returning cold. It is one of the few
caterpillars which present themselves to us full grown in early spring, and from its pecu-
liar appearance can scarcely fail to attract attention. It has not towander far for food, for
being possessed of a very accommodating appetite it feasts on almost the first green thing
it meets with, grass or weed, or early plant, and having fed but a short time, it spins its
cocoon, and becomes a chrysalis.

The caterpillar is about an inch and a quarter long ; its head and body are black, and
it is thickly covered with tufts of short, stiff, bristly hairs, which are dull red along the
middle of the body and black at each end. When handled it immediately coils itself into
a ball and remains for some time motionless. It is very tenacious of life : we have known
the larva to be frozen in a solid lump of ice, and when thawed out move around as if no-
thing had happened. It sometimes occurs, although very rarely, that this larva becomes
a chrysalis early in the fall, and produces the moth the same season. We have never met

with an instance of this but once, see Canadian

lg' Entomologist, vol. i, p. 26 ; its usual course is

^^^^^ x \ / * ^^^^^ that which has already been partially described.

>* ^fe^vV// ^d£t& ^ ^ts cocoon> ^ %• 155 ^s sPun m some se~

tI S^S&^^^ Mr cmc*ed nook, and is of a dark colour, of an elon-

aS||PP^ gated oval form and curiously wrought with a
y&^M^mffa' JE?iy network of silk, in the meshes of which are in-

^BM^i^K^m\:- terwoven the bJack and red hairs from the body of

^MP* ^BgPY^HP^ tne caterpiHar- Within this enclosure the insect

w' changes to a dark brown chrysalis, and remains

as such about two or three weeks, sometimes lon-
ger, when the moth having burst its shelly cover-
ing, softens the silky fibres of which its cocoon is
formed by a liquid with which it is furnished,
and makes its exit through a hole at one end of
the cocoon.

The moth, «, fig. 15, when its wings are
spread, measures about two inches. Its wings
are of a pale yellowish buff colour, with a few
dull blackish dots more numeruus on some specimens than in others. The hind wings
are sometimes paler than the fore wings, and at other times tinged with orange red, while
in other specimens we have observed that the under surface of the fore wings assumed
a dull rosy hue. The body is a little deeper and richer in colour than the wings, and the
abdomen is ornamented with longitudinal rows of black dots ; on the upper surface there

311

is a row down the middle of the back, and one on each side, and on the under surface
there are sometimes two additional rows of smaller dots.

Although this insect is so common and well known in its larval condition, it is not
often seen on the wing. It flies at night, and being seldom attracted by lights, it rarely
finds its way into our houses. It is also subject to the attacks of ichneumons, which des-
troy some of the caterpillars before they reach maturity.

In the July number of the Canadian Entomologist, Mr. 0. S. Westcott, of Chi-
cago, names two species of these ichneumons, which he has bred from cocoons of Isabella.
They are Ichneumon signatipes, Cresson, and Trogus obsidianator Brulle.

Arctia Saundersii. — Grote.

This is the name of another of our tiger _,-Tg" ^

moths, a very handsome creature, not so common
as that last described, but much more beautiful,
see fig. 16.

The antennae are black, with a brownish tinge.
Head, flesh coloured above, black at the sides ; the
thorax pinkish buff with five black spots, two
small ones in front, and three larger ones behind
them.

The fore wings are black, with many pale flesh coloured stripes ; the front margin,
the veins and their branches, are narrowly striped. There is a central longitudinal linear
stripe across the wing above the middle, and a wider one having its origin at the base im-
mediately under the linear stripe, and deflected from thence to the hind margin where it
is forked. There is a zigzag band something like a W across the outer edge ; there are
also two or three cross stripes, the middle one being most conspicuous, and usually forked.

The hind wings are pale reddish buff, sometimes much deeper and brighter in colour,
with five or six black spots, one towards the middle of the wing, the others arranged along
the hinder margin, where they form an irregular band. The fringes of the wings are
whitish.

The under surface of both wings is paler, with the markings less distinct. The up-
per surface of the body is reddish, with an irregular black band down the middle of the
back ; the under side is dark brown, with many whitish hairs. When the wings are fully
expanded this moth measures from one and a-half to one and three quarter inches.

It appears upon the wing early in July, is inactive and remains hidden during the
day, but flies into lighted rooms at nights, where it may frequently be found resting on
ceilings and walls during the day. During the month of July they seek their mates, and
after this the female lays her eggs, usually on some low- growing plant, where they soon
hatch into small hairy caterpillars. After attaining about half or less than half their
growth they stop feeding, and seek some sheltered and safe hiding-place where they hy-
bernate for the winter. Awakening in spring they feed readily on almost any green thing
which may come within their reach, eating during the night, and hiding under logs and
chips and stones during the day. They attain full growth early in June, when they meas-
ure from an inch and a quarter to an inch and a half in length. The head is small and
black, reddish at the sides ; the body above dull black, rather glossy, with a slight reddish
tinge , on each segment there is a transverse row of black tubercles emitting tufts of stiff,
bristly hairs of the same hue ; the hairs on the two hinder segments are longer than those
on the others. There is a faint whitish dorsal line from the head to the third segment,
and another faint mark of the same colour on the terminal segment, The under surface
is dull red, the feet and prolegs of the same colour.

About the middle of June these larvae seek some suitable spot, where gathering to-
gether a few bits of dried leaves or other rubbish, and uniting them with silken threads,
under this slight enclosure the change to a chrysalis takes place, when the hairy covering
is shed, revealing a nearly smooth dark brown pupa. After remaining in this inactive
condition about a fortnight the perfect insect makes its escape, appearing in all its gay and
attractive colours.

312

The Gigantic Water Bug (Belosi&ma grandis. — Linn.)

This very large bug, which is represented in figure 17, is
often a subject of wonder. It is frequently washed up along
our lake shores, is often seen in swampy waters, and at other
times and in other places intrudes itself upon our notice, always
exciting the astonishment of the beholders by its size and
strength. This insect belongs to an entirely different order
from those already referred to, they belonged to the lepidop-
tera or scale winged insects- this to the order hemiptera, which
embraces all those insects which may be correctly and properly
known as true bugs. The genus belostoma, to which this par-
ticular insect belongs, includes some of the most gigantic forms,
some species being as much from three to four and a half inches
long — the species with which we are immediately concerned
often measures nearly three inches. These insects have very
flat oval bodies, small heads, large eyes, and large membranous
wings, which enable them to fly considerable distances. Their
fore feet are armed with sharp claws, while their hinder limbs
are broad and flat and adapted for swimming. Westwood says :
" The females of some species of belostomw carry their eggs
upon their backs, arranging them in a single layer with great
symmetry." They feed upon aquatic insects and not upon
vegetable food. They are furnished with a sharp and formid-
able beak, which they thrust through the bodies of the creatures they attack, at the same
time holding their victims firmly fast with their sharp-clawed fore-legs. Dr. Packard
says, in his " Guide," p. 537 : " Professor A. E. Verrill has sent me the eggs and freshly
hatched young of one of our New England species of bdostoma, the former of which he
found in the spring under an old log just at but above the edge of the water. On the 18th
of June they hatched out a most amusing flock of young bugs, nearly as large as squash bugs,
and light yellowish green in colour, which soon changed to dark gray." The young, two
days old and previous to moulting, were '35 of an inch long. The eggs are smooth, cylin-
drical, "16 of an inch long, and are deposited in a mass of about ninety eggs, attached by
the posterior end to a mass of silk gum. They partially overlap each other, and the
young escape by a round lid, indicated by a semicircular white line." The young insects
very much resemble their parents excepting in size, but their wings, however, in this
young state are not developed.

The Many-Lined Julus — (Julus multistriatus. — Walsh).

There are several species of Julus commonly known as " thousand-legged worms,'

inhabiting Canada. The small species represented
in fig, 18 is common in the Western States, and

very probably occurs with us also, although not
so commonly as J. Canadensis ; there is however so
much similarity between the different species com-
posing this family as they occur with us, that the figure of any one of them will very well
serve to illustrate the group. These are not true insects, but resemble them in many res-
pects, and are often to be seen in collections of insects shown at our various exhibitions.
They belong to the order myriapoda. In their nervous, digestive, respiratory, and repro-
ductive systems, they very closely resemble those of the larvae of insects, the circulatory
system is however of a lower type.

The body is almost perfectly cylindrical, the head large, with thread-like antennae ;
their numerous feet are short and slender, attached to therunder surface of the body nearly
in the middle. When in a state of activity these feet move with a sort of wave-like mo-
tion, but when at rest or disturbed the body is frequently coiled up. They are commonly

313

found under sticks and logs, especially in moist rich woods, and they are said to feed on
vegetable substances, and also on dead earthworms and snails. Van der Hcsven says, " In
the spring the female deposits her eggs in masses of sixty or seventy, in a hole excavated
for the purpose under the ground ; after three weeks or more the young make their ap-
pearance." The body of Julus Canadensis consists of fifty-three rings or segments, its co-
lour is chesnut brown, and it is ornamented with a black line down the back and a row of
black dots along each side.

To many timid persons these creatures are a source of terror, on account of the po-
pular belief in their being poisonous, and many would as soon think of handling a snake
as of touching any one of them ; this belief is however entirely without foundation, for
none of the members of this interesting family are known to be poisonous, and we have
handled many a score of them without experiencing the least degree of unpleasantness, in
short it may be confidently asserted they are perfectly harmless.

314

HOUSEHOLD PESTS.

By Joseph Williams, London, Ontario.

1. The Bacon Beetle (Dermestes lardarius).

2. The Clothes Moth (Tinea Jiavifrontella).

3. The Mosquito (Culex pipiens ?).

4. The House Fly (Musca domestica).

INTRODUCTION.

As, hitherto the insects treated of in these annual Reports have been principally
those affecting our field and garden products, it has been thought advisable and appropri-
ate to the character of the Reports, to say a few words concerning those insects which
nourish in the abodes of man. We give nothing original in these articles, merely selec-
tions from standard authors of such descriptions and facts as may most clearly show the
history and character of each insect. Under the circumstances, we have not thought it
necessary to insert authors' names in the body of the articles, but trust this will be suffi-
ent acknowledgment.

The Bacon Beetle (Dermestes lardarius, Linn).

Dermestes lardarius is a European insect which has become naturalized in this country.
The accompanying figure will give an idea of the appearance of the Bacon Beetle through-
Fis- 19- out its various stages, which we will endeavour to make more

x\?^S^a\MI 1UJ/, plain by verbal description.

When fully developed this beetle measures about a quarter
of an inch in length, is of a dull blackish colour, and has the
base of each wing cover of a pale buff or ash tint ; each wing
cover is also marked with three black spots. Its body is of an
oblong oval shape. The insect is furnished with two horns or
antennae, which are notched regularly ; it has short legs, is very
timid and slow in its movements, and when disturbed or handled
it seeks shelter or counterfeits death, a deception which all insects
belonging to the same family — Dermestidce — are guilty of.

The perfect insect itself does not produce the ravages which
are associated with its name, but the larvae or maggots that it
gives birth to are the mischief workers. In some instances it has
proved so destructive that great rewards have been offered for a remedy against its depre-
dations.

The substances to which the Bacon Beetle is most injurious, are bacon, cheese, hams,
dried meats, and the bodies of dried insects in the cabinet of the entomologist. It lays
its eggs on these substances, and after a certain time the young larvae come forth. The
body of one of these creatures is elongated, tapering from the head to the tail, which lat-
ter part is furnished with two short, curved, horny spines on the last segment. It is of a

315

russety brown colour above, whitish beneath, and is freely covered with moderately long
hairs also of a brownish shade. It is quite active in its movements, crawling with a wrig-
gling motion. As soon as it leaves the egg it attacks the food upon, or near which it has
been placed by its far-seeing parent, and of course renders it unfit for use to man. When
feeding on beetles, moths or butterflies, as it frequently does to the dread of the entomo-
logist, it at once makes its way into the interior, and skilfully hiding itself in the body it
is consuming, leaves on its departure nothing but the mere shell which falls to pieces on
very slight disturbance. The amount of meats and other articles of food which the larvae
of Dermestes lardarius destroy is very great, owing to the abundance of them produced by
one pair, and their rapid growth to a perfect state. It is usually in carelessly kept houses
and dirty meat shops that these creatures are found in greatest abundance, or where meats
are stored for a great length of time, in unfavourable localities, without frequent examina-
tion. Owing to its great range of appetite, it is a true pest to careless housekeepers, but
it may be unknown in a well kept house. In the case of ravages among other insects or
stuffed birds, the larvae may be readily destroyed by the free application of purified ben-
zine, which will not injure the collectors' specimen in the slightest degree. Camphor is
sometimes employed to keep the beetles from such objects, but when the larvae are formed
the first named remedy is the only one which has been found of much service.

The Clothes Moth {Tinea flavifrontella).

This little moth, of which we give a representation in fig, 20, causes great destruc-
tion of furs and woollens in many families, especially in the more careless.
***' 20- Tinea flavifrontella is a very small moth of a uniform light buff colour,

W with a silky iridescent lustre, the hind wings and abdomen being a little paler,
^Jjjfi^^ The head is thickly tufted with hairs and is a little tawny. The wings are
^Vf^^ long and narrow, with the most beautiful and delicate long silken fringe,
which increases in length towards the base of the wing. This moth begins to fly about
in May and lasts throughout the season. They flutter about with a noiseless stealthy
flight, and when they have found a suitable place deposit their eggs. Although they give
preference to woollen or fur materials, yet they have been known to deposit on a mass of
cotton.

From the eggs are hatched numerous very small caterpillars or larvae. The cater-
pillar is a little pale, delicate worm, about the size of a darning-needle, and less than half
Fis- 21- an inch in length. See fig. 21. The head is of a pale

horn colour, and is armed with a formidable pair of
jaws which it uses as a scythe, to cut its way through
the world.

The larva fashions for itself a curious dwelling-
place, in the following manner : (See fig. 21.) Very soon
after its birth the young larva begins to cut down the
woolly fibres or soft hairs of its resting place, and placing
them in successive layers, joins them together by silken
threads, thereby forming a cylindrical tube of thick warm material, lined with fine silk
spun by the larva itself. This case is not perfectly cylindrical, being slightly flattened
in the middle, and contracted a little just before each end, both of which are always kept
open. It varies in colour according to the material upon which the larva has been feed-
ing, but is usually marked w7ith rings or lines of different shades. The larva increases in
size after several days' feeding on wool, and his case becomes too small for comfort. Shall
he leave it and make another, or shall he be economical and alter his old one 1 The latter
course is followed, out come those scissor-like jaws and a great rent is made along
each side of one end of the case. Two wedge-shaped patches mend the breach ; the little
creature retires for a moment and reappears at the other end, and there performs a similar
operation, when he once more breathes freely, and laughs and grows fat on horse hair and
lamb's wool. In this way he enlarges his case until he stops growing. Several experi-
ments were indulged in at the expense of a larva of Tinea flavifrontella, by cutting off por-
tions of its case, when it was found that the little creature built up the part again in a
few days.

316

Most people could easily spare these voracious little worms hairs enough to serve as
food and afford material for the construction of their paltry cases, but that restless spirit
that ever urges on all beings endowed with life and motion, never forsakes the larva of
the clothes moth. He will not drag his heavy case over rough hairs and wool, so he cuts
his way through, and the more he travels the more mischief he does.

In process of time the larva or caterpillar changes into the pupa or chrysalis, in
which state it is to all appearance dead. The chrysalis is considerably curved, with the
head smooth and rounded. The long horns or antennae, together with the hind legs, are
folded along the breast. At first the chrysalis is whitish, but just before the advent of
the moth it becomes of a yellowish varnish colour.

When the moth is about to emerge from the chrysalis the skin of the latter splits
open on the back, and the perfect insect glides out, and so quickly is the operation per-
formed, that the observer must look sharply to detect the different steps.

Our little Tinea flavifrontella, whose development we have now traced from the egg,
proves itself true to the instinct which has been implanted in the species, and earns the
name of a " household pest."

There are several allied species which have much the same habits, except that they
do not construct cases ; they eat carpets, grain and natural history specimens.

Remedies. — Early in May woollens and furs should be carefully dusted, shaken and
beaten. Powdered black pepper, camphor, tobacco leaves, red cedar, and paper sprinkled
with turpentine, have all been used to repel this moth. The cloth-lining of carriages can
be secured forever from the attacks of this insect by being sponged over with a solution
of corrosive sublimate in alcohol. Benzine, carbolic acid, and carbolic preparations are
certain destroyers and preventives of these moths.

The Mosquito (Culex Pipiens ?).

Fi°- 22- We are sure all our readers will recognize our common

foe in the figure, and will retain a lively recollection of its
peculiarities. As it is some time since we have listened to
their cheery music we may be in a position to examine im-
partially their beauties and admire those marvels of struc-
ture which abound in the body of a mosquito in all its stages.
It may not be out of place here to give one of the stories
which is supposed to settle the derivation of the word Mos-
quito. It was given by some coloured person in the South:
" De white man he come, he settle down, he grow de corn
and cotton, den come de little fly — cry golly 1 How he bite !
Whoop ! whoop ! White man slap him face and stamp like
mad. He say ' must-quit-oh.' He shout louder den ebber,
and whop de other side, ' must-quit-oh V Den behind, den
before, dis side, dat side, all de time ' must-quit-oh !' ' must-quit oh !' " This derivation
of the word is certainly ingenious, and has quite as much appearance of probability as
many other derivatives.

Although at the head of this article we give the name of the mosquito as Culex pipi-
ens, yet we do so advisedly, and under certain restrictions. In England the term Culex
"pipiens is appropriated to the insect popularly known as the gnat ; and the question for
decision is: Are the gnat and the mosquito one and the same insect, or are they perfectly
distinct 1 The two have the same appearance and blood-thirsty habits, and hold similar
positions in the affections of the English and American peoples respectively. The litera-
ture on this subject gives a very uncertain sound, no writer, as far as we have seen, giv-
ing the name of the Mosquito in entomological terms. It is said by many that it belongs
to the same genus Culex, but the specific name is invariably absent. The mosquito is
unknown in England generally, except where some one reports the supposed observance
or capture of one supposed to have been brought from some foreign country. The genus
includes a great many insects spread all over the world, and resembling each other con-
siderably ; while they are calculated, from their habits, to force themselves on the notice
of almost everyone. We must bear in mind that differences of climate and other circum-

317

stances may work considerable changes in one and the same species, and may possibly
cause as great a difference as appears between the gnat and the mosquito.

We are all well acquainted with the peculiar buzzing singing of the mosquito and its
graceful flight, except when us-ward, but there are many points of beauty and interest
about the insect which can only be revealed by the microscope.

The body is long and cylindrical. When in a state of repose one of its wings is
crossed over the other. They present a charming appearance when seen through a mi-
croscope, their nervures as well as their edges being completely covered with scales shaped
like oblong plates, and finely striated longitudinally. These scales are also found on all
the segments of the body. The antennas, especially those of the male, have a fine
feathery appearance.

Their eyes, covered with network, are so large that they cover nearly the whole of the
Fig. 23. head. Fig. 23 shows the head of the mosquito magnified,

with its eyes and mouth parts.

The instrument which the insect employs for punctur-
ing the skin is called the trunk, and is well worthy of our
attention. That which is generally seen is merely the case
of those instruments which are intended to pierce our skin
and suck our blood, and in which they are held as lancets
and other articles are held in a surgeon's case. The case is
cylindrical, covered with scales, and terminates in a small
knob. Split from end to end that it may open, it con-
tains a perfect bundle of stings. Reaumur observed, that this
compound sting enters the skin to a considerable depth,
bending the case into a bow until the two ends meet.
According to this naturalist the sting is composed of five
parts, but at present it is believed there are six. Each part more or less resembles a
sword in miniature. The sting of a mosquito bears about the same proportion to the
point of the finest needle, that the latter does to a sword point.

It is to be borne in mind that it is only the female mosquito which is so annoying to
humanity, as to shake one's belief in that amiability of character which we are always
disposed to accord femininity. Packard thus graphically describes the operation of punc-
turing : — " As she leaps off from her light bark, the cast chrysalis skin of her early life
beneath the waters, and sails away in the sunlight, her velvety wings fringed with silken
hairs, and her neatly bodiced trim figure (though her nose is rather salient, considering
that it is half as long as her entire body), present a beauty and grace of form and move-
ment quite unsurpassed by her dipterous allies. She draws near and softly alights on the
hand of the charmed beholder, subdues her trumpeting notes, folds her wings noiselessly
upon her back, daintily sets down one foot after the other, and with an eagerness
chastened by the most refined delicacy for the feelings of her victims, and with an air of
velpeau redivivus, drives through crushed and bleeding capillaries, shrinking nerves and
injured tissues, a many-bladed lancet of marvellous fineness, of wonderful complexity and
fitness." " Her hind body may be seen filling with the red blood until it cries quit, and
the insect withdraws its sting and flies sluggishly away. In a moment the wounded parts
itch slightly, though a very robust person may not notice the irritation, or a more delicate
individual if asleep ; though if weakened by disease, or if stung in a sensitive and highly
vascular part, such as the eye-lid, the bite becomes really a serious matter." It is not at
all probable that such a painful wound is caused by the simple puncture of such a small
instrument ; indeed it is admitted that it is caused by the exudation of a very small quan-
tity of liquid during the puncturing process, and which probably serves to dilute the
blood. A good remedy is to wash the part immediately and thereby dilute the poison.

At the proper time the female lays her elongated oval eggs in a boat shaped mass
which floats on the water. Our readers will perhaps not feel much pleasure in learning
that the fecundity of these insects is extraordinary. Many generations are born in a sin-
gle year, each generation only requiring a few weeks to arrive at a condition to bring
forth another.

From these eggs are hatched numerous larvae or grubs. The larva lives at the
bottom of pools and ditches, feeding upon decaying matter, thus acting as a scavenger

318

and in this state doing great benefit in clearing swamps of miasma. It rises to the
surface for air, which it inhales through a single respiratory tube, situated near the tail.
They are consequently obliged to hold their heads down. In the vicinity of the respira-
tory tube is an orifice which forms the exterior termination of the digestive tube.

When the larva is about to transform into the pupa or chrysalis state it contracts
and enlarges anteriorly near the middle, the larval skin is thrown off, and the insect appears
in quite a different form j the head and thorax are massed together, and the rudiments of
the mouth parts, wings and legs are folded on the breast. In a few days the pupa skin is
cast, the insect availing itseli'^of its old habiliments as a raft upon which to float, while its
body is drying, grows lighter, and its wings expand for its marriage flight. The males
are beautiful, both physically and morally, as they do not bite : their manners are more
retiring than those of their stronger-minded partners, as they rarely enter our dwellings,
but live unnoticed in the woods. A mosquito lives three or four weeks in the water before
changing to the adult or winged state j how long afterwards they live we do not know.

The House Fly (Musca Domestica).

This insecj is so well known to all our readers that it needs no more introduction
than the mention of its name. It is very widely distributed, being found in almost every
part of the world. Indeed I believe we are correct in saying that wherever man takes up his
residence, it is shared to a greater or less extent by Musca domestica. Thus, being a crea-
ture so familiar to us all, the knowledge of its history, habits and structure should possess
great interest. How often is the question asked, in the spring or early summer time,
" Where do all these flies come from ?" and how seldom is an intelligent answer given.
About that time of the year several smaller species of flies are very abundant, and it is
commonly supposed that these small flies grow into the larger ones, people generally know-
ing little or nothing of the well established fact that winged insects never grow ; their
growth is completed in the earlier or larval stages of their existence, and when once they
have arrived at perfection, they cease to grow, and the end and aim of their existence
appears to be the propagation of the species.

As we are so familiar with Musca domestica in its perfect or winged state, we will fol-
low its history from this point. In this insect the sexes are perfectly distinct, the female
being recognisable by the presence of a little tube or ovipositor situated at the end of the
abdomen. This organ is formed of three or four rings which the fly can extend or re-
tract after the manner of a telescope, and which it employs for the purpose of depositing
her eggs. Internally the organs of the female consist of a pair of branching tubes in
which the ova are developed. The male is furnished with tubes and glands necessary for
the development of the fructifying element.

A celebrated German naturalist, Keller, who studied attentively ths history of the
house fly, tells us that the female deposits her eggs six or eight days after impregnation.
This she usually does in such decaying substances as her instinct shows her to be suitable
for the nourishment of her larvae, as for example in the heaps of decaying vegetables
found near our dwellings. If the fly be enabled to choose the place which suits her best
for the deposition of her eggs (as for instance in a sugar basin in which is placed a quan-
tity of decaying wheat,) she takes an exact survey of every part, and selects that in which
she believes her ova will be best preserved, and her young larvae well cared for. In some
places there would be too much moisture, there the maggots would be drowned : in others
too little, where they would be liable to be dried up But having at length chosen a suit-
able locality, one neither too wet nor too dry, she protrudes her little ovipositor, and there-
with lays her eggs by the side of and upon one another, with the same precision that the
cleverest hand would arrange larger objects. She then sits perfectly still without moving
a member of her body excepting the ovipositor ; indeed it would appear as though she
were not quite conscious while the operation is being performed, for as long as she is not
absolutely touched one may approach her as nearly as possible without causing the least
symptom of alarm. During this operation which lasts from six to eight minutes, the fly
deposits from seventy to ninety eggs. A large number of winged insects die as soon as
they have deposited their eggs, but this is not the case with Musca domestica : it is believed

319

the same insect deposits eggs three or four times during her short life, which lasts only a
few weeks.

Assuming that the fly deposits eighty eggs at one sitting, and that she does this three
or four times during her life, and knowing that the progeny in a very short time become
parents themselves, it has been calculated that a single female might in one season, pro-
vided all her progeny survived, become the parent of upwards of two millions of flies.
Here then we have a basis of calculation sufficient to account for the greatest increase we
have ever witnessed, for, presuming that but comparatively few of our summer torment-
grs find hiding places sufficiently warm and sheltered to winter in, they would be quite
numerous enough, taking into account their natural rate of increase, to stock our houses
by midsummer. It is also quite probable that millions of eggs which are laid in the fall
pass through the rigours of winter unharmed, and hatching out by the warmth of the sun
in early spiing, add greatly to the numbers of those who have survived in the perfect state.
In summer the eggs are hatched in a few days after being deposited, into long white
maggots or larvae. The body of a larva is divided into thirteen rings or segments. The
anterior one, or head, being furnished with a pair of hooked jaws, and rudimentary eyes.
These are the only external organs ; the creature is perfectly smooth and without feet.
While in this state it is constantly devouring the substances in which it was hatched, and
rapidly increases in size, and in a few days assumes the pupa or chrysalis state. This
change is effected by the hardening of the outer skin, which becomes brown and tough,
forming a little barrel shaped case, very much resembling a grain of rice in the husk.
While the insect is in this second stage it is undergoing those remarkable changes, both
internal and external, which raise it from the type of a. worm to that of a highly organized
insect. These metamorphoses are soon completed, when the fly forces its way out of its
prison house in the following manner : — By a series of muscular efforts it detaches itself
from the pupal covering, and then strikes its head repeatedly against one end of the case un-
til it bursts open as it were upon a hinge, when the fly emerges; at this stage the fly presents
an odd appearance, being full grown and perfect, with the exception of the wings, which
are soft and flabby, aud not more than one-fourth their natural size. However this im-
perfection is soon remedied, as the wings reach their prop /r size and hardness in a few
minutes, and the active little creature flies away to bask in the sunshine with his fellows,
or to join them in sipping the delicacies of our tables whenever they come within reach.

Having now briefly gone over the history of our Musca domestica, we will glance at a
few of the most important and interesting features in its structure. Common and insig-
nificant as we regard the house fly, it is a creature of most delicate and intricate organi-
zation, furnishing examples of delicacy of structure, and adaptation of means to ends, be-
fore which the highest skill of man falls as comparatively nothing. In the case of our
house fly, the microscope has proved invaluable ; it has shown in the structure and ap-
pearance of those parts which we will briefly attempt to describe, and has enabled the
skilful naturalist to observe how the insect performs many of its functions.

First of all, the proboscis or tongue claims our attention. We give a magnified repre-
sentation of that organ in fig. 24, along with other parts of the mouth.

Fi£- 24- The maxillae are minute ; their palpi, m p, being single-joint-

ed, and the mandibles, m, are comparatively useless, being very
short and small compared with the lancet like jaws of the mos-
quito. But the tongue itself, or the labium (/) as it is called, is the
most curious piece of mechanism. It consists of a tubular bag,
formed of thin transparent membrane, dilated at its extremity,
where it forms a large sucking disc. This disc is divided into two
broad flat muscular leaves, which present a sucker like surface.
These leaves are supported on a framework of modified tracheae,
which end in hairs projecting externally. The whole tongue is so
constructed as to gather the fluids to which it is applied, and pass
them to an aperture in the centre which leads to the throat or gul-
let. On the under surface of this sucking disc are a number of
ribs resemoiiiig tubes sliced lengthwise, the open portions of which face downwards,
forming passages for the liquid food. It will be observed that these ribs are distributed
with great beauty and regularity, and most of them empty themselves into four main

320

trunks before entering the throat. The proboscis is strengthened across the middle by a
strong muscular band, which probably serves the purpose of dilating and contracting it.

The next point of interest is the antennae. These are small horns situated beyond the
base of the proboscis, and are covered with hairs. It has long been and still is a disputed
point among naturalists, as to what functions these organs perform. Some attribute to
them the sense of hearing, others of smell, and others again that of touch. In the case
of moths it has been shown by actual experiment that these organs serve to direct the
flight. Dr. Clemens, an American entomologist, has experimented on the cercopia moth,
and he found that the excision of one antenna made the flight of the insect very irregular
and unnatural, while the loss of both seemed to have deprived it of almost all power in
guiding itself in the air. Whether these organs serve the same purpose in the case of
Musca dornestica we are uncertain, but it is probable they do.

The eye will next occupy our attention, and it is an object well worthy of it. To the
unaided vision it may present no extraordinary appearance, but when examined skilfully
by the aid of a microscope, its true structure is revealed in all its beauty. The house fly
has two eyes which are situated one on each side of the head ; they are, comparatively
speaking, of enormous size, as they occupy a very large portion of the head. Each eye
is compound, consisting of about two thousand separate lenses, each one of which is com-
plete in itself, and capable of conveying a distinct impression to the sensory organs. Un-
til recently it was a question much discussed among naturalists, whether these remarkable
compound eyes of the fly conveyed to the nerve centres of that insect one or many ima-
ges of objects presented to them. Many were of opinion that each lens conveyed a dis-
tinct image, but of late it has been shown that such is not necessarily the case, for although
it can be clearly demonstrated that each facet receives a distinct image, there can be little
doubt but that the various images meet at a common centre, and are conveyed to the sen-
sory organs as a single picture. Our own eyes afford us an illustration of this principle,
for even if we look at one object with both eyes, and a distinct image is reflected on the
retina of each, yet we do not see two objects, but only one distinct image. Therefore the
immense number of eyes the fly has, while giving it an enormous range of vision, need
not necessarily yield a confused impression.

We will next consider the breathing apparatus of Musca dornestica. This consists of
a series of air tubes or tracheae in the body, terminating externally in trap doors, or spi-
racles as they are technically termed. The tracheae are small tubes which branch in all di-
rections, and are found distributed freely throughout the body. The air from without en-
ters freely through the trap doors above mentioned, and traverses these tubes, thereby
performing exactly the same function as the lungs of man. Under the microscope these
tracheae reveal a most wonderful structure, which we will refer to in the language of Pro-
fessor Eymer Jones : —

" There is one elegant arrangement connected with the breathing tubes of an insect
especially worthy of admiration j and perhaps in the whole range of animal mechanics it
would be difficult to point out an example of more exquisite mechanism, whether we con-
sider the object of the contrivance, or the remarkable beauty of the structure employed.
The air tubes themselves are necessarily extremely thin and delicate, so that on the slightest
pressure their sides would inevitably collapse, and thus completely put a stop to the passage
of air through them, producing of course speedy suffocation of the insect had not some
means been adopted to keep them always permeable ; and yet to do so, and at the same
time to preserve their softness and perfect flexibility, might seem a problem not easily solved.
The plan adopted, however, fully combines both these requisites. Between the two thin
layers of membrane which form the walls of every air tube, a delicate elastic thread (a wire
of exquisite tenuity) has been interposed, which winding round and round in close spirals,
forms by its revolutions a cylindrical pipe of sufficient firmness to preserve the air vessels
in a permeable condition, whilst at the same time it does not at all interfere with its flex-
ibility ; this fine coil is continued through every division of the tracheae, even to their
most minute ramifications, a character whereby these vessels are readily distinguish-
able when examined under the microscope."

Man has imitated this exquisite contrivance in the spiral wire spring which lines
flexible gas-pipes \ but his wire does not pass between the two coats of membrane. One
of the most interesting points of the contrivance is the way in which the branches are (so

321

to speak) inserted in the trunk, the two wires uniting without leaving a blank. It is diffi
cult to describe how this is done ; but by tracing home one of the ramifications, one may
see that it is performed most accurately — the circumvolutions of the trunk wire being
crowded and bent round above and below the insertion (like the grain of timber round a
knot), and the lowest turns of the branch wire being suitably dilated to fill up the hiatus.
The chemical name of the substance forming this wire is chitine.

The trachese terminate outwardly, as we said before, in spiracles, or trap doors,
arranged along the sides of the fly. They serve to allow the free entrance of air into the
tracheae, at the same time excluding dust and other foreign matter. These spiracles are
narrow oval orifices, which are closed sufficiently by means of minute delicate hairs, which
form a network over the entrance.

The feet of Musca domestica are also objects of interest. Each foot is furnished with
two large moveable claws, which it can affix to any little inequalities of surface j but the
great bulk is composed of two large cushions or pads, or pulvilli, as they are technically
called. These pads are furnished with a great number of filaments, or soft hair-like bodies
situated on the margins. Many explanations have been given of the manner in which flies
walk on polished surfaces, especially if they are placed vertically. It was long supposed
that the pulvilli were mere suckers, and that the fly sustained itself in unnatural positions
by forming a vacuum between these and the surface of the object ; in which case the
atmosphere would press with sufficient force on the outside of the sucker to hold the
weight of the fly. One writer and microscopist stated that the under portion of the pads
were beset with numerous bristles, or tenters, working in an opposite direction to the
large claws, thereby enabling the insect to take advantage of any slight irregularities of
surface. In the case of polished bodies of glass and such substances, he gratuitously sup-
posed it to be covered with a " smoky tarnish," into which these minute hairs might be
fastened. However, the accepted explanation now is, — that the small filaments belong-
ing to the pulvilli each terminate in a small fleshy bulb, which is kept moist by a viscid
liquid : these constitute the organs of adhesion. Although they are very minute, yet their
number is very great, and they expose considerable surface.

Towards the close of autumn vast numbers of flies fall victims to a curious dis-
ease, which is highly interesting to the microscopist. Occasionally there may be noticed
numbers of dead flies adhering to the walls and windows, often so far retaining the atti-
tude of life that it is difficult, without touching them, to assure one's self that they are
not actually on the point of taking flight. Insects in dying usually draw up the legs and
cross them on the body, but in this case the dead body is supported on the outstretched
legs, whose feet seem still to retain their adhesive property. If the body be on a window
a halo may be observed around it, nearly an inch in diameter, and composed of a whitish
dust, which, on examination by the microscope, is found to, consist of the spores of a fun-
gus. The abdomen is much distended, and the rings composing it are separated from each
other, the intervals being occupied by white prominent zones, constituted of a fungoid
growth, proceeding from the interior of the body. Further examination will show that
the whole of the contents of the body of the fly have been consumed by the parasitic
growth, and that nothing remains but an empty shell, lined with a thin felt-like layer
of the interlaced threads of this fungus, the name of which is Empusa muscce.

In conclusion, we will say a few words in favour of our " household pest." Most of
us have experienced in the summer time, during showery weather, the sharp bite of a fly,
which is usually supposed by most people to be the common house fly ; but, although their
appearance may seem similar, the two are perfectly distinct. They differ so much in struc-
ture and habits that entomologists have placed them in separate genera. The proper
name of the house fly is at the head of this article, while the bloodthirsty little creature we
have referred to rejoices in the title of Stomoxys calcitrans.

21

322

ON SOME COMMON INSECTS

WHICH AFFECT

THE HORSE, THE OX AND THE SHEEP.

Compiled by Edmund Baynes Reed, London, Ontario.

1. The Horse Breeze-Fly (OEstrus [gasterophilus] equi, Fab).

2. The Ox Bot-Fly ((Estrus bovis, Clark).

3. The Sheep Breeze-Fly (Cephalazmia [CEstrus] ovis, Linn).

The insects above named, whose history and habits we propose to lay before our
readers, belong to that division of the insect world commonly included under the name of
Flies.

They are known however to science as Diptera, from two Greek words dis, two, and
pteron, wing, and may be shortly described as suctorial insects, possessing in the perfect
state only two membranous wings.

Several of the most eminent Entomologists, such as Reaumur, De Geer, Fischer,
have devoted considerable attention to the natural history of these flies, but it is to the
laborious and thorough investigation of the celebrated English Veterinary Surgeon, Bracy
Clark, that we are indebted for a very complete history of many of the members of the
particular genus now before us, the CEsiri, whose popular names of Breeze, Gad and Bot-
flies, are so well known to every stockbreeder.

Each species of CEstrus is parasitic upon a peculiar species of mammiferous herbivor-
ous animals, and selects with wonderful instinct as the spot in which to deposit its eggs,
that portion of the body of the animal which is best adapted for the welfare of its pro-
geny, that is in places either where the larvae when hatched may burrow into the back or
other part of the body, or where the larvae may be removed by the tongue of the animal,
itself into its mouth, and thence to the s omach, in which, exposed to a temperature of
more than one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, they remain until full grown, when in either
case they quit the body, and making their way to the earth undergo their transformations
in the ground.

Providence has doubtless created these animals to answer some beneficent purpose.
Mr. Clark conjectures that they act as counter irritants upon the system of those large
animals they attack, such as the horse, ox and sheep ; and by acting the part of perpetual
stimuli or blisters, do modify the effects of grass feeding and repletion. Of course when
certain limits are exceeded these insects become the causes of diseases, and sometimes
even of death.

According to Mr. Westwood, the larvae or grubs of (Estri exhibit three principal va-
riations in their habits, being either cutaneous, when the grubs (commonly called Worrils,

323

Wormals, or Warbles), reside in tumours beneath the skin of the animal attacked, for ex-
ample the ox bot-fly ; Cervical, when the grubs burrow into the maxillary and frontal si-
nuses, through the nostrils, as is the case with the sheep breeze-fly • or gastric, when the
grubs, called in this case bots, are introduced into the stomach, like those of the horse
gad-fly.

We gather from various sources that the horse, sheep, ox, ass, reindeer, rhinoceros,
stag, antelope, camel, hare, rabbit, rat and mouse are subject to the attacks of these in-
sects, and it is mentioned as a singular anomaly that some of the genera which contain
the largest species among them, inhabit the smallest animals.

These insects whose habits are so formidable, and whose economy is so extraordinary,
have the appearance of large hairy flies, the hairs being often coloured in transverse bands.

Having thus learned something of the general history of the breeze-flies, let us now
take them in order and more minutely examine the three several species we have alluded
to.

1. — The Horse Breeze-Fly (CEstrus [gasterophilus] equi, Fab).

Female.

Fig. 25. Male. jyj# j0]v thus describes this fly. The head is large and obtuse,

the face light yellow with whitish silky fur, the eyes blackish, the anten-
nae ferruginous, the thorax grey, and the abdomen of a reddish yel-
low, with black spots. The wings are whitish, not diaphanous, with
a golden tint, and divided by a winding band of blackish colour ; the
feet are palish yellow. The body of the female, fig. 26, is long, tap-
ering and sharp pointed, while that of the male is round and obtuse.
No quadruped is more infested by the breeze or bot-fly than the
horse. During the months of July and August when horses are gene-
rally turned out to grass, the CEstrus frequents the pastures for the purpose of laying its
eggs. We will refer here to Mr. Newman's description of extracts from Mr. Clark's mas-
terly essay.

The female CEstrus in ap-
proaching the horse for the purpose
of depositing her eggs, carries her
body nearly upright in the air,
the protruded ovipositor being
curved upwards and inwards.
Suspending herself for a lew se-
conds before the part of the
horse on which she intends to de-
it is covered. She then leaves the horse at a small distance, prepares a second egg, and
poising herself before the part deposits it in the same way : the liquor dries, and the egg
becomes firmly glued to the hair. This is repeated until four or five hundred eggs are
sometimes placed on one horse. The skin of the horse is usually thrown into a tremulous
morion on the touch of the insect, which merely arises from the very great irritability of
the skin and cutaneous muscles at this season of the year, occasioned by the heat and
continual teasing of the flies, till at length these muscles appear to act involuntarily on
the slightest touch of any body whatever.

The fly does not deposit her eggs at random on the horse's body, but selects those
parts which are most likely to be nibbled by the horse. The inside of the knee is fre-
quently chosen, but all naturalists must have remarked how commonly the eggs of the
bot are deposited on that part of a horse's shoulder which he can never reach with his
mouth, and thus to a casual observer it would seem they must perish and fail in the object
for which their parent designed them. Now there is a provision of nature which exactly
counteracts this difficulty. When horses are together in a pasture and one of them feels
an irritation on any part of the neck or shoulder which he cannot reach with his mouth,
he will nibl le another horse in the corresponding part of his neck and shoulder, and the
horse so nibbled will immediately perform the kind office required, and begin nibbling
away in the part indicated.

posit the egg, she suddenly darts
upon it, and leaves the egg ad-
hering to the hair. She hardly
appears to settle, but merely
touches the hair with the egg
held out on the projected point of
the abdomen or ovipositor as it is
called, the egg adhering by means
of the glutinous liquor with which

324

The eggs of the horse CEstrus, which are white and of conical form, adhere to the

horse's hair as shewn in
fig. 27. They are fur-
nished with an operculum
or lid which at the time of
hatching, about twenty
days after they are depos-

Fig. 27. Eggs of the Horse Breeze Fly deposited on the hair of a horse. itecl opens to allow of the

exit of the young larva. It was at first supposed that the horse licks off the eggs thus
deposited, and that they are by this means conveyed into the stomach, but Mr. Bracey
Clark says, " I do not find this to be the case, or at least only by accident, for when they
have remained on the hair four or five days they become ripe, after which time the slight-
est application of warmth and moisture is sufficient to bring forth in an instant the latent
larva. At this time, if the tongue of the horse touches the egg its operculum or lid is
thrown open, and a small active worm is produced, which readily adheres to the moist sur-
face of the tongue, and is thence conveyed with the food to the stomach." Thus a horse
which has no ova deposited on him may yet have bots by performing the friendly office of
licking another horse that has."

It is worthy of remark that it is probable the greater part of the eggs deposited by
this fly are taken up in consequence of the . irritation of other flies, which by their sting-
ing cause the horse to lick himself, and thus receivet'the larva? of the (Estrus on the tongue
and lips, whence they are conveyed into the stomach.

The larva or grub when first hatched Irom the egg, is a small, active, rather long
worm, but as its growth advances it becomes thicker and broader, and set with bristles.

Fig. 2S. Portion of the Stomach of a Horse with larvae of CEstrus The body is of a whitish Or yellowish red

colour, and is composed of eleven segments,
armed at the lower edge with a double row
of triangular spines or bristles, large and
small alternately, black at the point which
is always turned backwards. The larvae
usually hang in clusters from the lining of
the stomach, see fig. 28; they maintain
their hold by means of two dark brown
hooks with which their head is furnished.
The spines with which the whole surface of
the body is provided contribute to fix it
more solidly, preventing the grubs by the
manner in which we have seen they are
placed from being carried away by the food
which has gone through the first process
of digestion.

The larvae are generally found adher-
ing to the white insensible lining or tissue of the stomach. They make small deep round
holes wherever they adhere to this lining, and sometimes penetrate through it, but not
through the other layers or coats of the stomach.

When they are removed from the stomach with a sudden jerk so as not to injure
them, it is said that they will if fresh and healthy attach themselves to any flaccid mem-
brane, and even to the skin of the hand.

The larva when matured leaves the membrane to which it has been attached, and
traversing the whole length of the intestinal canal, leaves it by the anal orifice, and falls
to the ground, where seeking a suitable place of retreat it undergoes the change into a
chrysalis, the skin hardening, and becoming a dark reddish brown colour. After remain-
ing torpid for a few weeks in this state, the perfect insect having assumed its mature form
bursts the lid at the anterior end of the chrysalis, and makes its exit. In a few hours
afterwards having dried its wings it flies off and seeks its mates.

It is curious to note the agitation and terror produced both by this fly and by ano-
ther horse breeze-fly (Gasterophilus hcemorrhoidalis, Leach), which deposits its eggs upon the
lips of the horse. This latter is described by Mr. Clark as " very distressing to the

325

inimal from the excessive titillation it occasions, for he immediately after rubs his mouth
igainst the ground, his forefeet, or sometimes against a tree with great emotion, till find-
ng this mode of defence insufficient, he quits the spot in a rage, and endeavours to avoid
t by galloping away to a distant part of the field, and if the fly still continues to follow
md teaze him, his last resource is in the water, where the insect is never observed to pur-
sue him. These flies appear sometimes to hide themselves in the grass, and as the horse
stoops to graze they dart upon the mouth or lips, and are always observed to poise them-
;hemselves during a few seconds in the air, while the egg is prepared on the extended
)oint of the abdomen."

Remedies.

Mr. E. Verrill, from whose valuable paper on the external and internal parasites of
man and domestic animals, we quote, writes thus : —

The amount of injury caused by the bots of horses has long been a matter of dispute,
many writers claiming that they are very injurious, and even at times fatal, while others
leny this and consider them as harmless, or even beneficial. This can be definitely settled
>nly by experiment, but most reasonable men would be content to forego auy possible benefit
ind be satisfied with a healthy horse, destitute of bots. No doubt many diseases due to other
causes are commonly attributed to these insects, but that they are frequently the cause of
serious trouble, is generally believed and admitted. In this instance prevention is com-
paratively easy, while all writers admit that there is no reliable cure, no matter how much
;hey may differ in other respects. The means of prevention consist chiefly in frequently
'emoving and destroying the eggs, and also in removing and destroying the full grown
arvae when observed attached to the rectum. The eggs being large can easily be seen, and
>,an be removed either by thorough washing and brushing, or by cutting the hairs off with
scissors. A wash of carbolic acid soap has been recommended to destroy them. In some
countries the grooms frequently wash out the mouths of the horses with a suitable brush
n order to remove the young larvae. Many drugs have been recommended to remove bots
?rom the stomach, but none that do not endanger the life of the horse can be relied on ;
md in cases where they bring away the larvae it is possible that those that are already in
;he intestines are the only ones affected. Spirits or oil of turpentine is a remedy in com-
mon use, but should be used with caution, if at all. A better plan under ordinary circum-
stances is to keep the horses in good health in other respects, so that they can the better
sustain the attacks of the larvae, until they naturally pass away, which will usually take
3iace without serious injury. In exceptional and severe cases only, resort should be had
io special medicines of a dangerous or doubtful character, and then they should be given
f possible in accordance with the advice of a competent physician.

No. 2.— The Ox Bct-Fly (GEstras bovis Latr.).

This is a large and handsomely-col-
oured fly.

M. Joly describes it as having a
very hairy body, a large head, the face
and forehead covered with light yellow
g. hair, the eyes brown and the antennae
jp black. The throat is yellow, barred with
black, the abdomen of a greyish white at
the base, covered with black hair on the
third segment, and the remainder of an
orange yellow ; the wings are smoky
brown.

The fly appears during the summer
months, and the female lays her eggs on
the backs of cattle. There seems to be
a considerable difference of opinion as to
the manner in which the egg is deposited.
Fig? 2& The Bot Fly. (E»tru$ bovis. Mr. Bracey Clark holding very decidedly

326

that the fly does not pierce the skin of cattle with its ovipositor at all, but merely glues
its eggs to the hairs, while the grubs, when hatched, eat their way under the skin ; while
Reaumur asserts, on the contrary, that the mother fly deposits her eggs in the flesh itself.
At all events, the grubs are found in large open tumours on the backs of horned
cattle, making for themselves, says Reaumur, " a place where food is found in
abundance, where they are protected from the weather, where they enjoy at all times an
equal degree of warmth, and where they finally attain maturity." Those parts of the
animal's body in which the larva? are lodged can be easily recognized, as above each larva
can be seen a tumour or bump, which has been, not inaptly, compared to the swelling pro-
duced on the forehead by a smart blow.

In these larvae we find a double modification of structure admirably in accordance with
their habits. Residing immoveably in a fixed spot, they do not require the strong mouth
hooks which the horse bot employs to retain it in its station in the stomach, where it is, of
course, subjected to a variety of action, the parts of their mouths are therefore soft and
fleshy : on the other hand, the extremity of the body being exposed at the orifice of the tu-
mour, it is in this part of the insect that the large spiracles or breathing pores are found. It
is, therefore, very essential to the grub that the hole of the tumour should remain constantly
open, for by this aperture a communication with the air necessary for respiration is pre-
served, and the grub is thence placed in the most favourable position for receiving air.

It is commonly on young cattle of two or three years old that these tumours are
found, it being very rare to find them on very old animals.

The larvae when young are white, but become brown by degrees, attaining at maturity
a very deep colour. They are furnished with transverse rows of minute hooks, which
are probably used in moving about, and are, doubtless, a source of great irritation. The
larva when mature is about an inch long. The bumps are scarcely perceptible before the
beginning of winter, and the larvae live in them during the entire winter.

Reaumur tried to discover how the larva, when arrived at its full growth, succeeds
in leaving its abode, for the opening of the tumour is smaller than its body.

"Nature/' says Reaumur " has taught this worm the surest, the gentlest, and the
most simple of methods, the one to which surgeons often have recourse to hold wounds
open or to enlarge them. They press tents into a wound they wish to enlarge. Two or
three days before the worm wishes to come out, it commences to make use of its posterior
part as a tent to increase the size of the exit from its habitation. It thrusts it into the
hole and draws it out again many times in the course of two or three days, and the oftener
this is repeated, the longer it is able to retain its posterior end in the opening, as the hole
becomes larger. On the day preceding that on which the worm is to come out, the pos-
terior partis to be found almost continually in the hole. At last it comes out backwards
and falls to the ground, when it gets under a stone or buries itself in the turf, remaining
quiet, and preparing for its last transformation. The skin hardens, the rings disappear,
and it becomes black. Thenceforth the insect is detached from the outer skin which
forms a cocoon or box. At the front and upper part of the cocoon is a triangular piece
which the fly gets rid of when it is in a fit state to come into the open air."

Fig. 30, taken from Reaumur's drawings, represents the
fly emerging from its cocoon. The ovipositor or instrument by
which the eggs are laid is also shown. This instrument, which
is attached to the anus of the female, is a tube composed of four
pieces which, like the joints of a telescope, are retractile within
each other.

Reaumur, whose theory is, as we have seen, that the fly
pierces the flesh when depositiug her eggs, states that the act is
not attended with much pain unless some very sensible fibres
are touched.

" It ought to be remarked," says Rennie, from whom we

quote, "that cattle have very thick hides, which are so far from

being acutely sensitive of pain that in countries where they are

put to draw ploughs and waggons they find a whip ineffectual to

,ro. drive them, and have to use a goad in form of an iron needle at

inland ovipositor of femaTe.rg" the end of a stick. Were the pain inflicted by the bot-fly very

327

acute, it would find it next to impossible to lay thirty or forty eggs without being killed
by the strokes of the ox's tail, for though it has been supposed that the fly is shrewd
enough to choose such places as the tail cannot reach, Eeaumur saw a cow repeatedly flap
its tail upon a part full of the bumps, and in another instance he saw a heifer beat away a
party of common flies from a part where there were seven or eight bumps. He conclud-
ed, therefore, with much plausibility, that these two beasts would have treated the ox-flies
in the same way if they had given them pain when depositing their eggs. The extraor-
dinary effects produced upon cattle on the appearance of one of these flies would cer-
tainly lead us to conclude that the pain inflicted is most excruciating. Most of our
readers may recollect to have seen in the summer months a whole herd of cattle start off
across a field in full gallop, as if they were racing, their movements indescribably awkward,
their tails being poked out behind them as straight and stiff as a post, and their necks stretch-
ed to the utmost. All this consternation has been known from the earliest times to be pro
duced by the fly we are describing.

Virgil gives a correct and lively picture of it in his Georgics, of which the following
is a translation : —

Round Mount Alburnus, green with shady oaks,

And in the groves of Silarus, there flies

An insect pest (named (Estrus by the Greeks,

By us Asilus) : fierce with jarring hum

It drives, pursuing, the affrighted herd

From glade to glade ; the air, the woods, the banks

Of the dried river, echo their loud bellowing.

We might adduce several other instances of similar terror caused among sheep, deer
and horses, by insects of the same genus, which are ascertained not to pierce the skin. It
is therefore most probable that the fly terrifies the ox by her buzzing, rather than pains
him by piercing his hide, her buzz, like the rattle of the rattle snake, being instinctively
understood, and intended it may be to prevent an over population by rendering it difficult
to deposit the eggs.

According to Kirby and Spence, when cattle are employed in agriculture the attack
of this fly is often attended with considerable danger, since they then become unmanage-
able, and whether in harness or yoked to the plough will run directly forward. At the
season when it infests them close attention should be paid, and their harness so constructed
that they may easily be let loose.

The number of bumps to be found on a beast is very variable. Rennie says that on
one cow only three or four bumps may be observed, while on another there may be thirty
or forty. They are not always placed on the same parts, nor arranged in the same man-
ner : commonly they are near the spine, but sometimes on or near the thighs and should-
^ ers. The grub being confined in a tolerably large fistulous ulcer, a part of the cavity
must of necessity be filled with pus or matter. This matter appears to be the only food
allowed for the grub, for there is no appearance that it lives like the grubs of flesh flies
upon putrescent meat. Mandibles indeed, similar to those with which other grubs break
their food, are altogether wanting. A beast which has thirty, forty, or more of these
bumps upon its back, would be in a condition of great pain and suffering terrible indeed
in the extreme if its flesh were torn and devoured by as many large grubs ; but there is
every appearance that they do not generally inflict much pain. Indeed so far are they
regarded from being injurious, that they are looked on as proofs of the goodness of the
animal, since these flies only attack j^oung and healthy animals. It is said also that the
tanners prefer those hides that have the greatest number of bot holes in them, which are
always the best and strongest.

Remedies.

Although these insects do not cause any permanent injury, yet their presence in large
numbers may occasion some little inconvenience.

Mr. Verrill states that they can be pressed out of their burrows with the thumb, care
being taken not to crush or burst them in the burrows ; or the openings of the tumours
may be enlarged with a sharp knife, and then they can easily be removed, and the wound
will soon heal.

328

The flies frequent chiefly the uplands, and especially the vicinity of trees, and seem
to avoid water or damp localities, a fact that cattle seem to learn by experience. Owing
to this habit cattle that graze on meadows are generally free from them, or nearly so,
although those on the neighbouring hills may be attacked.

The Sheep Bot-Fly {Cephalwmia [CEstrus] wis, Linn.).

This fly, which is a great deal smaller than the ox- fly, which it
somewhat resembles, has a large hairy head, and ash-coloured
thorax, with four black lines and small black spots.

The abdomen is light ash, more or less spotted with black. The
female has a tapering abdomen, with a long ovipositor, which is
curved forward when about to deposit the eggs.

Mr. Riley states that this insect is the dread of sheep, in the
Old as well as the New World, and was made mention of by a
Greek physician as far back as the year 560.

" Even at the sight of this insect," says Figuier "the sheep f( els
the greatest terror. As soon as one of them appears the flock
becomes disturbed ; the sheep that is attacked shakes its head
Fig. si.— The Sheep Bot-Fly. when it feels the fly on its nostril, and at the same time strikes
the ground violently with its fore feet ; it then commences to
run here and there, holding its nose near the ground, smelling the grass, and looking
about anxiously to see if it is still pursued. It is to avoid the attacks of the Cephalcemia
that during the hot days of summer, sheep lie down with their nostrils buried in dusty
ruts, or stand up with their heads lowered between their fore legs, and their noses nearly
in contact with the ground. When these poor beasts are in the open country, they are
observed assembled with their nostrils against each other and very near the ground, ^o
that those which occupy the outside are alone exposed."

According to the generally received opinion, the fly deposits an egg which hatches
out and climbs up the nostril of the sheep. Mr. Riley, the State Entomologist of Missouri,
asserts, however, that it is now an established fact that the flies deposit living maggots,
previously hatched in the oviduct, on the margins of the nostrils of the sheep. " On one
occasion." he writes, " in 1866 I myself obtained living maggots from one fly, and Mr.
Cockrell has since obtained over three hundred living moving worms from one fly that
was caught while she was after the sheep. Many flesh flies, if they cannot find suitable
meat or carrion on which to lay their eggs, retain these eggs so long in their bodies that
they hatch them into living larvae ; and it is not impossible that the above observations
were made with flies that had been so circumstanced, but I think it highly improbable,
and strongly incline to believe that it is the normal nature of this fly to produce living-
larvae. I incline the more strongly to this belief from the fact that it would be difficult
to attach an egg to the slimy nostrils of a sheep."

The maggots are deposited during the early summer months, and proceed at once
to ascend the nostrils of the sheep by means of the hooks with which the head is furnished,
and by these and their continual writhing motions, they cause great irritation in their
passage to the frontal sinuses, where they attach themselves to the membranes which line
the cavities and feed upon the mucus, which is of course greatly increased by their presence.
The larvae remain nearly a year before reaching maturity. Mr. Verrill states that they
cause great inflammation and are present in large numbers, and severe illness, or even at
times convulsions and death result. This disease is known as " grub in the head "
among farmers.

It has been asserted by many agricultural writers that it is ridiculous to maintain the
idea that sheep die from grub in the head, and many even deny that the grub is capable
of doing any injury to the sheep whatever, but these assertions Mr. Riley combats most
successfully. "If," he writes, "grub in the head be not productive of inconvenience or
disease, whence the suffering condition, the loss of appetite, the slow, weak gait, the
frequent coughing, the slimy and purulent matter, sometimes so profusely secreted as at
times to almost prevent the animal breathing 1 Whence the tossing and lowering of the
head, and the fits of frenzy, to which so naturally quiet and gentle an animal as the sheep

829

is subject ? All these symptoms result from grub in the head, and the animal frequently
gets too weak to rise, and finally dies. The grubs cannot live in the head of the sheep
without causing great irritation by the spines with which the ventral region is covered,
and the hooks with which they cling to such a sensitive membrane as that which lines
the sinuses. Moreover, when numerous enough to absorb more mucus than the sheep
secretes, the grubs will feed on the membrane itself, and (according to the evidence of
some practical sheep men) will even enter to the brain, through the natural perforation of
the ethmoid bone, through which pass the olfactory nerves ; in either of which cases they
must cause the most excruciating pain."

When the larva has reached maturity it descends the nostrils of the sheep and falls to
the ground, where it finds a place of shelter amongst the roots of grass, or in the earth, and
after contracting to half its former size undergoes the transformation into the pupa state.
In this condition it is smooth, hard and tapering towards the head, the colour is black.
After remaining quiescent from forty to fifty days, according to the climate, the fly pushes
open the little lid or cap piece at the head of the cocoon and emerges in the perfect state.
It is curious to note that their only instinct is the perpetuation of their species^ for the
perfect fly has no mouth and cannot therefore take any nourishment. Except when de
positing their eggs the flies seem sluggish and inactive. Each female produces several
hundreds of young. We may mention as a quaint tradition that the larvae of bots found
in the heads of sheep and goats used to be prescribed as a remedy for the epilepsy. The
ancient Delphic oracle advised one Democritus who applied to it, as follows :

" Take a tame goat that hath the greatest head,
Or else a wilde goat in the field that's bred ;
And in his forehead a great worm you'll finde,
This cures all diseases of that kinde."

Whether Democritus was cured does not appear, the story shows however that the
ancients were aware that these maggots made their way even into the brain of living
mimals.

The common saying that a whimsical person is maggoty, or has got maggots in his head,
perhaps arose from the freaks the sheep have been observed to exhibit when infested by
these bots.

Remedws.

Various methods of prevention have been adopted. Randall says that " some farm-
ers turn up the soil in portions of their pasture, so that the sheep may thrust their noses
into the soft ground on the approach of the fly, while others smear their noses with tar or
cause them to do so themselves." " But," adds Mr. Riley, " as the fly is very persevering,
and generally attains her object, the means to be depended on the most is, the dislodging
of the " grub" or larva and so far lime has been thought to be the most effectual, and
should be given them that they may, by sniffing it, cause sneezing, and in many cases
lislodge the grub. Some sheep breeders are in the habit of fixing salt logs in their pas-
tures of sufficient length to enable all the sheep to get at them. Into these logs at distances
of five or six inches, holes are bored with a two inch augur, and during the fly season a
little salt is kept in these holes, while every two or three days tar is smeared around them
with a brush. The sheep in obtaining the salt smear their noses with the tar, the odour
of which keeps away the flies."

Mr. Verrill states that " when the larvae have actually entered the nostrils in large
numbers, they may be removed to a considerable extent by a feather wet with oil of tur-
pentine, camphor, or a weak solution of carbolic acid or creosote. Salt water or diluted
carbolic acid may also be injected into the nose with a syringe. It is doubtful, however,
whether any remedies will reach the larvae which have taken up their abode in the more
remote cavities in the bones of the forehead and beneath the basis of the horns ; therefore
it is better to apply these remedies early and often, if necessary.''

Note. — The Council of the Entomological Society of Ontario regret to state that
the President, the Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, has been prevented, by severe domestic afflic-
tion, from completing his portion of the report in time for publication. It will, they
trust, be embodied in that for the ensuing year.

330

APPENDIX TO REPORT

OP THE

APPENDIX (E).

REPORT OF THE ASSOCIATION (OF MECHAMICS' 1NSTITUTFS OF

ONTARIO, AND ANALYSIS OF REPORTS OF

MECHANICS' INSTITUTES.

Association of Mechanics' Institutes of Ontario.

Toronto, October 20th, 1873.

Sir, — I have the honour to enclose to you herewith the Fifth Anuual Report, and the
proceedings of the annual meeting of the "Association of Mechanics' Institutes of Ontario,'1
held in the City of London, on the 24th of September last, in accordancs with the provisions
of the " Agriculture and Arts Act."

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

W. Edwards,

Secretary- Treasurer.
Hon. A. McKellar, •

Commissioner Agriculture and Arts, Ontario.

Association of Mechanics' Institutes of Ontario.

City of London, September 24th, 1873.

The Annual Meeting of the Association was held this evening, at the Court House, at
7 o'clock; the President, James Young, Esq., M.P., in the chair.

Credentials of Delegates from the following Mechanics' Institutes were submitted and
approved : —

Ayr — W. Oliver, Esq.

Brantford — Rev. W. Cochrane and W. Watt, Esq.

Clinton — Curtis Stevenson, Esq.

Dun das— John Maw, Esq.

331

Galt — James Young, M.P., and John Cavers, Esqs.

Grimsby— Rev. J. Murray and John H. Grant, Esq.

Hespeler — Wm. Jardine and Arehie Brydon, Esqs.

London — Walter Fairbaira and W. W. Fitzgerald, Esqs.

Peterborough — Wm. Helm. Esq

Preston— Otto Klotz and Abraham Bauman, Esqs.

St. Catharines — J. C. Rykert, M.P.P., and James Lamb, Esqs.

Simcoe — John Jackson, Esq.

Thorold— J. Wr. Johnson and Joseph Walker, Esqs.

TORONTO — Thos. Davison and John Richie, Esqs.

Waterdown — Charles Stock and James B. Hay, Esqs.

Woodstock — Wm. Edwards and W. Nasmyth, Esqs.

The President addressed the meeting — congratulating the members upon the increased
interest now being manifested in the proceedings of the Association.

The Secretary read the Report of the Executive Committee for the past year.

Mr. Lamb moved, seconded by Mr. Klotz — " That the Report be received, and that all
be adopted but the ' Rules and Regulations for awarding Prizes to the Evening Classes,
which shall be considered separately." Carried.

Rev. W. Cochrane moved, seconded by Mr. Klotz — " That the Prize Scheme, as sub-
mitted in the Annual Report, be adopted."

Mr. J. C. Rykert moved, seconded by Mr. Davison — " That the Prize Scheme be con-
sidered clause by clause." Carried.

The several clauses were then considered, and amendments made, when the motion for
adoption of the scheme as amended was unanimously carried.

Rev. Mr. Murray moved, seconded by Mr. Klotz — il That in the event of there not
being sufficient funds in the Treasurer's hands to meet the prizes awarded, the Executive
Committee be authorized to petition the Government for a grant of money sufficient to make
up the amount required." Carried.

Nominations for office-bearers for the ensuing year were then made, and the following
gentlemen duly elected : —

President — James Young, Esq., M.P., Gait.
Vice-President — Rev. Wm. Cochrane, Brantford.
Secretary-Treasurer — Wm. Edwards, Esq., Toronto.

Executive Committee — J. C. Rykert, Esq., M.P.P., St. Catharines ; David McCrae,
Esq., Guelph ; Thomas Davison, Esq., Toronto ; and Otto Klotz, Esq., Preston.

The meeting then adjourned.

Wm. Edwards,

Secretary.

FIFTH REPORT.

The Executive Committee, in presenting their Fifth Annual Report, congratulate the
annual meeting of the Association on the generally satisfactory condition of the Mechanics'
Institutes of the Province. The Reports sent in to the Government, as required by law,
the ability shown to avail themselves of the Government grant — the amount of which has
risen from less than $2,000 in 1868, to from $11,000 to $13,000 during the last two years—
and the increased interest manifested in our annual meetings, are circumstances affording
evidence that these useful institutions were never more prosperous than at the present time.

At the last annual meeting at Hamilton, two subjects of more than usual importance
were referred to your Committee. The first was the simplification of the scheme proposed
for awarding prizes to Mechanics' Institutes establishing Evening Classes ; and the second,
the consideration of the Agricultural and Arts Act, with a view to the removal of certain re-
strictions connected with the Government grant.

Two meetings of the Executive Committee were held to consider the first of these sub-
jects. The result was the adoption of a modified scheme as suggested at the last annual

332

meeting. It was decided to drop for the present that part of the scheme which related to
Provincial diplomas and certificates, and confine it to offering three prizes of $10, $6, and £4
respectively, to be awarded to the best scholars attending the classes established by any Insti-
tute. The rules were made as short and simple as possible, consistent with the proper ac-
complishment of the object which the Association has in view; and the Executive Com-
mittee confidently hope that, as now presented, it will be easily understood and successfully
worked.

A circular containing the following Rules and Regulations to be observed in award-
ing the prizes was sent to each of the affiliated Institutes, and will come up for your
consideration and final action : —

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR AWARDING PRIZES TO THE EVENING CLASSES.

1. The Association of Mechanics' Institutes will award three prizes of the value of 310,
$6, and $4 respectively, to any Mechanics' Institute establishing an Evening Class or Classes,
with an average attendance of not less than twelve members, and of not less than twenty-five
instruction meetings on separate evenings. The prizes to be awarded as 1st, 2nd and 3rd,
for general proficiency in one < r more of the classes of subjects named in the programme of
studies.

2. These prizes are open to all members of affiliated Institutes, who are net students of
any College, Graduates or Undergraduates of any University, certified School Teachers, or
who are not following any of the learned professions.

3. The subjects for study and examination are as fellow: —

I. English Grammar and Composition.
II. Arithmetic, Geometry and Mensuration.
III. Penmanship and Book-keeping.
IV.' Principles of and Practical Mechanics.
V. Chemistry.
VI. Geometrical and Decorative Drawing.
VII. Freihand Drawing.

LOCAL COMMITTEES.

4. The Directors of affiliated Institutes desirous of co-operating with the Provincial
Association, in promoting the education of their members by means of Evening Class instruc-
tion, are invited to form a Special Committee to manage the Class or Classes and arrange for
awarding the prizes. The Local Committee must consist of not less than three members,
and should be composed of persons who will give their time and earnest attention to the work.

5. The examination of the classes must be concluded by the first week in May, and the
returns as required by the certificate annexed (see Sec. 8) must be sent to the Secretary-
Treasurer of the Provincial Association, not later than the 15th of the same month.

6. The treatises in general use in the Schools and Colleges of Ontario are recommended
as text books, but the Local Committee may adopt any other suitable books. In awarding
the prizes, real knowledge, however or wherever acquired, should be accepted, and the ex-
position of a subject in the candidate's own words preferred.

7. The Local Committee may either award the prizes in money or otherwise, but they
must be of the value of $10, $ 6 and $4 respectively.

8. Before obtaining the prize money, the President an] Secretary of the Institute, or the
members of the Local Committee, must make the following Certificate : —

" We, the undersigned, hereby certify that the Mechanics' Institute of
established an Evening Class, or Classes, in the month of last ; that there was an

average attendance of scholars ; that they met for instruction on separate even-

ings ; that the (state subjects) classes of subjects in the Pro.

333

gramme of Studies (see Sec. 3) were taken up ; and that, after due competition, the Provincial
Association's prizes were awarded as follows : —

1st Prize...

2nd Prize -..

3rd Prize

Signed and Sealed in
presence of

«. President.

Secretary.

9. Upon receipt of the foregoing Certificate, duly signed, sealed and witnessed, the Se-
cretary-Treasurer will transmit the Prize Money, which will be payable to the President of
each Institute or his order.

Whilst upon this subject, your Committee would call attention to the fact that, if the
offer of prizes to Evening Classes is largely accepted by the affiliated Institutes, as it is
earnestly hoped it will be, the very limited funds at the disposal of this A ssociation may be
inadequate. Under these circumstances, they would recommend that their successors be au
thorised, in case of such a contingency arising, to petition the Local Government for a small
grant to make up any deficiency.

Shortly belore the meeting of the Local Legislature last year, the following petition,
which sufficiently explains itself, was presented to the Local Government :

" To His Excellency the Eon. Wm. P. Howland C.B., &c.

•'• The Petition of the ' Association of Mechanics' Institutes of Ontario '

RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH :

11 That, under the ' Agriculture and Arts Act,' and the Act of last session in amendment
thereto, by which aid is granted both to Agricultural Societies and to Mechanics' Institutes,
the former Societies receive in each year from the Treasury a sum equal to three times the
amount subscribed and paid for that year by their members for all purposes of the said So-
cieties, the only limitation being, that the amount so paid in any Electoral Division shall not
exceed seven hundred dollars.

" That by the same Act each Mechanics' Institute receives only a sum equal to twice
the amount locally contributed or appropriated in that year by such Institute for certain
specified objects, viz. : the imparting of Practical Instruction by Evening ( lasses, and the
purchase of books on Science, Agriculture, History and the Arts ; and the whole of such con-
tributions, and the Legislative Grants must be expended on one or both of the objects above
specified.

" That under these provisions, the Agricultural Societies received from the Provincial
Treasury in the year 1871 the sum of $53,721, of which every Agricultural Society in the
Province received its share ; while in the same year the amount received by Mechanics' Insti-
tutes was only $10,206 90 ; and of this small amount, only thirty two Institutes, out of a
total of about sixty, received any portion. That under the Act an Agricultural Society can
receive Legislative Aid for the year in which it is formed, while a Mechanics' Institute is not
entitled to receive such aid until the year next succeeeding its formation.

" That your Petitioners can see no just ground for this wide difference in the principles
on which aid is granted to these two classes of Societies, both of which are established for
objects of great public utility. They respectfully submit, that the encouragement of useful
Arts and practical Sciences is of not less importance to the welfare of the Province than that
of Agriculture ; and that the mechanics and other residents of cities, towns, and villages, who
more directly receive the benefits of Mechanics' Institutes, contribute their full quota to the
public revenue from which this aid is rendered.

" That the establishment in the various towns and villages of the Province, of Libraries
of useful Books including Works on Agriculture and the Natural Sciences, will be of great
advantage, not only to the inhabitants of those places, but to the farmers of the neighbouring-
townships.

" That in addition to the advantages from the Libraries, the opportunities which
Mechanics' Institutes afford to the younger members, by Evening Class instruction, of making

334

up for early deficiencies of education, is calculated to make them a valuable supplement to
the public school system of the Province.

" That, under the existing law, many of the smaller Institutes, which require all their
income from subscriptions to defray the necessary expenses of rent, fuel, payment of the
Librarian, and purchase of periodicals (without which an Institute cannot be kept in exist-
ence), are unable to avail themselves of the provisions of the Act.

"Your Petitioners therefore pray that your Excellency will be pleased to submit to the
Legislative Assembly of Ontario, such amendments of the Act as will place Mechanics' Insti-
tutes on the same footing as Agricultural Societies, as regards aid from the public funds, in
such manner that the amount granted to each Institute shall be in proportion to the amount
contributed to it by the members and subscribers; to allow a newly organized Mechanics'
Institute to receive legislative aid for the year in which such Institute has been organized,
and to repeal the 9th clause of the Act to Amend the Agricultural and Arts Act, which
restricts the grants to Mechanics' Institutes in the Cities and Towns and Incorporated
Villages.

" And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

| Seal \

"(Signed) James Young,

President.

"(Signed) Wm. Edwards,

Secretary.11

The President of the Association also had an interview with the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture, the Hon. A. McKellar, on the subject, who agreed to recommend the granting of the
prayer of the petition as far as practicable. The result was the amendment last session of the
25th clause of the Agricultural and Arts Act, which now reads as follows, the amendments
being in c pitals :

"25. Any \J echanics' Institute incorporated under chapter seventy-two of the Consolidated
Statutes of Canada, or by a special Act of Incorporation, having established a Reading
Room, or Evening Classes organized for the imparting of practical instruction to its pupils,
or having established a Library of Books on one or more of the following subjects, namely : —
Mechanics, Manufactures, Agriculture and Horticulture, Philosophy Science, the Fine and
Decorative Arts, History, Travels, Poetry and Biography, shall be entitled to receive,
from unappropriated moneys in the hands of the Treasurer of the Province, for the purpose
of aiding in such Reading Room, class instruction or library, a sum not to exceed four hun-
dred dullars in any one year : Provided that a sum equal to one-half the amount to be so
paid by the Government is locally contributed or appropriated, or has been expended by such
institute, during the current year for such specific object or objects ; Provided also that
not more than one-fourth the total amount so received from unappropriated
Moneys in the hands of ihe Treasurer of the Province, and so locally contri-
buted, SHALL BE EXPENDED FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUCH READING ROOM ; and provided,

also, that the amount of such local contribution or appropriation shall be attested by an affi-
davit made by the Secretary of such Institute as may apply for aid (which affidavit may be
in form of schedule D to this Act annexed), not later than the first day of December in each
year."

The Committee congratulate the Association on obtaining this increase to the objects
for which the Government grant can be expended. Under it, one- fourth of the sum to be
received annually can be expended for the purposes of a Reading Room. This will not only
add to the efficiency of existing Reading Rooms, but will give a hearty stimulus, it is to be
hoped, to the opening of others in the towns and larger villages.

No material change has taken place in the number of Institutes affiliated with this Asso-
ciation during the past year. The following list shows the number of Institutes, and to what
extent they have availed themselves of the Government grant for each of the past five years :

INSTITUTES RECEIVING GRANTS.

Name. 1866. 1869. 1870. 1871. 1872.

Ayr Mechanics' Institute.... $4184 $167 00 $400 00

Barrie " ... 400 00 400 00

335

Name.
Berlin Mechanics Institute

Bowmanville "

Bradford "

Brantford "

Brampton "

Brighton u

Chatham "

Clinton «

Collingwood "

Columbus "

Dundas "

Elora "

Grimsby "

Gait «

Greenwood "

Guelph "

Hamilton "

Hespeler "

Ingersoll "

Kincardine "

Kingston "

London "

Meaf'ord "

Merrickville a

Mitchell "
Milton <

Mount Forest "

Newmarket "

Niagara "

Norwood "

Oshawa "

Owen ?ound u

Port Perry "

Paris "

Port Elgin "

Peterborough "

Preston "

Renfrew "

liichmond Hill "

Seaforth "

Schomberg "

Strathroy "

Streetsville "

Smith's Falls "

Simcoe "

Stratford "

St. Catharines "

St. Mary's "

Toronto "

Thorold «

Vittoria "

W aterdown "

Whitby "

Woodstock "

1868.
!$150 00

! 100 00
'. 200 00

50 00

100 00

100 CO

180 00

100 00
200 00

75 00
80 00

200 00

75 00

1869.
103 48
125 00

100 00

100 00

200 00
100 00
200 00

200 00

107 59
63 00

100 00
50 00

30 00

200 00

150 00
200 00

200 00
30 00

197 00
40 00

119 50

200 00
100 00

150 00
200 00

1870.
137 14
150 00

200 00
30 00
50 00

200 00
100 00

200 00

100 00

200 00

50 00
50 00

41 88

100 00
100 00
200 00

52 68

200 00
60 00

109 00
200 00
100 00

150 00

1871.
306 40

200 00
400 00

292 00
120 86

122 58
400 00
200 00
400 00
400 00
400 00
400 00
112 00

293 00
400 00
400 00
400 00
170 00

400 00
150 00

100 00
125 50

400 00

400 00
200 00
131 70
400 00
400 00
70 00
70 00
100 00

00

00

400 00
ir>0 00

400 00
250
400
400 00
400 00
400 ()0
234 00

400 00

1872.
400 00

244 38

120 00
137 28

400 00
206 84
116 00
400 00
400 00
400 00
400 00
70 00
134 34
400 00
400 00

210 50

400 00

200 00

300 42
198 80
200 00
400 00
233 30

200 00
400 00
200 00
126 40
400 00
400 00

73' 50
100 00

400 00
100 00

154 30

400 00
400 00
400 00
200 00

80 00
200 00
400 00

Totals $1,610 00 $3,307 41 $2,947 70 $12,598 04 $11,405 96

336

It will be observed by the foregoing list, that four Institutes obtained Grants last year which
did not receive them io 1871, namely : Bowmanville, Norwood, Owen Sound and Water-
down — the latter three appearing on the list for the first time. Five did not apply for the
Grant last year, and two joined by subscriptions — thus showing forty-four affiliated Insti-
tutes, instead of forty-three during the previous year.

Eleven Institutes are in arrears to the Association for the five per cent, payable upon
the Government Grants for 1872, amounting in the aggregate to $2,667.64 ; upon which
the percentage payable is $133.38. The officers of these Institutes are reminded that, un-
der Clause twenty five of the Agricultural and "Arts' Act, it is obligatory upon such Insti-
tutes to pay this five per cent, to the Association, otherwise no further grants can be obtained
from the Government.

In accordance with the resolution passed at last annual meeting, the President brought
before the Council of the Agricultural and Arts' Association, of which he is ex officio a mem-
ber, the propriety of providing steam-power for machinery at the Provincial Exhibitions.
The proposal was favourably entertained, and a beginning was made at the present show,
where several important machines can be seen in operation. It can only be considered an
experiment on the present occasion, but if not found to be too costly, it is to be hoped that
more motive power will be supplied for future occasions ; and that machinery in motion may
become one of the principal features of our annual exhibitions.

The Treasurer s Detailed Statement shows total receipts for last year, $863.70 ; expen
diture, $212.30; balance in hand, $651.40; with a balance due by Institutes for 1872, of
$133.38; and the percentages on all but three of the Grants for 1873 yet to be paid in.

All which is respectfully submitted.

James Young.

President.
William Edwards,

Secretary- Treasurer.

TREASURER'S DETAILED STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPEN-
DITURE.

For Year ending September 2^th, 1873.

1872.

Receipts.

September

25.-

—To Balance in hand

(<

25.-

-To Columbus Mech. Inst. 5 p.ct, on Grant for 1

a

27.-

-To Vittoria <; "

a

a

27.-

-To Barrie " "

i.

c

27.-

-To St. Mary's

a

a

27.-

-To Greenwood

a

a

28.-

-To Seaforth " "

a

October

18.-

-To Gait

1872

a

26.-

—To Grimsby

a

a

26.-

—To Brampton " "

1871

November

15.-

-To Port Elgin "

«

December

6.

—To St. Catharines "

1872

(.

19.

—To Port Elgin, Sub. for " Bookseller,"

1873

1873.

January

3.

—To Niagara Mech. Inst. 5 p. ct on Grant for 1872

To Smith's Falls

a

a

6.

—To Paris

a

'..

8.

—To Richmond Hill "

a

a

13.

—To Hamilton

a

February

8.-

-To Collingwood, Sub. for " Bookseller,"

1873

it

12.-

—To Milton Mech. Inst. 5 p. ct. on Grant for 1872

a

14.-

—To Mount Forest "

a

a

15.-

-To Thorold

n

$ c

280 50

10 00

11 70
20 00
20 00

5 60

2 50
20 00
20 00
15 00

6 58
20 00

1 50

20 00

5 00

10 00

3 67
20 00

1 50
15 00

9 90
10 00

337

1872. Receipts. $ c.

February 27.— To Brighton Mech. Inst. 5 p. ct. oi; Graut for 1872 6 86

28.— To Brantford " " " 12 22

March 4.— To Elora " " " 20 00

19.— To Stratford " " " 7 71

22.— To Owen Sound " " il 10 00

April 7.— To Collingwood " " " 10 34

May 14.— To London " " " 20 00

l7._To Kincardine " « " 10 50

« 20.— To Preston " " " 20 00

« 28.— To Clinton " " " 20 00

20.— xo Woodstock " « " 20 00

20.— To llespeler « <• " 20 00

july 3.— To Dundas " " 1870 10 60

To " " " 1872 20 00

a 3.— To Port Elgin " " " 6 32

10.— To Newmarket " " " 10 00

August 22.— To Ayr Sub. for 1872 1 00

" 28.— To Barrie " 5 p. ct. on Grant " 20 00

September 12.— To Gait " « 1873 20 00

16.— To Paris " « " 10 00

20.— To Smith's Falls " " " 10 00

22.— To Greenwood " " 1872 3 50

To Columbus « " " 5 80

To Toronto « *" " 20 00

« 23.— To Peterborough " " " 20 00

24.— To Simcoe « Sub. for 1872 1 00

$863 70

1871. Expenditure. $ c.

By 12 Copies of the ''Bookseller," for Subscribing Institutes 21 00

" Expenses of Office-Bearers attending meetings of Exec. Committee 27 50

{y Printing Reports, Circulars, Programmes, &c 53 75

" Stationery, Postage, Express, &c 10 05

" Secretary-Treasurer's Remuneration for the year 100 00

" Balance on hand, , 651 40

$863 70

22

338

.ajntajlysik

OF

REPOKTS OF MECHANICS' INSTITUTES.

AURORA MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

> cts,

Balance in hand 28 01

Members' Subscriptions 129 43

Fees from Lectures 76 51!

Rent of room 127 86

361 81 '

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Binding, Stationery, &c 12 25

Repairs and Furnishing 100 74

Fuel, Light and Insurance 55 97

Lectures. 22 75

Salaries 55 55

Miscellaneous 104 65

Balance in hand 9 90

361 81

This beingfa renovated Institute, some details are wanting. Library, 219 vols:; 5 lec-
tures and 2 reunions were given last winter ; clear assets, $1,765. Increased efforts will be
made to enlarge and improve the library, and generally to promote the prosperity and use-
fulness of the Institute.

AYR MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

dM * cts-

Balance in hand 4 25

Members' Subscriptions 73 00

Miscellaneous 13 26

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books and Periodicals 25 25

Binding and Stationery 21 38

Librarian's Salary 40 00

Miscellaneous 3 88

90 51 I

90 51

This Institute had 73 members and 30 subscribers ; a library of 1,700 volumes ; 7 ma-
gazines and 4 reviews. Clear assets estimated at $138 88.

BARRIE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

Members' Subscriptions.

Lectures

Donations

Legislative grant

Balance due Treasurer..

$ cts.

123 00

53 90

80 00

400 00

169 12

26 02

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Balance due Treasurer 12 00

Books and Periodicals in accordance

with Grant 589 35

Binding, Stationery, &c 28 75

Salaries 90 25

Repairs, Fuel, &c 105 67

826 02

Members, 105 ; Library, 459 vols. ; Reading room, 14 newspapers, 7 magazines, 7 re-
views; two lectures on Natural History and 5 readings. Assets, $1 008.

339

BERLIN MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 1 32

Members' Subscriptions 135 00

Amount appropriated 165 17

Fees from pupils 8 50

309 99

EXPENDITU E.

$ ct
Books bought in accordance with con-
ditions of Grant 138 63

Evening Classes 28 50

Appropriation 117 36

Miscellaneous 24 50

Balance in hand « 1 00

309 99

Members, 135 ; library contains 1,001 volumes, 8 newspapers and 2 magazines. Even-
ing classes; 18 pupils in book-keeping and penmanship, arithmetic and mathematics, English
grammar and composition. Net assets, $1,076. Mr. Pearce, School Inspector, reports that
mechanics do not avail themselves of the advantages of this institution as they ought. It
has a good library from which books are issued weekly.

BRAMPTON MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Expenditure.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 24 53

Members' Subscriptions 145 00

Lectures 92 22

Donations 90 00

Legislative Grant 120 00

Borrowed 250 00

Miscellaneous 18 85

740 60

$ c s.

Books in accordance with Grant. 138 73

Books and Periodicals 82 73

Fuel, Insurance, &c 50 00

Lectures 34 25

Rent of Reading-room 56 25

Piano 305 40

Miscellaneous .... 11 70

Balance in hand 61 54

740 60

Members, 167 ; library, 685 vols. ; reading-room, 10 newspapers, 7 magazines.
Assets, $855.

The Inspector reports this Institute to be doing a useful work, and that the library,
which contains many of the best works of a permanent character on various branches of
knowledge, is largely used by the members. A pianoforte has been purchased, which will
be found of great service in promoting a taste for music, and in getting up popular enter-
tainments of a musical and literary character.

BRANTFORD MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 226 62

Members' Subscriptions 235 37

Excursion to Niagara Falls 543 25

Fees from Exhibition 324 28

Legislative Grant 244 38

Miscellaneous 46 00

1619 90

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant 230 00

Books, Periodicals, &c 75 81

Fuel, Stationery, Insurance, &c 85 81

Excursion to Falls 401 35

Exhibition 327 02

Salaries 100 00

Rent,&c 68 22

Balance in hand 331 69

1619 90

340

Members, 158 ; library, 1,457 vols. An Art Exhibition was held, and an excursion
made to Niagara Falls, with satisfactory results. Fourteen magazines and reviews taken in
the reading-room. Assets, $1931.

BRIGHTON MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts. $ cts.

Balance in hand 18 68

Members' Subscriptions 27 06

Legislative Grant 137 28

Rentof Room 6 50

189 52

Expenditure. $ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant 74 09

Books and Periodicals

13 53

Salaries 36 00

Fuel, Light, Insurance, &c 12 70

Rent of Rooms 39 00

Miscellaneous 10 21

balance in hand 3 99

189 52

members, 90; library, 636 vols, j reading-room, 16 magazines and reviews; 1 read-
Clear assets, $599.

CLINTON MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 6 83

Members' Subscriptions ... 8850

Fees from Pupils 55 75

Fees from Lectures 41 97

Donations 34 07

Legislative Grant 400 00

627 12

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant 83 24

Evening Classes 335

Books, Periodicals, and Papers, for

Reading-room 123

Salaries 15

5 per cent, on Grant to Mechanics'

Association 20 00

Miscellaneous 18 00

Balance in hand 31 76

70

42
00

627 12

Members, 39 ; subscribers, 136; reading-room, 28 papers, reviews and magazines;
library, 903 vols. ; a concert, one reunion, and two lectures during the winter. Clear assets,
estimated, $1,072. The Institute is represented to be in a nourishing condition. In the
evening classes were 33 pupils, comprising penmanship, arithmetic, mathematics, and orna
mental drawing. The library is well taken care of, and the number of valuable books pro-
gressively increases. The reading-room is efficiently managed, and its benefits made avail-
able to many.

COLLINGWOOD MECHANICS1

Receipts.

$ cts.

Members' Subscriptions 117 75

Donations 128 00

Legislative Grant 206 84

Discount on Invoices 74 23

Miscellaneous 11 10

Balance due Treasurer 193 64

731 56

INSTITUTE.
Expenditure.

$ cts.

Balance due Treasurer 18 85

Books in accordance with Grant 376 26

Books, Magazines, &c 52 35

Binding Books, Stationery, &c 58 60

Repairs, Fuel, &c 70 11

Salaries 100 00

Rent 40 00

Miscellaneous 15 B9

731 56

341

Members, 131 ; library, 931 vols. ; assets, $1,117 ; reading-room, 40 newspapers, 9
magazines, and 4 reviews. The Directors strongly urge the necessity of greater exertions
being made to develop more fully the attractions and usefulness of the Institution.

DUNDAS MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 390 85

Members' Subscriptions 551 15

Fees from Lectures and Entertain-
ments , 363 50

Donations 201 02

Interest 28 00

Legislative Grant 400 00

Miscellaneous.... , 23 11

1957 63

Expenditure.

$ cts.
Books in accordance with Grant... 818 41

Evening Classes 172 94

Books, Papers and Magazines 211 85

Binding, Stationery, &c 35 98

Fuel, Repairs, &c 168 47

Lectures and Entertainments 223 92

Salaries 75 00

Bent 75 00

5 per cent, on Grant to Mechanics'

Association 30 00

Balance in hand 146 06

1957 63

Members, 185 ; library, 2,041 vols. ; reading-room, 8 papers and 10 magazines and re-
views ; clear assets, $4,641 ; 72 pupils in evening classes, comprising book-keeping and pen-
manship, arithmetic and mathematics, architectural and mechanical drawing.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 10 08

Members' Subscriptions 139 00

Donations 9 00

Legislative Grant 400 00

Miscellaneous 5 15

ELORA MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Expenditure.

Books in accordance with Grant.

$ cts.
501 97

Furnisbino- Insurance, &c 15 54

Miscellaneous
Balance in hand.

563 23
Members, 173 ; library, 1,387 vols. ; lectures, 2 ; assets,

,221.

6 60
39 12

563 23

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand . 457 04

Members' Subscriptions 274 70

Donations , 12 50

Legislative Grant 400 00

1144 24

GALT MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Expenditure.

$ cts.
Books bought in accordance with

Statute 283 73

Evening Classes ..... 50 50

Books, Binding, Stationery, &c...... 97 38

Salaries, Fuel, Light, &c 219 85

Balance in hand 492 78

1144 24

Members and subscribers, 166 ; vols, in library, 1,762 ; pupils in book-keeping and
penmanship, 6 ; arithmetic and mathematics, 19 ; papers and periodicals in reading-room, 31 \
clear assets, $1,992.

342

The Report states that the library is in good condition ; 1 1 1 new works had been added
during the year, and the books are kept and conveniently arranged in new and capacious
ases, with glass fronts; 238 vols, consist of novels and tales ; 71 works of reference ; 218
Is. on science and art ; the remainder consisting principally of history, philosophy, biogra-
phy, voyages and travels. The reading-room is well supplied, and affords to the members ex-
cellent opportunities of mental culture and improvement.

GRIMSBY MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Members' Subscriptions 112 00

Fees from Lectures, &c 44 83

Donations 100 00

Legislative Grant 400 00

Miscellaneous 1 39

Balance due Treasurer 36 07

694 39

Expenditure.

$ cts.
Books in accordance with conditions

of Grant 580 00

Periodicals and Binding 26 19

Lectures, &c , 24 00

Salaries 44 20

5 per cent, on Grant to Association

of Institutes 20 00

694 39

Members, 92; in library, 800 vols.; 4 monthly readings; reading-room, containing
papers and 10 magazines; clear assets, $1,230. The library contains valuable works of re-
ference, and treatises on science and other departments of knowledge, but at present no novels;
but the Directors are about to obtain some good works on lighter literature. The number of
vols, in circulation is about 40 per month.

HAMILTON MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand.... 838 43

Members' Subscriptions 1,438 75

Rent of Hall 3,000 42

Rentof Stoves 582 50

Legislative Grant 400 00

Miscellaneous 140 03

6,400 13

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant... 632 53

Books and Periodicals 411 95

Binding Stationery, &c 91 91

Fuel, Light, and Water 888 82

Repairs and Cleaning 404 72

Salaries 1,100 00

Mortgages 920 00

Balance in hand 1,950 20

6,400 13

Members and subscribers, 680; library, 4,065 vols. ; reading-room, 73 newspapers, 19
magazines, 4 reviews. Circulated among the members during the year, 12,120 vols.

Assets, $16,450.

The Institute is reported to be in a satisfactory and prosperous condition. The build-
ings are undergoing repairs, and will be considerably extended, so that when completed the
Institute will have all the necessary facilities for the carrying out, in an efficient manner, the
important objects of such associations.

343

HESPELER MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 110 14

Members' Subscriptions 36 92

Fees from Lectures and Pupils 73 38

Donations 93 90

Legislative Grant 400 00

Miscellaneous 7 00

721 34

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant.,. 418 36

Evening Classes * 155 19

Books and Periodicals. 71 18

Binding, Stationery, &c 18 70

Furnishings, Insurance, &c 27 21

Salaries 10 70

Balance in hand 20 00

721 34

Members, 66; library, 702 ; reading-room, 7 periodicals; classes; 56 pupils book-
keeping and penmanship ; 50, arithmetic and mathematics; 14, elocution ; 1, pic-nic and
concert. Assets, $1,250. The Institute is reported to be in a flourishing condition.

KINCARDINE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 89 49

Members' Subscriptions 54 00

Donations 9 85

Legislative Grant 210 50

Miscellaneous 25 90

389 74

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant .... 233 25

Binding, Stationery, &c 95 45

Rent 23 20

Miscellaneous 20 64

Balance in hand 17 20

389 74

Members, 43 : library, 446 vols.; reading-room, 15 magazines and 4 reviews. Assets,

$900.

LONDON MECHANICS' INSTITUTE,

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 31 29

Members' Subscriptions... 417 11

Lectures and Entertainments. ........ 54 00

Rent of Room 24 00

Legislative Grant 400 00

Donations 100 00

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Hooks in accordance with Grant... 220 86

Classes 95 00

I ooks and Perodicals 186 21

B indin 2-, Stationery, &c 87 24

Fuel, Light and Water 159 94

Repairs and Insurance 78 85

Lectures and Entertainments 45 00

Salaries 120 00

Balance in hand 33 30

1,026 40

1,026 40

Members, 581 ; library, 939 vols. ; reading-room, 43 newspapers ; 3 magazines. A
natural history collection, comprising 123 cases. Classes; book keeping and penmanship, 22
pupils ; architectural and mechanical drawing, 35 ; ornamental drawing, 65 ; chemistry and
nntural philosophy, 23 ; elocution, 50 ; mutual instruction, 73 ; music, 58. Assets
$4,558.

The Inspector reports that this Institute is in a satisfactory condition, and the classes
doing well ; the drawing class having made very marked progress.

344

MEAFORD MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 53 95

Members' Subscriptions . . 95 35

Lectures and Entertainments 35 56

Exhibition and Festivals 89 13

Legislative Grant 200 00

Miscellaneous 3 80

477 79

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Hooks in accordance with Grant.... 222 48

Evening Classes 25 00

Fuel, Furnishings, Insurance 42 53

Pianoforte 150 00

Balance in hand 37 88

477 79

Members, 142; library, 622 vols; Classes; 3 pupils in bookkeeping and penmanship,
arithmetic and mathematics, English grammar and composition ; lectures, 8 ; readings and
reunions, 8 ; 1 peach festival, and 1 concert. Assets, $838.

MILTON MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 70 53

Members' Subscriptions 52 40

Classes 113 90

Entertainmentss 300 48

Donations 29 78

Legislative Grant 300 42

Miscellaneeus 23 40

890 91

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant ... 97 60

Evening Classes 343 91

Books and Periodicals 93 71

Binding, Stationery, &c 42 82

Furnishing and Insurance 44 10

Entertainments 59 92

Salaries 50 00

Miscellaneous 20 73

Balance in hand 138 12

890 91

Members, 91 ; library, 1,019 vols.

views ; five concerts and three
music, 21 ; mutual instruction, 17.

readings

reading-room, 4 newspapers, 10 magazines, 4 re-
; classes; arithmetic and penmanship, 22 pupils ;

It appears from the Inspector's report that this Institute is doing a large amount of
good, chiefly through its library and evening classes.

MOUNT FOREST MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 94 56

Members' Subscriptions 33 62

Lectures 10 50

Donations . 119 75

Legislative Grant 198 80

Expenditure.

$ cts.
Books bought in accordance with

Grant 300 00

Stationery, Postage, &c 10 50

Lectures 24 35

Miscellaneous 10 40

Balance in hand Ill 98

457 23
Members, 84; library, 520 vols. ; lectures, 5 ; assets, $512.

457 23

345

NEWMARKET MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 41 86

Members' Subscriptions 113 50

Fees from Lectures 57 10

Do. from Exhibition 49 63

Legislative Grant 200 00

Miscellaneous 6 88

468 97

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant 261 76

Periodicals, Stationer}-, &c 22 09

Fuel, Furnishing, &c 22 75

Lectures, Entertainment and Exhi-
bition 124 15

Salaries 11 50

Miscellaneous 3 29

Balance in hand 23 43

468 97

Members and subscribers, 137; library, 707 vols. ; 1 exhibition of fine arts, curiosities,
&c. ; 3 lectures and 3 musical reunions. Assets, $825. The Inspector reports the Institute
to be in an improving condition, the library being; popular and well managed, containing many
works of permanent utility, and cannot fail to exert a beneficial influence on the 50 or 60
persons who take out books every week.

NIAGARA MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

Balance in hand 45

Members' Subscriptions 59

Fees from Lectures, &e 35

Donations 30

Legislative Grant 400

cts.
46
75
00
00
00

570 21

EXPENDITURE.

Books in accordance with Grant 467

Books and Periodicals 59

Lectures 4

Repairs, fuel, &c 6

Salaries 30

Balance in hand 2

cts.
45
00
50
75
00
51

570 21

Members, 55 ; library about 2,000 vols. ; reading-room, 8 magazines, 4 reviews, besides
papers. Three lectures and readings during the winter. Clear assets, f 3,237. The library
and reading-room are open three days a week, and are well attended. The Inspector observes :
" That great judgment and literary knowledge had been exercised in the selection of books.
This work was done by the Rev. W. H. Withrow, M. A., to whose zeal the Institute is
mainly indebted for a very valuable and readable class of books."

NORWOOD MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts

$ cts.

Balance in hand 4 54

Members' Subscriptions 61 00

Fees from Lectures 19 79

Legislative Grant 233 20

Miscellaneous 0 32

318 85

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant 270 55

Periodicals, Stationery, &c 23 89

Lectures 12 75

Miscellaneous 11 6Q

318 85

Members, 55 ; library, 382 vols. ; 1 lecture and 1 reunion. Assets, $300.

346

PARIS MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 200 70

Members' Subscriptions 189 50

Donations... 137 30

Legislative Grant 200 00

Miscellaneous 30 50

758 00

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant 301 18

Books and Periodicals 103 03

Stationery and Postage 4 68

Fuel, Repairs, Insurance. &c 59 73

Salaries 60 00

Balance in hand 229 38

758 00

Members, 130, library, 1,568 vols.; reading-room, 13 newspapers, 13 magazines;
classes : architectural and mechanical drawing, 28 pupils j English grammar and composi-
tion, 28 ; elocution, 28. The Institute has a good reading-room, open during the day and
evening, and is well patronized. An arts exhibition, comprising, among other things, more
than 500 pictures and engravings, was held ; the enterprise was instructive and successful.

PETERBOROUGH MECHANICS' INSTITUTE

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 33 97

Members' Subscriptions 273 75

Donations 132 30

Legislative Grant 400 00

Municipal " 100 00

Miscellaneous 90 05

1030 07

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant... 479 75

Evening Classes 4 25

Books and Periodicals 119 03

Binding, Stationery, &c 33 13

Fuel, Repairs, Insurance, &c 1^2 46

Lectures 16 12

Salaries 20 00

Rent and Miscellaneous 53 65

Balance in hand 151 68

1030 07

Members, 232; library, 1,282 vols, j reading-room, 15 newspapers, 23 magazines, 4 re-
views. Assets, $1,922.

The Rep rt speaks favourably of the condition and operations of the Institute, which is
increasing as to membership, and the library is becoming increasingly attractive to both sexes.

PORT ELGIN MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 37 09

Members' Subscriptions 58 00

Legislative Grant 126 40

Donations 4 17

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant... 141 79

Stationery, Postage, &c 7 50

Salaries 13 61

Miscellaneous 17 31

Balance in hand 45 45

225 66
Members, 60 ; library, 604 vols. Assets, $284.

225 66

347

PRESTON MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Members' Subscriptions 119 50

Lectures 91 51

Donations 624 96

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Balance due Treasurer 393 87

Books in accordance with Grant 678 32

Books and Periodicals 84 15

Legislative Grant 400 00 | Binding, Stationery, &c 51 20

Borrowed, . 224 23

Miscellaneous , 3 55

1463 75

Fuel, Furnishings, &c : 37 21

Lectures 27 51

Salaries 25 00

Miscellaneous 35 57

Balance in hand 130 92

1463 75

Members, 66 ; library, 1,020 vols.; classes; 20 in book-keeping and penmanship; 20 in
arithmetic and mathematics. Reading-room, 14 magazines and reviews; 4 lectures on science,
and 3 public readings. Assets, $1,414. The Inspector reports that this Institute continues
in a flourishing condition.

RICHMOND HILL MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 6 12

Members' Subscriptions 80 00

Readings 118 35

Donations 159 70

Legislative Grant 73 50

Balance due Treasurer 18 93

456 60

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant 74 40

Periodicals 33 50

Binding, Stationery, &c 13 00

Readings 26 00

Note, with interest 144 50

Donations in books 159 70

Miscellaneous 5 50

456 60

Members, 89
zines and reviews.

library, 505 vols. ; reunions 3, and 1 social.

Assets. $775.

Reading-room, 15 maga-

SIMCOE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 1265 72

Fees from Pupils 62 00

Mortgages and" Notes 688 56

2,016 28

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Evening classes 135 59

Miscellaneous ., 26 75

Balance in hand 1853 94

2,016 28

Members, 80 ■ library, 93 vols. ; evening classes ; 33 pupils in book-keeping and pen-
manship ; 22 in arithmetic and mathematics ; 7 in English grammar and composition ; 22 in
chemistry and natural philosophy ; and 7 in elocution. These classes are reported as having
been very successful. In consequence of the former building having been burnt down the Insti-
tute has been most seriously hampered in various respects in carrying on its operations. A
new and commodious building it is in contemplation to erect without further loss of time,
which will give a new impulse to the Institute. Estimated assets, $1,954,

348

SMITH'S FALLS MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 100 04

Members' Subscriptions 52 00

Readings 38 35

Legislative Grant 95 00

285 39

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant 203 29

Periodicals 7 00

Salaries 25 00

Balance in hand 50 10

285 39

Members, 52 ; library, 1,767 vols. ; 2 readings ; Assets $2,370. The Institute is reported
by the Inspector as doing a considerable amount of good, particularly through its library.

STRATHROY MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

Members' Subscriptions 176

Fees for Lectures and Concerts 170

Donatious 100

Miscellaneous 5

Balance due Treasurer 102

cts.
50
66
00
40
23

554 79

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant 200 00

Books, Periodicals, &c 150 40

Fuel, Stationery, &c 21 95

Furnishings, &c 106 44

Lectures and Concerts 50 00

Salaries 26 00

554 79

This Institute has been commenced with encouraging signs of success. Members,
178 ; library, 233 vols. ; a reading-room supplied with 52 magazines, reviews and papers.
Seven concerts with readings, and 2 lectures on chemistry were given last winter.

STRATFORD MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 42 20

Members' Subscriptions 273 34

Lecture and Reunion.. 102 28

Donations 16 00

Legislative Grant 154 30

Miscellaneous 5 05

Expenditure.

593 17

$ cts.

Books in accordance with Grant 186 86

Books and Periodicals 103 57

Fuel. Stationery, Insurance, Furnish-
ings, &c 75 44

Lecture and Reunion 10 75

Salaries 97 07

Miscellaneous 20 89

Balance in hand 98 59

593 17

Members, 126 ; library, 1,473 vols. ; 1 lecture and 1 reading. Assets, $1,475. From
the Directors' Report it would appear that the Institute is making steady progress, and that
the library is becoming better appreciated : 2,100 additional volumes had been taken out by
members during the last year over the year previous.

349

ST. CATHARINES MECHANICS" INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

S cts.

Members' Subscriptions 378 53

Rent of Rooms 25 50

Town Grant 75 00

Legislative Grant 400 00

Expenditure.

Books in accordance with Grant.. ...

Periodicals. Rinding, Fuel, &c

Repairs and Furnishing

Salaries

Five per cent, on Grant to Associa-
tion of Institutes

Miscellaneous

Balance in hand

879 03

8 cts.
517 62

86 92
152 56

76 46

20 00
20 48

879 03

Members, 1 20 ; vols, in library, 3,500 ; reading room, 5 reviews and magazines ; clear
assets, $2,074. The library is well managed, open every week-day, and the circulation is
large

The fee for membership has recently been reduced from
the expectation of a large increase of subscribers.

to 81 per annum, with

ST. MARYS MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 262 63

Members' Subscriptions 151 00

Donations 150 00

Legislative Grant 400 00

Miscellaneous 3 60

Balance due Treasurer 32 90

1000 13

Expenditure.

8 cts.

Books in accordance with Grant 559 98

Books and Periodicals 147 01

Binding, Stationery, &c 95 86

Repairs, Insurance, &c 108 53

Salaries 66 50

Miscellaneous 22 25

1000 13

Members. i68; library, 1,396 vols, j reading room, 15 periodicals ; assets, 81,463.

The Inspector. Dr. Waters, reports this Institute to be in a very flourishing condition.
The library has been much increased during the past year, and the works generally are of a
high character, suitable for study and reference ; many of them specially adapted to the wants
of practical mechanics. " In connection with the library there is a good reading room, which
is well supplied with some of the best magazines, and newspaper literature. It is popular,
and, I think, of great advantage to the town."

THOROLD MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

i cts.

Balance in hand 99 33

Members' Subscriptions 143 00

Fees for Entertainments

Donations ,

Borrowed
Legislative Grant
Miscellaneous ....

369 53

20 00

200 00

200 00

88 30

1,120 16

Expenditure.

Books in accordance with Grant ..,

Magazines, &c.

Binding, Stationery, &c

Fuel, Insurance, &c

Repairs and Furnishings

Entertainments

Salaries

Miscellaneous

Balance in hand

$ cts.

292 21
42 30
37 33
40 67

371 27

125 57
19 15
37 02

154 64

1,120 16

;350

Members, 143 ; library, 1,417 vols.; 1 entertainment ; 2 festivals; 1 excursion ; clear assets,
$2,704. This Institute has attained in a short time to a position of great usefulness, more
particularly in the circulation of books of a really valuable character, so that several
persons residing at considerable distances from Thorold avail themselves of the use of the
library. The excursions and entertainments, while affording rational and healthful pleasure
to the many that participated in them, left, after defraying expenses, a good round sum for
the benefit of the Institution. Mr. Ball, the School Inspector, remarks : " As to the influ-
ence of the Mechanics' Institute upon society, it may not perhaps be necessary to say more
than that numbers of young men who were formerly found filling billiard rooms, are n ow
seen frequenting the Mechanics' Institute; for when it is attended with results so noticeable
we may, I think, feel sure that it exerts a wholesome influence throughout society."

TORONTO MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance on hand 10,887 99

Members' Subscriptions... 2,165 75

Net Fees for Lectures 201 96

Classes 587 12

Rent of Rooms 35 50

Legislative Grant ' 400 00

N. Railway do 100 00

Interest 545 90

Miscellaneous 264 31

15,188 33

Expenditure.

$ cts.
Books in accordance with Grant.. 101 92

Evening Classes 646 73

Books and Periodicals 642 65

Binding, Stationery, &c 467 47

Fuel, Light and Water 340 52

Repairs and Insurance 102 96

Salaries 1,291 64

Miscellaneous 18 15

Balance 11,376 49

15,188 33

Members and subscribers, 1,016 ; library, 7,357 vols. ; lectures, 9 ; readings, 3; read-
ing-room, 97 newspapers, 29 magazines, 6 reviews : evening classes; bookkeeping and pen-
manship, 67 to 91 pupils ; arithmetic and mathematics, 44 to 70 ; architectural and mecha-
nical drawing, 32 to 42 ; ornamental drawing, 21 to 27; English grammar and composition,
19 to 22 ; estimated net assets, $21,305.

EXTRACTS FROM REPORT.

The Directors, in resigning to the members of the Toronto Mechanics' Institute the
trust to which they were elected at the last annual meeting, beg to present their report for
the year ended the 1st May, 1873, being the forty-third year of the existence of the Insti-
tute.

Your Directors have sincere pleasure in being able to state that the past year has been a
period of marked prosperity in the several departments of the Institute. Our predecessors
foreshadowed very accurately^he position of your Directors when, in last year's report, they
stated that " with freedom from pecuniary embarrassments and other cares consequent upon
the management of a large building heavily burdened with debt, their successors would
be enabled to give their undivided attention to the immediate and actual business of the
Institute." In the year which has just closed it has been the duty and privilege of your
Directors to carry into effect the well-defined policy of their predecessors, as they were con-
vinced that it was, in the main, the best course that could be devised to foster and improve
the several interests of the Institute, and to regain the confidence of its members and of the
general public. It has been the aim of your Directors to place the Institute, through the im-
provement of its library, reading.room, and evening classes, and, as opportunity afforded, by
the addition of lectures on popular, scientific and other subjects, upon such a basis as to
render it one of the most important adjuncts in this city to the noble work of self- culture
amongst the mechanics and other classes of the community.

351

In the carrying out of the duties to which they have applied themselves during the past
year, your Directors have received the most encouraging proofs of the growing interest which
has been awakened amongst the members and many of our leading citizens, in the well-being
of the Institute, and they are enabled to state that, with reasonable effort on the part of the
Directors and members, the Institute may speedily reach a position of usefulness and pro-
sperity which has rarely been the privilege of any similar institution in this country to enjoy.
* * # # *

Your Directors availed themselves of Professor Pepper's visit to this continent to make
satisfactory arrangements with that gentleman to deliver a course of his highly popular lec-
tures, which they are happy to record gave much satisfaction to the citizens, and aided some-
what to increase the membership of the Institute. By the avoidance of paid ushers (that
duty having been performed by your Directors) a handsome amount was added to the funds
of the Institute. They regret, however, that an engagement with Edmund Yates, Esq., to
deliver two lectures, was not fulfilled by that gentleman, thereby entailing a loss to the Insti-
tute of $80. A similar disappointment was also experienced from the withdrawal of an en-
gagement for the Rev. Benry Ward Beecher to deliver a lecture under the auspices of the
Institute. The loss in this connexion was much less than in the case of Mr. Yates. It
would seem that, in the present state of the law, doubt exists as to the liability of lecturers
to make good any losses Institutes may suffer from such non-fulfilment of contracts.

In glancing over the operations of the year which has just closed, your Directors see
much cause for encouragement in the fact that their efforts to increase the membership, and
to bring the legitimate work and operations of the Institute more prominently before the
public, have resulted, as they anticipated, in a fair measure of success ; and that their labours
to improve the internal economy of the Institute have met with the general approval of the
members. In view, however, of the various and important advantages to the general public
which, in their opinion, cannot fail to spring from a well equipped and properly managed
Mechanics' Institute, your Directors earnestly hope that their successors may do what lies in
their power to make the Institute increasingly useful and prosperous.

UXBRIDGE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

This Institute was organized according to Statute in 1872, consisting of 52 members,
whose subscriptions for that year amounted to $103. It had a library of 130 vols., and
estimated its clear assets at $253. It could not participate in the Legislative Grant till
1873. The prospects of its future usefulness are represented as very encouraging.

WATERDOWN MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 25 60

Members' Subscriptions 15 00

Legislative Grant 80 00

120 60

Expenditure.

cts.

Books and Periodicals in accordance

with Grant 120 00

Balance in hand 60

120 60

Members, 42; library, 1175 vols. ; reading-room, 1 magazine and 4 reviews; assets,
$1,400.

The Inspector reports that the Institute is doing a considerable amount of good by
means of its library, having a large number of books oi an interesting and instructive cha-
racter. The Directors hope to establish some evening classes shortly. " I apprehend that
the recent addition to the library will have a very beneficial effect. The books have all been
properly classified, a full catalogue made of them, and every means used for a proper care of
this excellent library."

352

WHITBY MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Members' Subscriptions 103 00

Classes 95 00

Donations 5V 00

Rents 317 55

Discount of Note 200 00

Legislative Grant 200 00

Miscellaneous 23 50

944 05

Expenditure.

$ cts.

Balance due Treasurer 13 16

Books in accordance with Grant 198 62

Classes 250 00

Books and Periodicals 80 00

Binding, Stationery, Fuel, Light, &c. 199 54

Salaries 104 30

Miscellaneous 74 95

Balance in hand 23 48

944 05

Members, 128 ; library, 1,792 vols. ; classes ; 27, in book-keeping and penmanship, arith-
metic and mathematics ; 12, mutual instruction. Assets, $2,672.

WOODSTOCK MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Receipts.

$ cts.

Balance in hand 75 40

Members' Subscriptions 243 50

Classes 36 00

Lectures 80 00

Donations 20 00

Rent of Rooms 30 00

Legislative Grant 380 00

864 90

Expenditure.

Books in accordance with Grant..
Evening; CI

asses

$ cts.
458 00
100 00

Books and Periodicals 58 60

Fuel, Light, Insurance 46 45

Lectures 45 30

Salaries .... 144 00

Balance in hand 12 55

864 90

Members, 247; library, 1, 695 vols. ; reading-room, 12 newspapers, 10 magazines, 6 reviews ;
book-keeping and penmanship, 18 pupils; arithmetic and mathematics, 18; English
grammar and composition, 10 , mutual instruction, 18 ; assets, $1,550.

APPENDIX TO REPORT

OF THE

(Sommiiggioiter 0! |t§ti«lfttfe mi Jifte

APPENDIX (F.)

ANALYSIS OF CROP RETURNS FOR THE YEAR 1873.

23

54

APPENDIX TO REPORT

OF THE

0f ^grintlton aitb $xt*.

APPENDIX (P.)

ANALYSIS OF CROP RETURNS FOR THE YEAR 1873.

CROP RETURNS.

(Circular to Secretaries of Electoral Division Agricultural Societies.)

Bureau or Agriculture and Arts, Ontario,
Toronto, September 1st, 1873.

Sir, — I have to request, in accordance with the practice of previous years, that you will
furnish me with as accurate a Return as possible of the results of the Harvest in your Elec-
toral Division, by filling up the accompanying Schedule. You will please insert what is
considered to be a correct average per acre, stated in measure or weight, of the respective
crops. The column for " Remarks" may be filled with brief statements of the varieties or
kinds that are considered most hardy and prolific, and with any facts connected with, and
throwing light on, the modes of cultivation.

In order that the information which I seek by means of this circular may be receivec
in time for insertion in my Report to Parliament, I urgently request that you will not fail
to make your return by the 17 th November, at the latest.

I enclose several copies of this Schedule that you may, if you deem it desirable, trans-
mit them to your Township Societies, or to any persons interested in, and competent to give
reliable information on the subjects embraced by this enquiry.

Any blank Schedules which you may thus send out, should, after being filled up, be
remitted to you, (not to this Department), in time for you to make up the Return for your,,
Electoral Division, as before stated, since any information reaching me after the 17th
November, will not be available for my Report.

As several Societies neglected last year to comply with my request, by omitting to fill
up and remit the Schedules, thereby greatly impairing the utility of the object sought, I beg
respectfully to say that I shall fully expect all the Electoral Division Societies of the present
year to send in their returns punctually, by the time before mentioned.

You will please sign and date your Return, and insert the name of the Electoral Division
on the back of this Circular.

Yours respectfully,

ARCHIBALD McKELLAR,
Commissioner.

u

SUBJECTS OP ENQUIRY.

Average per acre and quality of product of the following crops :— Fall Wheat, Spring
Wheat, Oats, Rye, Barley, Peas, Beans, Hay, Corn, Potatoes, Turnips, Carrots, Parsnips,
Mangel Wurzel.

Please furnish any information available as to: — 1st. Insects injurious to Grains, Roots
and Fruits this season ; 2nd. Special culture, such as Flax, Hemp, liops, &c ; 3rd. State of
the Labour market. — Labour saving machines in use ; 4th. What has been the character of
the season in relation to the different kinds of Fruit ?

ANALYSIS OF CROP RETURNS.
Addington.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; good quality ; comparatively little cultivated.

Spring Wheat. — 10 bushels ; do.; quantity much diminished by drought.

Oats. — 26 bushels ; do. ; greatly injured by drought.

Rye. — 18 bushels ; do. ; straw rather short.

Barley. — 17 bushels ; do. ; about half an average of years.

Peas. — 11 bushels; do. ; very inferior yield. ,

Beans. — 14 bushels ; do. ; vine injured in places by a small grey

worm.

H ay. — 1 ton ; well secured.

Corn. — 30 bushels ; quality fair. Large quantities grown for summer feeding, or cured
for winter use ; much to be recommended.

Potatoes. — 50 bushels ; sound quality ; Colorado Beetle more injurious than in previous
years. Cabbages nearly all destroyed by the fly.

Turnips. — 60 bushels ; good quality ; some fields a fair crop, others an entire failure.
Drought and the fly the causes.

Carrots. — 100 bushels ; good quality ; injured like other roots by drought.

Mangel Wurzel. — 120 bushels; not extensively cultivated. Parsnips less so.

Flax and Hemp. -The culture seems to be diminishing.

Fruit. — Season was too dry ; one half probably of the apples and some other fruits fell
from the trees before maturity.

Algoma.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre • quality good.

Spring Wheat. — 15 bushels; good; very little wheat cultivated, having no grist mills.

Oats.— 50 bushels ; quality very good.

Barley. — 40 bushels ; do.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; free of bugs.

Bye and Corn not raised.

Hay. — 1 J tons; good quality.

Potatoes. — 130 bushels; quite sound; Colorado Beetle made its appearance, bnt did
little damage.

Turnips. — 250 bushels ; good quality ; grasshoppers somewhat injurious-

Carrots. — 200 bushels ; do.

Parsnips. — 200 bushels ; do.

Labour extravagantly dear ; machines and improved implements are being introduced.
Season for fruit tolerably good.

BOTHWELL.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; good quality.
Spring Wheat. — 12 bushels ; sample middling.
Oats. — 35 bushels ; good sample.
Rye. — 25 bushels ; do.

Barley. — 25 bushels; do.

356

♦

Peas. — 20 bushels ; good sample.

Beans. — 20 bushels ; do.

Hay. — 1 J- tons; do.

Corn. — 40 bushels ; do.

Potatoes. — 100 bushels; quality medium ; Colorado beetle not so injurious as last year.

Turnips. — 500 bushels ; good quality.

Carrots. — 500 bushels ; do. ; not much raised.

Mangel Wurzel. — 70Q bushels ; do.

Fruit. -Season unfavourable to nearly all kinds ; injured greatly by insects.

Labourers scarce and wages high ; machines in general use.

Brant, South.

Fall Wheat. -10 bushels per acre ; quality excellent; greatly injured by severity of the
winter.

Spring Wheat — 10 bushels ; quality fair ; injured by early drought and Hessian Fly.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; sample heavy.

Rye. — 15 bushels ; good ; not much grown.

Barley. — 30 bushels ; sample heavy, but slightly discoloured by rain.

Peas. — 25 bushels ; quality good ; less affected by bug than usual.

Beans. — 25 bushels ; good sample.

Hay. — 1 ton ; good ; crop very unequal.

Corn. — 15 bushels (shelled) ; injured by cold and wet spring.

Potatoes. — 200 bushels ; quality very good ; Potato beetle numerous in Spring, but did
little harm, as much diligence was used in prevention.

Turnips :md Carrots. — 300 bushels; sound quality.

Mangel Wurzel. — 400 bushels; not extensively grown

Hops. — About half a crop and of first quality.

Labour very inadequate; machines of all kinds in general use.

Apples. — Of excellent quality, but under an average.

Pears. — Very fine and productive ; and small fruits in great abundance .

Bruce, North.

Fall Wheat. — 35 bushels per acre ; quality good ; the crop generally was excellent.

Spring Wheat. — 35 bushels; sample first-rate ; all but uniformly good. But little in-
sect depredations this season.

Oats. — 50 bushels; quality good.

Barley.- 35 bushels ; do.

Peas. — 40 bushels ; ordinary sample.

Hay. — 1^- tons; quality good ; early dry weather rather injurious.

Potatoes. — 200 bushels ; quality excellent ; Colorado Beetle did but little mischief.

Turnips and Carrots. — Were good crops. Parsnips and Mangels do well; but at present
little cultivated.

Fruit. — Season highly favourable to the hardier kinds ; Apples and Plums abundant.
Former doubts of the suitability of this section for fruit-growing have now been removed.

Labourers rather scarce, and wages high. Machines and improved implements largely
in use j manufactured principally in North Bruce.

Bruce, South.

Fall Wheat. — 24 bushels ; good sample; Diehl and Treadwell principally cultivated;
the latfer the most hardy, but coarser.

Spring Wheat. — 18 bushels; good ; Fife principally raised, but a new red chaff promises
well.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; pretty heavy.

Barley. — 30 bushels; heavy.

Peas. — 25 bushels ; quality good.

Hay. — 1 ton ; do.

.357

Potatoes. — 150 bushels; sound • Potato Beetle pretty numerous first part of the season,
but did little harm generally.

Turnips. — 600 bushels ; good quality. Best mode of culture : — plough in 20 loads of
dung to the acre, in the fall, and cultivate well in spring • and before drilling, sow 100 lbs.
of salt, and the same quantity of plaster.

Mangel Wurzel. — 400 bushels j not much grown. Carrots and Parsnips chiefly confined
to gardens.

Labourers very scarce and much needed ; well supplied with machines and implements of
good make and quality. The season was favourable for fruit ; apples better than for many
years.

Cardwell.

Fall Wheat. — 25 bushels per acre ; quality good.

Spring Wheat. — 20 bushels ; quality pretty good.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; fair sample.

Eye. — 25 bushels ; not much cultivated.

Barley. — 20 bushels ; quality indifferent, owing to early drought.

Peas. — 35 bushels j sample good.

Hay. — 10 cwt. ; quality inferior.

Potatoes. — 150 bushels ; good sound quality ; the Colorado Beetle injurious in some
places.

Turnips. — 300 bushels ; sound quality.

Mangel Wurzel. — 400 bushels ; not largely grown, Carrots and Parsnips principally
confined to gardens.

Labour saving machines are in general use. Fruit, in general, quite an average.

Carleton.

Fall Wheat. — 25 bushels per acre ; good quality.
Spring Wheat. — 20 bushels ; do.

Oats. — 45 bushels ; do.

Bye. — 30 bushels ; do.

Barley. — 32 bushels ; do.

Peas. — 23 bushels ; • do.

Corn, — 15 do. do.

Hay. — A light crop ; affected by drought. In some new meadows, crop was good.
Potatoes. — 200 bushels; good quality. Colorado Beetle as yet unknown in this county.
Turnips*- — 500 bushels ; good quality.
Carrots. — 500 do. do.

Mangel Wurzel. — 600 bushels • good quality.
Fruit. — Not very favourable.

Labourers in demand, and wages high. Machines and improved implements increasingly
employed.

Dundas.

Fall Wheat. — 35 bushels per acre ; sample very good ; not much sown.

Spring Wheat. — 20 do. do
Oats.— 35
Bye.— -30
Barley. — 40
Peas.— 30
Hay. — 1J ton
Corn. — 40
Potatoes.— 200
Mangel Wurzel- -350 do
vated as field crops.

Fruit, — Generally favourable. Little, if any damage by insects.
Labourers scarce, and machinery getting into general use.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

quality good.

do. Large breadth sown.

do. Not extensively grown,

sample very good,
good quality.

do. »

do.

do.

do. Turnips, Carrots and Parsnips little culti-

358

Durham, East.

Fall Wheat. — 25 bushels per acre; quality good. Comparatively little raised in front
townships ; want of shelter commonly occasions winter killing.

Spring Wheat. — 18 bushels; sample good, straw light.

Oats. — 50 bushels ; do.

Barley. — 30 bushels , quality middling.

Peas. — 25 bushels ; quality good ; the bug not injurious to any serious extent. Large
quantities of the better varieties raised for the American market.

Hay. — 13 cwt. ; good quality.

Corn. — 35 bushels ; quality good ; not much raised except for soiling.

Potatoes. — 100 bushels ; sound j greatly damaged in some localities by Colorado Beetle;
others quite escaped.

Turnips. — 400 bushels ; quality fair.

Carrots. — 300 bushels; good.

Mangel Wurzel. — 300 bushels ; good.

Hops. — Growth of nearly given up. Flax raised only for domestic use and the seed.

Fruit. — Hot weather and high winds injurious. Curculio and worms prevalent in some
localities.

Labourers. — Scarce ; 35 percent, more wanted for proper management of farms; wages,
$18 to $20 a month, with board— a rate too high compared with the price of produce.

Durham, West.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; good quality ; not so much cultivated as formerly ;
liable to winter killing.

Spring Wheat. — 15 bushels ; good quality ; Fife the most hardy and prolific.

Oats. — 40 bushels , good quality j greater breadth cultivated.

Rye. — 10 bushels ; good quality • only sown on light land.

Barley. — 25 bushels; fair quality; rather discoloured.

Peas. — 20 lushels; good quality, greater breadth cultivated.

Hay. — 1 ton ; middling quality ; suffered from early drought.

Com and Beans. — Culture very limited.

Potatoes. — 150 bushels; sound and good ; Colorado Beetle appeared in large numbers,
and did considerable injury.

Turnips. — Small in size ; fly did much damage.

Carrots and Mangels. — A fair crop Parsnips confined to gardens.

Fruits. — Apples light, apparently affected by the drought. Pears, plums atld cherries
were good. Farm labourers in great demand ; machines largely used.

Elgin, East.

Fall Wheat. — 16 bushels per acre; quality excellent.

Spring Wheat. — 10 bushels; quality very poor. The midge more active than for some
years ; its damage chiefly confined to late sown, or where fields had been partially winter
killed.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; sample heavy ; straw abundant. .

Barley. — 25 bushels ; quality medium ; grain discoloured.

Peas. — 27 bushels; good sample, and free fn.m bugs.

Hay. — 1J- ton ; some much damaged in making by rain.

Corn. — 30 bushels ; quality very good • area rather small.

Potatoes. — 150 bushels ; sound when protected from the ravages of the Colorado Beetle ;
Paris Green found effectual ; when neglected the crop was lost.

Turnips. — (500 bushels ; quality good ; not cultivated to any great extent, and Carrots
and Mangels much less, though these crops generally do well.

Flax. — Considerably grown with success. Hops a good crop and remunerative. Cheese-
making is becoming the leading interest, and butter is scarce and dear. Labourers deficient,
and were it not for machinery the crops could not be secured. *

Fruit. — Apples short; cherries and the smaller fruits good; pears abundant but plums
almost destroyed by Curculio.

Essex. *

Fall Wheat. — 15 bushels per acre; excellent quality; Deihl, Wabash, Treadwell, Medi-
terranean, principal sorts.

Spring Wheat. — 8 bushels ; inferior sample ; a failure in some localities.

Oats. — 30 bushels ; sample light.

Barley.- 15 bushels; quality good.

Peas. — 1 G bushels ; do.

Hay. — 1 ton ; do. ; affected by drought.

Com. — 25 bushels ; inferior quality.

Potatoes.— -150 bushels ; quality excellent ; ravages of Potato Beetle comparatively
slight.

Hops. — Cultivated to some extent ; about an awage.

Fruit. — Generally unfavourable.

Labourers much wanted, and wages high. Machines extensively used.

Frontenac.

Fall Wheat. — 15 bushels per acre; good quality.
Spring Wheat— 20 bushels;
Oats. — 30 bushels ; middling.
Rye.- 20 bushels;
Barley — 18 bushels ; "
Peas. — 25 bushels ; quality good.
Hay. — 1 ton ; well secured.
Corn. — 25 bushels; good.

Potatoes. — 150 bushels; good ; Colorado beetle appeared in several places, but did very
little harm.

Turnips. — 125 bushels; good quality.

Carrots.— 200 bushels ; '<

Mangel Wurzel. — 250 bushels ; good.

Fruit. — Plums and cherries very abundant ; apples an average ; grapes remarkably good.

Glengarry.

Fall Wheat. — 30 bushels per acre; good quality ; " Treadwell'* principally grown.
Spring Wheat. — 15 bushels; inferior; principally Black Sea.
Oats. — 45 bushels ; good j short in straw ;
Barley. — 45 bushels ; " principally four rowed.
Peas. — 30 bushels ; good ; mostly small white variety.
Hay. — 2 tons ; good.

Corn. — 40 bushels ; good ; principally yellow.
Potatoes. — 200 bushels ; quality good.

Turnips. — 600 bushels ; quality below average ; Swedes and Small White chiefly grown.
Carrots. — 1000 bushels ; quality good.
Mangel Wurzel. — 1000 bushels ; "

Crops generally free from insects ; season favourable for fruit ; labour from $1 to $1 25
a day, and scarce , machines generally used.

Grenville, South.

Fall Wheat. — 25 bushels ; quality first-rate.

Spring Wheat.— 10 bushels ; inferior ; much injured by drought.

Oats. — 35 bushels ; good quality.

Bye. — 20 bushels ; fair quality.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; good sample.

Barley. — 25 bushels ; quality below average.

360

Beans. — 40 bushels ; very good.

Hay. — 15 cwt. ; affected by dry weather.

Corn. — 60 bushels ; very good. *

Potatoes.- -200 bushels ; " a few Potato beetles have been seen, but did no apparent
harm.

Mangel Wurzel. — 300 bushels; very good; turnips, parsnips [and carrots not largely
raised.

Flax, Hemp and Hops, below average crops.

Fruit. — The season not unfavourable generally.

Labourers scarce and wages high; machines and improved implements are gradually
getting into general use.

Grey, North.

Fall Wheat. — 27 bushels per acre ; quality good. ° Diehl " yields best, but " Tread well "
considered hardier. %

Spring Wheat. — 20 bushels ; quality very good.

Oats. — 45 bushels ; extra quality ; black oats chiefly cultivated ; " Surprise " making
progress.

Barley. — 35 bushels ; quality good ; mostly four-rowed.

Peas. — 35 bushels ; good sample ; mildewed in St. Vincent. " Golden Vine " much
approved.

Hay. — 1 ton ; well saved.

Potatoes. — 170 bushels ; excellent quality. " Early Rose," " Goodrich" and "Garnet
Chili." principal varieties. Colorado Beetle did but little harm.

Turnips. — 400 bushels ; quality very good.

Carrots. — 600 bushels ; splendid sample. ^

Mangel Wurzel. — 700 bushels ; good quality ; not grown extensively. Parsnips confined
to gardens. Midge did some damage in a few places. The Colorado Beetle made its appear-
ance in considerable numbers in different sections, but did comparatively little harm. Labour
is scarce, and wages high ; machines of all kiuds steadily coming into use. All kinds of
Fruit more than ordinarily productive. Grapes did not ripen well in the open air. Plums
a fortnight later in ripening than last year.

Grey, South.

Fall Wheat. — 30 bushels per acre ; quality good ; " Tread well " the hardiest. Plough-
ing in the fall and summer fallowing, the best preparation.

Spring Wheat. — 17 bushels ; sample fair ; " Glasgow " the best variety ; change of seed
much needed. Midge injurious in some localities.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; quality good ; common varieties considered best. " Surprise" has
done very well.

Barley. — 33 bushels ; quality good ; culture increasing ; profitable crop.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; do. short in haulm.

Hay. — 18 cwt. ; fair quality ; affected by drought.

Rye, Beans and Com, but little raised.

Potatoes. — 200 bushels ; quality excellent. Colorado Beetle made its appearance, but
not much injury sustained. Hand-picking most successful ; some trouble was experienced
from incautious use of Paris Green.

Turnips. — 300 bushels ; quality good ; fly at first very troublesome.

Carrots. — 500 bushels; do. "White Belgian" principally cultivated.

Mangels were good, but not largely grown.

Fruit. — Season favourable ; 'k Isabella " grape ripened well in open air.

Labourers scarce; $1 50 per day in summer ; 75 cents at other times. Machinery in
general use.

Haldimand.

Fall Wheat. — 21 bushels per acre ; quality good. " Soules," "Diehl," " Tread well "
and " Midge-proof," mostly cultivated.

301

Spring Wheat. — 19 bushels; good sample. ''Golden Drop" and "Fife" generally
raised.

Oats. — 45 bushels ; good quality ; the ordinary < 'anadian varieties, upon the whole, the
best.

Barley. — 24 bushels ; sample good ; four-rowed principally cultivated.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; good quality • chiefly "Golden Vine."

Hay.' — 1 ton ; well saved ; mostly clover and timothy.

Corn. — 50 bushels ; fair quality ; " White Flint " and "Yellow."

Eye. — Very little raised. Buckwheat cultivated to a small extent ; yields well.

Potatoes. — 100 bushels; sound. Colorado Beetle pretty numerous in places; but plant
too far advanced to receive serious injury. ■

Turnips. — 1000 bushels ; Swedes principally ; not very extensively grown.

Carrots. — 1000 bushels ; quality middling • "White Belgian " chiefly.

Mangel Wurzel.— 1200 bushels ; sound quality ; cultivation not large. Parsnips chiefly
confined to gardens.

Flax, Hemp, and Hops do well ; but little cultivated.

Labourers scarce and wages high. Up to November, good hands get $1 50 a day and
board. Machines are getting into general use, and annually increasing.

Frv.it. — Season not generally favourable. Plums a failure ; trees extensively injured and
often killed by black knot. Cherries the chief fruit of consequence this year.

ii ALTON.

Fall Wheat.— 18 bushels per acre ; quality good ; in places killed by ice.'

Spring Wheat. — 15 bushels ; average quality.

Oats.— 30 bushels. "

Barley. — 25 bushels ; plump, but rather discoloured.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; good sample.

Hay. — 15 cwt. ; " injured by drought.

Potatoes. — 120 bushels; quality good; area cultivated, small; Colorado Beetle ap-
peared in considerable numbers in places, but did no serious injury.

Turnips. — 200 bushels ; good quality.

Carrots. — 250 bushels ; middling quality.

Mangel Wurzel. — 300 bushels ; "

Hops. — Raised largely arouu1 Georgetown; crop fair; prices good, Fruit — on the
whole, a short crop.

Labourers scarce ; machines of good make and quality in general use.

Hastings, East.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; quality good ; cultivation not extensive.

Spring Wheat- — 14 bushels; " Fife principally raised, early drought

injurious.

Oats. — 25 bushels ; fair quality ; " Simpson," " Norway," " Black Tartar " and " Up-
ton," leading varieties.

Rye. — 12 bushels ; quality pretty good ; not largely sown.

Barley. — 20 bushels ; a

Peas. — 15 bushels ; good sample ; straw short.

Beans. — 20 bushels •' not much grown.

hay. — 1 ton ; well saved.

Corn. — 25 bushels ; quality good.

Potatoes. — 80 bushels ; sound ; injured much by early drought and to a small extent by
the Colorado Beetle; "Early Rose,''- Chili," "Kidney," "Robertson,' "Peerless,'
" Peach Blows," " Prince Albert," leading varieties.

Turnips. — 200 bushels ; sound ; much injured by the fly in some sections.

Carrots.- 300 bushels ; early sowing good ; late, a failure.

Mangel Wurzel. — 400 bushels; not much cultivated.

Hops. — Not much raised ; a fair crop and good quality.

3G2

Fruit,-- Season not very favourable ; yet fair crops of apples, pears and cherries ; plums
injured by Curculio ; grapes mostly good and ripened well.

Demand for labourers greater than the supply. Machinery annually increasing.

Hastings, West.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; good sample; area of culture increasing.

Spring Wheat. — 15 bushels; good sample ; chiefly ''Fife," some " Club."

Oats. — 40 bushels ; "

Rye. — 15 bushels; quality inferior.

Barley. — 30 bushels ; good sample.

Peas.— 20 bushels; ;'

Hay. — 1 ton ; "

Corn. — 50 bushels ; "

Potatoes. — 100 bushels ; good sample ; somewhat injured by Colorado Beetle.

Turnips. — 600 bushels ; good sample.

Carrots. — 600 bushels ; "

Other roots but little cultivated.

Fruit. — Apples indifferent ; trees much affected by caterpillars'; small fruits abundant.

Labour high, and machines generally used.

Huron, North.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; quality good.
Spring Wheat. — 18 bushels ; fair sample.
Oats. — 35 bushels ; good quality.

Barley. — 40 bushels ; fair sample. '

Peas.- — 45 bushels ; good quality.
Hay. — 1 ton ; do.

Potatoes. — 70 bushels ; do. ; Colorado Beetle very troublesome in some places.
Turnips. — 800 bushels ; do.
Carrots. — 1000 bushels; do.
Mangel Wurzel. — 700 bushels ; fair quality.
Flax, — Is successfully cultivated to some extent.

Fruit. — Season though very dry, was pretty favourable to most kinds.
Labourers have been very scarce, large quantity of machines and improved implements
being introduced.

Huron, South.

Fall Wheat. — 25 bushels per acre ; quality good. " Treadwell" principally raised ;
"Soules" and"Deihl," — almost discontinued on account of the midge, — have been successful
this year

Spring Wheat. — 15 bushels; medium quality ; " Fife" principal variety. Midge seems
to have disappeared.

Oats. — 50 bushels ; good sample j large breadth grown.

Barley. — 40 bushels ; do. about the best crop ever raised here.

Peas. — 35 bushels ; do. much freer of bugs than formerly.

Hay. - 12 cwt. ; fair quality ; much injured by early drought.

Cora, Bye and Beans. — Only cultivated to a small extent.

Potatoes - -A small crop ; quality good j drought very injurious. Colorado Beetle not
so injurious as last year.

Turnips.— 400 bushels; crop very variable; the "prize acre" yielded 800 bushels.
Grasshoppers very numerous, and injurious to this and other crops.

Carrots. — 600 bushels; good quality ; the " prize quarter of an acre" yielded at rate of
1000 bushels per acre.

Mangel Wurzel. — 800 bushels ; sound and good; the " prize quarter of an acre yielded
at the rate of 1400 bushels per acre. Not as yet extensively grown.

363

Flax. — Considerably cultivated; a good crop; two large scutching mills in operation at
Zurich and Seaforth.

Fruit. — On the whole very favourable and of good quality ; upwards of 1000 barrels of
apples shipped to the east and old country markets this fall.

Labour pretty well supplied, except during harvest. Machines are now in general use.

Kent.

Fall Whea). — 20 bushels per acre ; quality good ; injured much in winter.

Spring Wheat — 15 bushels; do. but little sown.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; do.

Barley. — 25 bushels ; sample light ■ not largely cultivated.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; quality fair'; a few bugs, rather increasing.

Beans. — 25 bushels ; good sample ; largely grown.

Hay. — 1 ton ; middling quality ; injured by drought.

Corn. — 50 bushels; quality pretty good and largely planted.

Potatoes. — 125 bushels; sound. Colorado Beetle not so numerous or injurious as last
year.

Turnips. — Quite an average ; Carrots, Parsnips and Mangels have done well, but not ex-
tensively cultivated. Tobacco raised in sm;dl quantities in south part of the county.

Fruit. Notwithstanding severe winter, fruits of most kinds I Peaches excepted) have
produced well, and of good quality. Large quantity of Grapes near the lake ; Concord and
Hartford prolific, considered the best.

Labourers in much demand and wages high. Machines extensively used.

Lambton.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; quality excellent ; injured on low lands by frost and

ice.

Spring Wheat. — 14 bushels; quality poor; not much grown

Oats. — 45 bushels ; good sample.

Barley. — 30 bushels; medium quality.

Peas. — 25 bushels ; good quality ; some bugs, but less than usual.

Hay. — 13 cwt. ; good quality ; much under average.

Corn. — 40 bushels; not much cultivated.

Potatoes. — 200 bushels ; quality good. Colorado Beetle appeared in considerable
numbers, but did little damage. Other roots not much raised Wire worm at places very
injurious. •

Fruit. — Apples very wormy ; Plums, Grapes, Peaches, Pears and Cherries, variable ;
in many places very indifferent.

Labourers scarce and wages high ; $20 to $25 a month with board in hay-time and har-
vest. Machines in general use. Straw cutters, grain crushers and wood saws increasing.

Lanark, North.

not largely grown.

injured in places by grasshoppers.

largely cultivated.

but little grown.

do.
raised in large quantities.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; quality good

Spring Wheat. — 15 bushels ; do.

Oats. — 30 bushels ; do.

Bye. — 14 bushels ; do.

Barley. — 20 bushels ; do.

Peas. — 18 bushels ; do.

Beans. — 35 bushels ; superior quality ; worth $1.35 per bushel.
. Hay. — 10 cwt. ; quality inferior ; drought and grasshoppers did much injury.

Corn. — 25 bushels; good quality ; not cultivated extensively.

Potatoes. — 200 bushels ; excellent quality ; Potato Beetle did no harm.

Turnips — Very variable ; almost destroyed by drought and grasshoppers in some places ;
Packenham reports 300 bushels to the acre. Other roots only grown in small quantities.

In Dalhousie, Lanark and Darling, grasshoppers made great destruction, apparently fol-
lowing a limestone a,nd sandy formation.

364

Farm labourers, $18 to $26 a month, with board, washing and lodging. Carpenters,
$2.50 ; masons, $3 ; labourers in attendance, $1.40 £er day, without board. Wages dimin-
ished full 25 per cent, as winter advanced. Female servants much wanted ; from "$5 to $7
or $8 a month. County well supplied with labour-saving machines.

Fruit. — Most kinds abundant, but currants much injured by a worm eating the leaves.

Three cheese factories started last spring, and working satisfactorily, and two or three
more are expected next year. Bee-keeping much increased within the last year or two. In-
dustrial prospects generally very encouraging.

/,

Lanark, South.

Fall Wheat. — 25 bushels per acre ; good quality ; less sown than formerly on account of
liability to winter killing.

Spring Wheat. — 10 bushels ; good quality ; much injured by cold dry weather in June.

Oats. — 35 bushels ; good quality.

Barley. — 25 bushels ; fair.

Peas. — 25 bushels; good.

Beans. — 35 bushels ; good ; injured in places by frost.

Hay. — 1 ton ; well saved.

Corn. — 30 bushels ; quality good.

Potatoes. — 200 bushels ; good quality. Potatoe Beetle appeared early in large numbers,
but disappeared without doing any considerable mischief.

Carrots. — 500 bushels; good quality. Other roots very little raised. Flax cultivated
a little.

Fruit. — Generally favourable.

Labour in general high. Machinery is now used extensively.

Leeds, South.

Fall Wheat. — 15 bushels per acre ; quality good ; not extensively grown.

Spring Wheat. — 15 bushels ; good sample , principally Black Sea.

Oats. — 30 bushels ; good quality.

Rye. — 25 bushels ; do. ; but little grown.

Barley. — 25 bushels ; fair quality, but discoloured.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; sample very good.

Hay. — 1? ton ; well secured.

Corn. — 25 bushels ; not much cultivated.

Potatoes. — 50 bushels ; quality excellent. Colorado Beetle in considerable numbers,
but did not do so much injury as was at first feared. Other root crops very little raised.

Labour is scarce. Improved mowers and reapers, cultivators, harrows, &c, generally
used.

Lennox.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; sample good ; not much cultivated.
Spring Wheat. 10 bushels per acre ; quantity greatly affected by drought.
0^5.-15 •' " ; . do. do.

Bye.— 15

Barley. — 12 " " ; not half an average. s

Peas.— 20

Hay. — 1 ton "

Corn. —35 bushels "

Potatoes. — 65 bushels " ; Colorado tteetle injurious in many places.

Carrots. — 2 tons ; good sample.

Mangel Wurzel. — 4 tons ; middling quality. Turnips and parsnips not largely grown.
Hops are raised with success in some parts of the county. Flax only in a small degree.
Fruit. — Apples, owing to drought and high winds, were greatly injured ; plums and
cherries very good. Labourers scarce and wages high ; machinery in general use.

305

Middlesex, North.
Fall Wheat. — 28 bushels per acre ; sample very good.

Spring Wheat-

-12

do.

; middling quality.

Oats.— 40

do.

; good sample.

Barley. — 25

do.

fair quality.

Peas.— 30

do.

quality pretty fair.

Hay. — 1 ton

do.

do.

Corn.— 50

do.

; good quality.

Potatoes. — 75

do.

do. C

ance; no particulars.

Turnips. — 500

do.

do.

Carrots.— 500

do.

do.

Mangel Wurzel.-

-500

do.

; do.

Colorado Beetle made its appear-

Fruit. — Season, on the whole, favourable ; apples a splendid crop.

Middlesex, East.

Fall Wheat. — 25 bushels per acre; sample excellent. Where not winter-killed, 35 and
40 bushels not uncommon.

Spring Wheat.- — 8 bushels ; sample poor ; no midge, but worms at the root very
destructive.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; medium quality ; much straw, and lodged by storms in many places.

Barley. — 20 do. do. • injured by worms at the root

Peas. — 30 do. ; good in north of county ; in the south, much injured by bugs.

Hay. — 1 J ton ; sample middling ; old meadows light.

Corn. — 30 bushels ; do. much seed failed to vegetate ; second sowing common.

Potatoes. — 100 bushels; Colorado Beetle in large numbers. Where Paris Green was
carefully used, fair crops of good quality were obtained.

Turnips. — 300 bushels ; quality good ; on heavy land the crop very indifferent.

Carrots. — 250 do. do. ; season not favourable to roots.

Mangel Wurzel. — 400 do. ; Parsnips not a field crop.

Hops. — Several gardens in the county, produce fair.

Cheese-making progressively extending.

Fruit of most kinds a fair average, but apples were much injured by the Codlin moth.

Labourers scarce, and likely to remain so, as few farmers will hire in winter, and men
will not stay where there is not constant employment.

Middlesex, West.

Fall Wheat. — A full average and good quality, " Tread well " especially.

Spring Wheat. — Much below average, and poor quality.

Oats. — Above an average ; sample good.

Barley. — Below an average ; not much cultivated.

Peas. — A full average ; good quality.

Beans. — A good yield and quality.

Hay. — A fourth short of average ; good quality • early drought injurious.

Corn. — A full average ; good sample.

Potatoes. — An average ; quality good. Colorado Beetle not so injurious as last year.

Turnips. — Full average ; sound and good. Carrots the same. Parsnips and Mangels an
average, but not much cultivated.

Fruit. — Apples pretty good, only slightly injured by worms. Plums, peaches and
currants very inferior.

Good demand for labour ; machines extensively employed.

Monck.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; quality good.

Spring Wheat. — 15 bushels ; fair quality; not much grown.

366

Oats. — 40 bushels ; good sample.

Peas. — 23 bushels; "

Hay.—\ ton ; "

Corn. — 75 bushels (in cobs) ; good sample. But little Barley and no Rye cultivated.

Potatoes. — 80 bushels ; sound quality ; Colorado Beetle increasing, injurious in places.

Mangel Wurzel. — 100 bushels; good quality. Turnips, Carrots, Parsnips, not much
raised.

Fruit. — Apples a fair crop and of good quality ; other kinds middling ; early part of the
season very dry ; much rain in the fall.

Niagara.

Fall Wheat. — 15 bushels per acre ; good quality ; "Diehl" yielded better than the Red
varieties.

Spring Wheat. — Very little cultivated in this section.

Oats. — 25 bushels ; good sample j largely cultivated.

Parley.— 20 bushels ; "

Peas.— 18 bushels;

Hay.— 10 cwt. ; "

Corn. — 80 bushels (ears) ; good sample ; large amount grown.

Potatoes. — 300 bushels ; quality good j Colorado Beetle injurious in places.

Turnips. — 500 bushels , "

Carrots.— 600 bushels; "

Mangel Wurzel. — 700 bushels ; quality good. Parsnips not grown as a field crop,

Fruit. — Apples and pears, average crops of good quality ; peaches, under an average.

Reaping and mowing machines in general use ; seed-drills, power straw cutters, and other
modern appliances gradually coming into use.

Norfolk, North.

Fall Wheat. — 15 bushels per acre ; quality good.

Spring Wheat. — 10 bushels ; sample poor ; early drought injurious.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; quality pretty good.

Barley.— 20 bushels;

Peas.— '60 bushels j

Hay. — 1 ton ; "

Corn.— 30 bushels ; "

Potatoes. — 50 bushels ; Potato Beetle not numerous, nor very injurious.

Turnips. — 400 bushels ; good quality.

Carrots.— 200 bushels ;

Mangel Wurzel. — 300 bushels ; good quality.

Hops. — Cultivated to a small extent, and seem well adapted to the soil and climate.

Fruit. — Apples, peaches and plums nearly a failure this year, but pears were abun-
dant.

A good demand for labourers ; agricultural machines in general use, and highly appre-
ciated.

Norfolk, South.

Fall Wheat. — 15 bushels per acre.

Spring Wheat. — 10 bushete.

Oats.— 30 bushels.

Bye. — 10 bushels.

Barley. — 10 bushels.

Peas. — 20 bushels.

Hay. — 15 cwt.

Corn. — 30 bushels.

Potatoes. — 150 bushels.

Turnips. — 300 bushels.

Carrots. — 200 bushels.

367

Hops. — Rather a poor crop ; not largely grown. The Colorado Beetle injured the
Potatoes severely in some localities. The return makes no mention of the quality of the different
productions, and the low average was probably in great measure produced by the excessive
drought which prevailed early in the season, in some sections of the Province

Northumberland, East.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; quality good ; winter killed in some places.

Spring Wheat.— 15 bushels ; fair sample ; wet spring and dry summer brought it below
an average.

Oats. — 30 bushels ; good quality ; short in straw.

Rye. — 20 bushels ; average quality.

Barley. — 25 bushels ; sample good ; short in straw.

Feas. — 25 bushels ; do. do.

Hay. — 1 ton ; fair quality ; injured by drought.

Corn. — 50 bushels ; good quality ; season favourable.

Potatoes. — 65 bushels • generally small owiog to drought. The Potato Beetle numerous
in the Biding, causing more or less injury.

Turnips. — 150 bushels ; medium quality.

Carrots. — 150 bushels ; medium quality ; not much cultivated.

Mangel Wurzel. — 200 bushels j fair crop for the season. Farm labour continues high ;
$20 a month and board ; in harvest, $1.50 a day. Machines are becoming general. Fruit ;
the season has been unfavourable for apples ; most other kinds have been a fair average.

Northumberland, West.

Fall Wheal. — 25 bushels per acre ; quality good ; better crops than last year ; less win-
ter killed.

Spring Wheat. — 15 bushels; quality middling; drought in June injured both quantity
and quality.

Oats. — 35 bushels ; sample good.

Bye. —10 bushels ; average quality.

Barley. — 23 bushels ; good sample ; straw short ; yield below average.

Peas. — 25 bushels ; yield below average,

Beans. — 18 bushels ; middling ; not many grown.

Hay. — 15 cwt. ; good quality: very light on most farms.

Com. — 30 bushels ; quality middling ; season too cool for ripening well.

Potatoes. — 100 bushels; sound tubers; Colorado Beetle in some places, but did no very
serious damage.

Turnips. — 300 bushels ; good quality ; better than last year.

Mangel Wuizel. — 350 bushels ; good quality ; like carrots, injured somewhat in some
places by drought in spring, that they had to be ploughed up.

Fruit. — Apples rather a poor crop ; plums unusually abundant. Labour rather scarce ;
machines of various kinds in common use on cleared farms.

Ontario, South.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; quality fair.

Spring Wheat. — 22 bushels ; sample good.

Oats. — 40 bushels; sample good.

Bye. — 25 bushels; bushels.

Barley. — 35 bushels ; very good.

Feas. — 30 bushels ; very good.

Hay. — 1 ton ; very good.

Corn. — 35 bushels ; very good.

Potatoes. — 250 bushels ; very good.

Turnips. — 500 bushels ; quality fair.

Mangel Wurzel. — 450 bushels ; quality good.

368

» I

Fruit — Abundant of all kinds, except apples. G iod demand for labour at high wages.
Grain and grass cut by machines. Johnson's Reaper considered the best, and Cayuga Junior,
for grass.

Oxford, North.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; good quality ; damaged in places by winter killing.

Spring Wheat. — 7 bushels ; quality very bad ; very much destroyed by wire worm,
also by Hessian Fly in some places.

Oats. — 40 bushels; quality good.

Barley. — 25 bushels ; sample indifferent; discoloured.

Peas. — 25 bushels ; quality very good.

Hay. — 1J ton ; average quality.

Corn. -27 bushels ; quality indifferent ; seed rotted in places.

Potatoes. — 100 bushels ; fair quality ; Colorado Beetle destructive in some localities.

Turnips. — 400 bushels ; tubers sound.

Carrots. — 500 bushels ; quality good.

Mangel Wurzel. — 450 bushels ; good quality.

Flax. — Crop very good, and extensively grown in several townships.

Labour. — Great demand for good workmen at good wages. Machines and improved im
plements in general use, manufactured principally in Canada.

Fruit. — Pretty good on the whole ; apples in some localities affected by insects.

Oxford, South.

Fall Wheat — 25 bushels per acre ■ good quality.

Spring Wheat. — 12 bushels ; a failure in many places.

Oats. — 50 bushels; sample good.

Rye. — But little cultivated ; an average ; the same as to beans.

Barley. — 35 bushels ; good quality.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; good quality.

Hay. — -\ tons; quality fair; injured by wet weather in making in several places.

Com. — Various ; fair on the whole.

Potatoes. — 80 bushels ; sound ; Potato Beetle did considerable injury ; such as used the
ordinary remedies secured a fair crop.

Turnips. — 500 bushels; quality poor ; not extensively cultivated.

Carrots. — 300 bushels ■ good quality ; grown only in small lots. Parsnips confined to
gardens.

Mangel Wurzel. — 500 bushels ; good quality ; culture very restricted.

Fruit. — Generally pretty good, but no peaches. Plums injured by curculio. Farm
labourers difficult to procure ; about $20 a month and board for the summer months. Machines
in general use.

Peterborough, East.

Fall Wheat. — 23 bushels per acre ; quality good ; Milwaukie Club and Treadwell
favourite varieties.

Spring Wheat. — 14 bushels; quality good ; injured by cut worm and drought in June;
Fife and Golden Drop succeeded best.

Oats. — 38 bushels ; sample good ; black varieties mostly raised.

Barley. — 30 bushels ; sample good ; straw rather short.

Peas. — 19 bushels; sample good ; Golden Vine the Favourite; injured by grub.

Hay. — 13 cwt. ; quality fair; injured by drought.

Potatoes. — 150 bushels; sound; Early Rose the favourite ; Colorado Beetle did very
little harm.

Turnips. — 250 bushels : small bulbs ; the fly in some places very destructive. Other
root crops reported as failures ; culture very restricted.

Fruit. — Pears, plums and cherries did well, but apples were small in size, many drop-
ping off before matured. Caterpillars numerous and very destructive in some orchards.

Labour. — From $20 to $24 a month. Reapers and mowers are coming into general
use ; Massey's being the favourite.

369

Peterborough, West.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre : sample good.

Spring Wheat— \ 5 bushels; average quality.

Oats. — 35 bushels • average quality.

Barley. — 27 bushels ; average quality.

Peas. — 20 bushels ; average quality.

Hay. — No average stated ; a bad crop.

Potatoes. — 100 bushels ; sound ; suffered but slightly from Potato Beetle.

Turnips.— 250 bushels ; suffered a good deal from drought, fly, and grasshoppers.

Mangel Wurzel. — 400 bushels. Carrots and parsnips but little raised.

Labourers scarce ; machines coming into general use ; increased number this season.

Fruit. — Old trees produced but little ; new orchards had an average crop of good quality.

Prescott.

Fall Wheat. — 35 bushels per acre ;. quality good ; not much cultivated ; best crop for
many years.

Spring Wheat. — 30 bushels : good quality ; crop unusually large.

Oats. — 50 bushels ; fair quality ; best crop for many years.

Barley. — 20 bushels • middling quality ; not much sown.

Peas. — 16 bushels; good quality.

Beans. — 40 bushels; good quality.

Bay — If ton ; fair quality.

Corn. — 40 bushels ; fair quality.

Potatoes. — 200 bushels ; fair quality ; Colorado Beetle not yet appeared.

Turnips. — Principally destroyed by the fly ; other roots but little cultivated.

Hops. — Cultivated to some extent ; prospects good.

Fruit. — Crops not generally favourable.

Prince Edward.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; medium quality ; not much cultivated.

Spring Wheat. — 25 bushels ; quality very good.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; quality very good.

Bye. — 20 bushels ; middling.

Barley. — 30 bushels ; middling.

Peas. — 30 bushels j quality very good, except where injured by the bug.

Hay. — 1 J tons ; well saved.

Corn. — 45 bushels ; good quality.

Potatoes. — 65 bushels ; sound ; Colorado Beetle partially prevailed, and did some damage.
Other root crops but very little cultivated.

Hops are raised in considerable quantities, but no particulars given. Hemp and flax but
little grown.

Fruit. — Pears, plums, cherries and strawberries, fine crops ; apples considerably injured
by the borer.

Labourers scarce and wages high ; $12 to $18a month with board ; without board $1 per

day.

Machinery in general use.

Renfrew, North.

Fall Wheat. — 25 bushels per acre ; quality good.
Spring Wheat. — 20 bushels ; sample fair.
Oats. — 50 bushels ; quality extra good.
Peas. — 30 bushels ; good.

Beans. — 40 bushels ; largely raised for lumberers.
Hay. — 1 tun ; well secured. Barley and corn but little grown.
Potatoes. — 150 bushels; no potato bug as yet.
24

370

Turnips. — But few grown ; crop indifferent. Other roots not cultivated. Tnsects did
very little damage, grasshoppers damaged very slightly. Farm labourers readily obtained
from $20 to $30 a month. The county pretty well supplied with good agricultural machines.
Not well adapted for growing fruit, except plums.

Renfrew, South.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre \ good quality ; winter-killed in places.

Spring Wheat. — 12 do., fair quality ; severe drought in June very injurious ; grasshop-
pers did considerable injury to this and other crops.

Oats. — 50 bushels ; sample good.

Rye. — 18 bushels ; fair quality.

Barley. — 20 bushels ; fair quality.

Peas. 20 bushels ; quality good.

Hay. — 15 cwt. ; very variable, chiefly owing to paitial falls of rain early in the
season. .

Com. — 30 bushels ; fair quality ; not largely grown. Beans but little cultivated ;
excellent samples shown at exhibition.

Potatoes. — 300 bushels ; tubers sound j except in low-lying lands, where rot par-
tially occurred. Colorado Beetle appeared, but did little injury.

Turnips. — The fly of late has been so destructive as to discourage cultivation. Other
roots very little raised.

Fruit. — Better than last year, but injured in places by insects.

Labour — scarce and dear ; machinery annually increasing.

Russell.

Fall Wheat. — 25 bushels per acre ; quality excellent \ not extensively cultivated.
Spring Wheat. — 15 bushels ; good sample.
Oats. — 40 bushels ; good sample.

Rye. — 25 bushels ; good sample ; but little cultivated.
Barley. — 20 bushels ; quality fair.
Peas. — 25 bushels ; excellent sample.
Hay. — 1J ton ; average quality.
Corn and Beans. — Good quality, but little raised.
Potatoes. — 200 bushels ; sound and good ; no Colorado Beetle as yet.
Turnips and Carrots. — Of excellent quality, but like parsnips and mangels, not much
cultivated.

Flax. — Cultivated considerably and successfully in some places.
Apples. —Produced well in some localities.
Labourers scarce and wages high, $1.20 to SI. 50 per day.
Machines and improved implements annually increasing.

Simcoe, South.

Fall Wheat— 30 bushels per acre ; quality good.

Spring Wheat. — 25 bushels ; quality good.

Oats. — 50 bushels j quality good ; cultivation extensive.

Barley. — 35 bushels ; quality good.

Peas. — 35 bushels ; quality good.

Hay. — 1£ ton ; quality pretty fair ; new meadows very productive.

Rye and Corn. — Only raised to a small extent.

Potatoes. — 150 bushels ; good quality j Colorado beetle injurious in some places, as
were also grasshoppers.

Turnips.— 200 bushels, quality rather poor j season not favourable. Carrots, parsnips
and mangels poor ; not largely cultivated.

Fruit — Of most kinds pretty good.

Labourers short and in much demand. Machines and implements of most improved
character are generally introduced, and the demand increasing.

371

Stormont.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; quality good • not much sown.

Spring Wheat.— 20 bushels ; good \ black sea generally raised.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; sample above average.

Rye. — 30 bushels ; not much grown.

Barley. — 35 bushels ; good quality.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; good quality.

Hay. — 2 tons ; quality fair.

Corn. — 80 bushels ; good quality.

Potatoes. — 200 bushels ; quite sound ; and no appearance of the Colorado beetle.

Turnips.— 300 bushels .; Carrots, 200 bushels ; Mangels 200 bushels ; all of good quality,
but not largely raised.

Labourers scarce and wages high ; restricting cultivation in many instances. Season
favourable for fruit.

Victoria, South.

Fall Wheat. — 27 bushels per acre ; good quality.

Spring Wheat. — 22 bushels ; Fife and Scotch principally raised, and produce well.

Oafs. — 35 bushels ; a good crop.

Rye. — 28 bushels ; not largely grown.

Barley. — 28 bushels ; quality fair.

Peas. — 30 bushels. do.

Hay. — 15 cwt. ; drought early in season, very injurious.

Corn, — Indifferent ; but little cultivated.

Potatoes. — 150 bushels ; quality good ; Early Rose largely grown; Colorado beetle
injurious in some places.

Turnips. — 450 bushels ; sound sample ; other roots but little cultivated.

Labourers in most places scarce, $20 to $30 per month, in summer ; machines and im-
proved implements constantly coming into general use.

Fruit, — Apples, a poor crop, but plums, cherries, and small fruits in many places were
abundant.

Waterloo, North.

Fall Wheat. — 25 bushels per acre; best quality; badly winter-killed, or average would
have reached 40 bushels.

Spring Wheat. — 15 bushels; quality rather inferior.

Oats. — 50 bushels, sample heavy.

Peas. — 40 bushels ; excellent quality and yield.

Barley. — 45 bushels. do.

Hay. — 1 ton, Rye, Beans, Corn, but little raised.

Potatoes. — 50 to 200 bushels ; according to kinds and state of culture. Potato beetle
caused much alarm at first, but did comparatively little injury on the whole.

Turnips. — 500 bushels ; good quality.

Carrots. — 600 bushels ; good quality. Mangels not so much cultivated, but succeed
well. Parsnips confined to gardens.

Labour very scarce and high, from $1.50 to $2 00 per day. Most farmers now have
most of the approved implements and machines.

Fruit. — Apples and pears scarcely an average. Cherries and plums abundant ; small
fruits an average.

Waterloo, South.

Fall Wheat. — 15 bushels per acre ; good sample ; badly winter -killed where exposed.

Spring Wheat. — 12 bushels ; fair quality ; considerably injured by grub and fly.

Oats. — 35 bushels ; quality good.

Rye. — 12 bushels ; not much grown, but for fodder.

Barley. — 30 bushels ; good, but rather discoloured.

Peas. — 25 bushels ; good sample.

Hay. — 1 ton ; well male ; bottom thin by drought, particularly of previous year.

372

Corn. — 50 bushels ; raised considerably for fodder.

Potatoes. — 130 bushels; average quality, Peerless most prolific. Potato beetle numerous
early in the season, but were not very injurious.

Turnips. —400 bushels j Carrots, 500 bushels ; Mangels, 500 bushels. Not many of
the latter cultivated ; Parsnips confined to gardens.

Flax — is extensively grown in Wilmot. Messrs. Livingstone of Baden ground 75,-
000 bushels of seed last year, and expects to do more this.

Labourers are scarce. Most farmers have reapers and mowers, and drills, horse-
rakes, &c, are largely used. Fruit generally yielded pretty well. Apples appear less
affected by the worm than formerly.

Welland.

Fall Wheat. — 15 bushels per acre; quality excellent ; considerably injured by Hes-
sian Fly.

Spring Wheat. — Very little cultivated.

Oats. — 25 bushels ; rather light ; much injured by the grub and drought.

Barley. — 10 bushels ; very poor ; but little sown.

Peas. — 20 bushels ; quality good.

Beans. — 20 bushels ; very good ; the culture is much increasing, and is generally
remunerative.

Hay. — 10 cwt. ; quality excellent ; drought very injurious.

Corn. — 25 bushels ; good quality.

Potatoes. — 150 bushels ; quality very good.

Turnips. — 150 bushels ; quality very good.

Mangel Wurzel. — 200 bushels ; quality very good.

The lateness of the spring and severe, early drought, injured the Fruit ; as did the
curculio, codlin moth, and currant worm. Wages high and labourers scarce. Machinery
excellent and in general use.

Wellington, North.

Fall WJieat. — 25 to 30 bushels per acre ; quality good ; Treadwell and Deihl mostly
cultivated.

Spring Wheat. — 22 bushels j quality better than for several years; straw rather short.

Oats. — 50 bushels ; not quite so heavy as last year.

Barley. — 35 to 40 bushels ; good ; large breadth sown; a very profitable crop.

Peas. — 25 bushels ; good sample.

Hay. — 1^ ton ; well saved ; crop not so heavy as last year, owing to early drought.

Rye, Beans and Corn but little cultivated.

Potatoes — 200 bushels ; quality very good ; the Colorado beetle did but little harm.

Turnips.— Crop very variable, in some places pretty fair, in others almost a failure ;
bulbs generally small. The same will apply to mangels, carrots and parsnips, but little cul-
tivated. Drought injured root crops considerably, except potatoes. Flax not largely
grown but produced well. Fruit generally plentiful.

Wages about $16 per month, or 75 cents to $1 a day and found. Harvest wages $1.50
and found. Mowing and reapng machines on the increase ; about half of last year's crop
cut by them, the other half in the ordinary way. The best year on the whole the farmers
of this district have had for a considerable period.

Wellington, Centre.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; sample good, winter-killed in several places.

Spring Wheat. — 16 bushels; Glasgow and Ohio Club, of good quality, Red Chaff yields
better, but considered inferior by millers.

Oats. — 60 bushels ; sample good.

Barley. — 40 bushels ; heavy, but a little discoloured.

Peas. — 40 bushels ; better crop than for many years.

Hay. — 1J- tons. Corn and Beans not grown.

Potatoes. — 150 bushels ; fair quality. Potato beetle somewhat on the increase, but
not very injurious.

373

Turnips. — 500 bushels j quality pretty good ; drought at sowing retarded early pro-
gress. Carrots, parsnips and mangels not much raised, as yet, as field crops. Carrots yield
well in suitable soils. Labourers scarce, and wages high. Apples, an average, and quality
pretty good.

Wellington, South.

Fall Wheat — 18 bushels per acre ; quality good; much winter-killed in some places.

Spring Wheat — 14 bushels ; sample good ; some injury by Hessian fly in places.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; qualit}' heavy; late sown a little rusted.

Barley. — 30 bushels ; good quality, but rather discoloured.

Peas. — 27 bushels ; quality good, and pretty free from bugs.

Hay. — 15 cwt. ; good quality, but light, owing to failure of seed for past two years.

Potatoes. — 175 bushels ; sound and good ; Colorado beetle very threatening at first, did
not injure so much as was feared.

Turnips. — 450 bushels ; sound ; a pretty even crop.

Carrots. — 250 bushels ; good quality ; but suffered much from drought. Mangels not
much cultivated, but productive where tried. Fruit, good on the wdiole ; curculio severely
injured the plum. 'Codlin moth less injurious than last year to apples.

Good agricultural labourers much wanted. Machinery and implements of approved
kinds are extensively used, as without them the harvest could not be gathered in. An
efficient machine for cutting peas is very much needed.

Went worth, North.

Fall Wheat. — 15 bushels per acre ; good sample ; much winter-killed.

Spring Wheat — 8 bushels ; quality poor.

Oats.— 45 bushels, fair quality.

Barley. — 30 bushels ; average sample • smaller breadth sown than usual.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; fair quality.

Hay. — 15 cwt. ; well saved; old meadows particularly much injured by early drought.

Corn. — But little raised; seed failed to germinate in some places.

Potatoes. — 120 bushels; sound and good ; Potato Beetle very numerous and injurious
in places ; kept in check by picking and applying Paris green.

Turnips. — 450 bushels ; average quality.

Carrots. — 500 bushels ; average quality.

Mangel Wurzel. — 400 bushels ; average quality ; not largely grown.

Hops. — A few small yards ; average yield where properly managed.

Fruit. — Apples below average ; injured by Codlin moth.

Labour. — demand far beyond supply. Machinery in general use ; grain drills and horse
power chaff cutters, &c, increasing.

Wentworth, South.

Fall Wheat — 15 bushels per acre ; quality verv good.

Spring Wheat. — 8 bushels ; quality very poor ; but little midge; a large grub injurious.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; sample pretty good.

Barley. — 20 bushels • quality middling.

Peas. — 25 bushels ; good sample.

Potatoes. — 150 bushels; sound; Colorado Potato Beetle appeared in some places, but
did little injury.

Turnips. — 400 bushels ; quality pretty good.

Carrots, parsnips and mangels not much raised ; good quality.

Hops. — Rather a poor crop.

Fruit. — Most kinds a light crop, except cherries.

Labour. — Much demand for. Married men about $20 a month by the year, without
board, free house and garden. Reaping, mowing and threshing machines in general use ;
seed drills, &c, are annually increasing.

York, North.
Fall Wheat. — 30 bushels per acre ; quality excellent.

374

Spring Wheat. — 18 bushels j sample fair; somewhat affected by early drought.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; excellent quality.

Barley. — 32 bushels ; quality good.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; splendid quality.

Hay. — 1 ton ; quality good ; injured by drought.

Potatoes. — 100 bushels; quality good; Colorado Beetle plentiful; injury considerable
in places. Early Rose escaped better than other sorts.

Turnips. — 200 bushels; small size; injured by fly and drought. Other root crops
indifferent ; not largely cultivated.

Fruit. — Somewhat affected by drought.

Labour. — Supply inadequate; machines &c, generally used.

York, East.

Fall Wheat. — 20 bushels per acre ; quality good ; slightly injured by Hessian fly.

Spring Wheat. — 12 bushels; poor sample.

Oats.— 40 bushels ; good quality.

Barley. — 25 bushels ; good quality.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; good quality.

Hay. — 1 ton.

Corn. — 30 bushels ; quality good ; its culture increasing. Bye and beans very little
raised.

Potatoes. — 100 bushels ; sound ; injured in places by Colorado Beetle.

Turnips. — 300 bushels ; quality middling ; affected by drought.

Carrots. — 300 bushels ; good quality.

Mangel Wurzel.— 300 bushels ; good quality.

Great want of labour in summer ; $1.25 per day and board. After harvest wages lower,
and supply sufficient.

Fruit, in general, below an average.

York, Wt:s-.

Fall Wheat. — ^5 bushels per acre ; quality very good.

Spring Wheat.— 15 bushels ; good sample.

Oats. — 40 bushels ; good sample

Rye. — 20 bushels ; good sample.

Barley. — 22 bushels ; good sample.

Peas. — 30 bushels ; good sample ; suffered a little from the bug.

Hay. — 15 cwt. ; good sample ; injured by early drought and cold. Com and beans not
much cultivated.

Potatoes. — 120 bushels ; sound and good ; Colorado Beetle did not generally do much
harm.

Carrots. — 300 bushels; medium quality.

Mangel Wurzel. — 350 bushels ; medium quality.

Turnips. — Almost a failure from fly and drought.

Fruit. — Season pretty favourable.

Agricultural labourers scarce and often inferior ; wages high. In machines and imple-
ments quite up to the times.

Estimated average of grain per acre, made up from Returns of Electoral Division Societies
to the Bureau of Agriculture, for the years 1870, 1871. 1872 and 1873.

1873—62 Returns. 1872—39 Returns. 1871—47 Returns. 1870—48 Returns.

Fall Wheat 22 bushels. 18 bushels ... 27 | bushels 15f bushels.

Spring Wheat .... 154 do 19 do 17| do 12 do

Oats 39J do 33 do 374 <*o 29 do

Rye..: 19§ do 17 do 19| do 12 do

Barley 27J do 28 do 30 do 22 do

Peas 261- do 21 do 24# do 19 do

APPENDIX TO EEPORT

OF THE

£=>

^PPEISTDIX (a.)

REPORT OF THE PROVINCIAL FARM COMMISSION.

376

APPENDIX TO REPORT

OF THE

Commissioner of l^riotltun anb %t\%.

A^PFENTXEX (G.)

REPORT OF THE PROVIN* IAL FARM COMMISSION.

To The Honourable Provincial Secretary.

Sir — The undersigned Commissioners appointed by His Excellency the Lieutenant-
Governor of Ontario in Council to " inquire and report with reference to the Government
Farm near the Town of Guelph, and especially in regard to all matters proper to be con-
sidered, in order, with a due regard to economy, to adapt the said farm and the management
and control thereof, to the purposes of a model and experimental farm, and in such manner
as may conduce to the greatest possible benefit of the agricultural interests of the Province,"
have the honour to state that they have given the important matter entrusted to them their
most careful attention, and have agreed unanimously to the following Report.

The Commissioners, in all their deliberations, have endeavoured to keep steadily in view
that the great object sought to be attained by the establishment of this Institution is the
advancement of practical Agriculture in the Province. They have sought to keep before
them the existing position of this great industrial interest in Canada, and to ascertain in what
manner the Guelph Farm can best be made conducive to the extension among us of a higher
and more profitable system of husbandry. They have had careful regard to the character and
results of the Agricultural Colleges established in other Countries — and while anticipating
the enlargement of the scope of the School and the elevation of its scientific curriculum, from
year to year, under the guidance of experience, they have endeavoured to avoid the error of
sacrificing the practical to the theoretical, into which so many similar Institutions have
unhappily fallen, and to place its operations (at the outset at any rate) on a strictly practical
basis.

The Commissioners, it will be observed, have recommended that the knowledge necessary
for admission to the School shall be at first merely that which, under our School Law, every
boy must possess in passing from a Common School into a High School of the Province ;
and that by giving each Township Council in Ontario in turn the nomination of a competent
pupil for admission, a wide-spread interest in the success of the School is sought to be
quickly created.

The agricultural interest infinitely surpasses all the other industrial interests of Ontario
in magnitude and importance. Its successful prosecution gives life and tone to all classes of
business, and a bad crop, here as elsewhere, entails stagnant markets and monetary
stringency. By no other way could the prosperity of our country be so vastly and rapidly
increased, as by the general adoption of an improved system of farming. It has been esti-
mated that the cash difference in value between a good crop and a bad crop in Canada

377

exceeds fifty millions of dollars per annum,-- but this sum falls far short of the enhanced
cash gains which could be annually realized from thorough drainage, improved tillage, skilful
manuring, and the general improvement of our Herds and Flocks.

The undersigned entertain the strong conviction that the Guelph School of Agriculture, if
efficiently conducted, may be made eminently conducive to the promotion of these most
desirable ends — and they thoroughly believe that the amount of public money necessary to
its proper establishment, will be abundantly and quickly repaid by the stimulus given to this
chief industry of our land.

The Commissioners have deemed it most convenient to submit their conclusions in the
form of separate propositions, as follow : —

1. That the name of the Institution should be " The Ontario School of Agriculture and
Experimental Farm."

2. That the objects of the Institution should be : First, To give a thorough mastery of
the practice and theory of Husbandry to young men of the Province engaged in Agricultural
and Horticultural pursuits, or intending to engage in such: And, Second, To conduct experi-
ments tending to the solution of questions of material interest to the Agriculturists of the
Province, and publish the results from time to time.

3. Th;st a carefully prepared Design of the Farm and Establishments, as they ought to
be when the Institution is in full operation, should be prepared with all speed by one or two
competent parties, in conjunction with the Principal. That this design should provide for
buildings of a plain and substantial character for all the purposes of the Institution, and
make ample allowance for their easy enlargement from time to time as required.

4. That the existing Buildings on the farm should be utilized for present purposes ; but
in the event of their being found unsuitable for the efficient and economical prosecution of
the daily work of the farm, they should gradually be replaced by others constructed on the
principles, and forming part of the systematic plan herein recommended.

5. That the Farm should be separated into five distinct departments, namely ;
(1.) The Field Department.

(2.) The Horticultural Department.
(3.) The Live Stock department,
\ (4.) The Poultry, Bird and Bee Department, and
(5.) The Mechanical Department — including Carpenter, Blacksmith, Waggon, Har-
ness and Paint Shops.

6. That the plan of the Farm should provide for a clear separation between these
departments of farm-work ; and that in locating each department due regard should be had
in the site selected, to the special suitability of the soil, convenience of access, and the com-
pactness and tasteful appearance of the establishment as a whole.

7. That all the Buildings om.the farm should be model buildings, so far as their adapt-
ability to the purposes for which they are constructed is concerned; and that, while due
regard should be shown to the demands" of artistic taste in the design and site of
each erection, yet the chief aim ought to be to have all the buildings in simplicity of style,
completeness of arrangement, solidity of construction, drainage, ventilation and economy of
labour, models worthy of imitation by the farmers of the Province, and attainable at a cost
within their reach.

8. That the laying out of the fields, the system of drainage, the construction of internal
roads and bridges, the planting of shade and ornamental trees, the growing of hedges, the
erection of fences and bridges, and all other permanent improvements on the farm, should be
carried out on a gradually developed system, and in such a manner as to exhibit and test the
comparative values of the most approved models of executing these several works, and to test
the cost and convenience and durability of the different new appliances, from time to time,
recommended for adoption on the farms of the Provinec.

9. That the permanent principal building on the farm should be the Boarding-house for
the pupils. It should be erected in the plain, substantial style suitable for the purpose to
which it is to be applied. It should be three stories in height, with ceilings not less than
eleven feet high, and warmed throughout by steam, or heated air from a furnace, suppli-d
throughout with gas, and thoroughly ventilated on the most approved plan. It should be 240
feet long by 30 feet wide. The ground-floor should be devoted to the necessary class-rooms,
dining-room, sitting rooms, store-rooms, and the private apartments of the Rector. The other

378

two stories should have no permanent division walls, but along the sides of each story should
run ranges of sleeping-rooms for the pupils, 10 x 12 feet each, and formed by wooden parti-
tions, seven feet high, with a passage of eight feet wide running the entire length of the build-
ing between the ranges. That there should be a water cistern constructed in an elevated part
of the building, large enough to furnish a constant and sufficient supply of fresh water for the
establishment, and to give security against damage by fire. That in each sleeping room there
should be two single beds, and not more than two pupils.

10. That there should be a building attached to the said Boarding-house, and having
one passage connecting it therewith, for the kitchen, washing-house, laundry, cellars, store-
closets, and other appurtenances of the housekeeper's department. That it should also con-
tain a private sitting-room and bedroom for the housekeeper and bedrooms for her assistants.
And that in this building the furnace for heating the main edifice should be utilized for the
purposes of cooking, washing and heating, if found practicable and economical.

11. That there should also be a building attached to the main edifice, containing a suffi-
cient supply of baths for the use of the pupils, and, if possible, a swimming-bath. That water-
closets should also be erected in this building, and a room where each of the pupils should
clean his work-shoes in the morning, and on returning from work, exchange them for house-
shoes before proceeding to the sitting-rooms.

12. That there should be erected on convenient sites upon the farm, separate residences
for the Principal, the Horticultural Director and Live Stock Director ; with suitable accom-
modation in each for a family, and outhouses and gardens attached. That the public
approach to these residences should, if possible, be distinct from the approaches to the farm
buildings, with which they should only be connected by a private passage.

13. That in the Horticultural Department, if we select it to give a specimen of details,
provision should be made as follows :

(a) That there should be a vegetable garden in which should be grown a full assort-
ment of vegetables, and in which the qualities of different varieties may be tested as occasion
arises, and their excellencies or defficiencies determined.

(b) That there should be a fruit garden in which a full assortment of small fruits should
be grown, and new varieties may be tested.

(c) That there should be a vineyard of hardy grapes, wherein various methods of train-
ing and pruning may be exemplified, and new varieties may be tested.

(d) That there should be an orchard in which a large variety of apple, pear, plum, and
cherry trees should be grown, that the scholars may be made familiar with the appearance
and quality of the several sorts, their peculiar habits of growth, their adaptation to this climate
and proper modes of culture, and that new varieties may be tested.

(e) That there should be a nursery in which the propagation of fruit and ornamental
trees and plants, and the operations of grafting, budding, layering, pruning, &c, may be
taught and performed.

(/) That there should be a lawn, in which the principles of rural adornment can be
exemplified in the grouping of trees and shrubs, the laying out of walks and planting of
flowers.

ig) That there should be greenhouses in which the art of cultivating plants under
glass may be acquired, including the methods adapted to the propagation and growth of each
variety, and in which the principles of erecting, heating, and ventilating plant-houses may be
exemplified and taught.

(h) That there should be vineries in which exotic grapes are grown under glass, and
the methods of cultivation with or without artificial heat illustrated, and the pruning and
training of the vines experimentally taught, and new varieties tested.

(i) That there should be orchard houses in which the cultivation of such fruit trees a
can be grown under glass in this climate, may be practically taught, both growing in tubs and
planted in borders.

(f) That there should be a flower garden, in which students maybe made familiar with
the appearance, habits and culture of hardy, herbaceous and other decorative plants, and
grounds appropriated for the bedding out of suitable exotics, and instruction given in the
art of arranging and combining colour, so as to make grounds attractive and pleasing.

(k) That there should be an arboretum in which are grouped, as near each other as
practicable, all the species and varieties bringing to each genus of deciduous trees which will

379

grow in this climate, and the students made familiar by comparison and contrast with the
particular characteristics of each, and instructed in the economical uses to which each is
specially adapted.

(I) That there should be a pinetum grouped in a similar manner, by means of which
students may be made familiar with the habits and appearance of the evergreens adapted to
this climate, and instructed in the economic uses to which they are severally suited.

(m) That while the ultimate accomplishment of all these important objects should be
kept constantly in view, they should be the result of a progressive development, unfolded as
the growth and needs of the school may determine.

14. That until the Farm has been systematically laid out and brought into order for
the special purposes to which it is to be applied, and until the necessary buildings and offices
have been erected — it is inexpedient to settle definitely the curriculum of instruction to be
given, or the conditions on which pupils shall be admitted when the Institution is in full
operation.

15. That for some time to come the work of the Farm must be mainly confined to the
preparation of the fields and buildings for the systematic instruction of the pupils ; that the
knowledge that might be acquired from these preparatory operations would be most valuable
to the pupils ; that the labour of the pupils ought therefore to be employed so far as practi-
cable in these preparatory operations : and that it is expedient to provide at present merely
for the conduct of the Institution during this preparatory term, and utilize the practical
experience obtained from it in settling hereafter the permament organization and educational
curriculum.

16. That during the said Preparatory Term the chief aim should be to teach the pupils
how to perform farm-work in the best and most profitable manner — coupled with such an
amount of scientific knowledge as will enable them clearly to comprehend the results sought to
be obtained from each operation, and the scientific facts and principles on which it is based ;
and that the light obtained during this preparatory Term should determine whether or not
the amount of scientific instruction should be increased, and, if so, in what manner it can
most usefully be imparted.

17. That during the said preparatory Term, the number of pupils should be limited to
the strength that can be profitably employed in the operations of the Farm — commencing with
twenty or thirty, and increasing from month to month, as the progress of the work may be
found to demand.

18. That the ordinary branches of English education necessary to the acquisition and
proper use of the industrial instruction to be imparted in the Agricultural School should be
found in the National Schools of the Province, and not given as part of the prescribed course
in the Agricultural School.

19. That no pupil should be admitted until he has attained the full age of 15 years.

20. That before admission to the School as a Pupil, each candidate should produce the
following certificates of qualification : —

1.) As to his knowledge in the ordinary branches of an English Education — the quali-
fying standard of which should at first be simply sufficient to enable the pupil to
master the instruction given at the School of Agriculture.

(2.) As to his age. parentage, and place of birth.

(3.) As to his physical health and strength.

(4.) As to his moral conduct.

(5.) As to the assent of his parents or guardians to his application for admission.

(6.) As to his intention to follow Agriculture or Horticulture as his permanent occu-
pation.

21. Tl at the standard of English Education necessary for admission as a Pupil ought to
be as follows : —

Arithmetic : As far as Simple Proportion, inclusive.

Evglibh Grammar and Composition : Analysis and parsing of easy sentences ; writ-
ing a familiar letter ; Reading, Spelling, and Dictation.
Outlines of English and Canadian History.
Outlines of General Geography and Geography of the Dominion of Canada.

380

These subjects are the same as prescribed for pupils passing from the Common Schools
of the Province and desiring to enter our High Schools. The examinations are held in
January and August of each year. It is recommended, therefore, tbat intending applicants
for admission t > the School of Agriculture should pass the same examination, at the same
times and places, of which public notice is always given by the Public School Inspectors ; and
that successsul candidates should receive from the Local Boards of Examiners certificates of
qualification. All pupils who have been regularly admitted to the High Schools, and all who
hold Teachers' certificates, and all Graduates and Under Graduates of all Universities in the
British Empire, should be deemed to possess the literary qualification for a 'mission.

22. That during the said Preparatory term, the mode of admitting Pupils to the advan-
tages of the School of Agriculture should be by the nomination of one duly qualified candidate
by each Township Council of Ontario. That the Reeve of each Township should forthwith
have sent him, for the informaiion of his Council, a statement of the intended character of
the School, the personal qualifications required before admission from each Pupil, and the
advantages accruing to the successful candidates ; that he should be requested to have nomi-
nated by his Township Council, without delay, one duly qualified candidate for admission to
the Institution, and to transmit the same to the Provincial Secretary on or before the

day of , 1874. That as soon thereafter as possible, all the names of duly nominated

and qualified candidates should be drawn by lot and placed on a list in the order in which they
were drawn ; and according to their position on that list the vacancies in the School should
from time to time be supplied during the ensuing year.

23. That all the details of the daily work of the farm should be performed by the pupils
— subject to the occasional employment of such skilled assistance as may from time to time
be absolutely required.

24. That the average maximum of daily labour during the year, should not exceed
seven hours.

25. That during the preparatory Term, each pupil should enter into an agreement (with
the assent of his parents or guardians) of service for one year, subject to the rules of the
School, agreeing to give his whole time to the work and studies of the Institution j that such
agreements should run from the first day of the month following that in which the pupil com-
mences study ; and that the terminations of the engagements made should be so distributed
over the year as to prevent the efficiency of the farm staff being at any time seriously
affected.

26. That the pupils should provide their own clothing and books.

27 That, during the sfiid Preparatory Term, each Pupil should receive instruction as
herein defined, Lodging, Board, Washing and $50 in money at the end of the year, in the
event of his completing it to the satisfaction of the Principal and his colleagues on the
Executive Board.

28. That each pupil should have a number assigned to him on his entrance ; that a set
of Too s bearing his special number should be given to him for his exclusive use during his
residence in the school ; and that he should be held responsible for their proper care and
condition.

29. That each pupil should keep a diary of his work on the farm during the year, with
a resum4 of the instruction given daily by the officials.

30. That Prayers and a portion of Scripture should be read every morning and evening,
and a blessing asked before every meal ; that it should be obligatory on all the inmates of the
Boarding-house and attachment to be regularly present at morning and evening prayers, with
the exception of such as on the ground of conscientious scruples formally object to do so ; and
that on Sunday all the pupils should attend service at least once in the church of the denom-
ination with which they may have been severally connected ; and that the practice of gamb-
ling, and the use of intoxicating liquors should be strictly prohibited at the Institution.

31. That each Pupil should be entitled to absence from the Institution for not more
than three weeks during the year, at such period of the year as the Executive Board may
determine.

32. That Prizes for Proficiency and Good conduct should be annually awarded ; and
that Certificates of Proficieucy and Good Conduct should be given to the deserving Pupils on
leaving the School.

381

Governing Council.

33. That there should be an Honorary Council, consisting of eight Members, appointed
by Government, and the Commissioner of Agriculture as President, who should make By-
laws for the internal organization and government of the Institution ; and that such By-laws
should be approved by Order in Council of the Ontario Government, before going into
operation.

34. That the Members of the Honorary Council should meet at Guelph, on the first
Wednesday of January, April, July and October, in each year ; that the term of their
appointment should be two years, four retiring each year, the four to retire at the end of the
first year to be determined by lot ; that there should be an Advisary Committee of the said
Council, composed of three >• embers, whose advice the Principal of the School should seek
when matters of adequate importance render it expedient ; and that the Members of the said
Council should have defrayed, from the funds of the Institution, their actual travelling and
hotel expenses in attending meetings.

Staff of Officials.

35. That the Chief Official of the Institution should be styled The Principal ; that he
should be thoroughly versed in the practice and science of Agriculture, and should possess
large personal experience in practical husbandry. It should be his duty to form the plan of
operations for the coming year — after consultation with the Directors of the several depart-
ments. His special charge should be the Field Department, which he should personally
direct, being systematically with the pupils in the field, instructing them in their work. He
should also devote a daily average of two hours during the year in the class-room to the oral
instruction of the pupils in practical Husbandry, and in such branches of Agricultural
Science, and to such an extent of these branches as may enable them to understand the
scientific facts and principles on which each field operation is based. It should also be his
duty to exercise surveillance over all the operations and transactions of the Institution, and to
see that the Officials, Pupils and Employees properly discharge their several duties.

36. That the Official second in rank in the Institution should be styled The Horticul-
tural Director : That he should be a gentleman of the highest ability in his profession, prac-
tically and scientifically, and possessing a special aptitude for communicating knowledge to
his pupils and interesting them in their work ; That he in like manner with the Chief of the
Field Department, should plan and see executed the whole Horticultural operations of the
year, and be personally in the grounds instructing his pupils ; and that he should also devote
an average of two hours daily during the year, to the oral instruction of the pupils in the
class-room.

37. That over the Live Stock Department an Official, third in rank, having the highest
ability in his profession, should be placed with the title of The Live Stock Director. He
should thoroughly understand the breeding, raising and fattening of Cattle, Sheep and Hogs,
and the breeding, raising and breaking of horses. He should have a good knowledge of the
different races of Horses, Cattle, Sheep and Hogs — of their good and bad points, according
to the established standards of the show grounds and cattle markets — of their comparative
values in the home and foreign markets — and of the recorded Pedigree systems of England,
Canada and the United States. He, in like manner with the other chief officers, should be
the active director and overseer of the whole practical operations of his department, and give
two hours daily to the oral instruction of the pupils in such scientific studies as may be
necessary to make them thoroughly versed in the scientific facts and principles which enter
into the management of the Domestic Animals of the Farm

38. That the Principal, the Horticultural Director, and the Live Stock Director, should
form an Executive Board, meeting at such stated times, daily or weekly, as they may
determine, to consult together for the promotion of the interests of the Institution, and to
determine from time to time such questions of discipline and management as may arise.

382

39. That the Principal and directors should each be entitled to a vacation of six weeks
every year ; and that the period designated for each should be so arranged between them that
only one should at any time be absent from the Farm.

40. That it is of the highest importance that all the pupils should receive from one
thoroughly competent Veterinary Surgeon, or more, such practical instruction for the treat-
ment of the ordinary diseases and injuries to the domestic animals of the Farm, as may enable
them to apply the proper remedies— at least until a Veterinary can be called in ; that it might
be advantageous were the Veterinary College at Toronto incorporated as a department of the
School of Agriculture — or at least that the funds of both institutions might be united to
secure a thoroughly efficient staff available for both.

41. That experience has established the great advantage possessed by the Cheese and
Butter Factory systems in comparison with the old plan of the isolated Farm Dairy ; that
the Factories already established in the Province have been of incalculable benefit to the
farming interest ; and that the extension of the system should be encouraged by every
legitimate means. That for many reasons it would for some time to come be inexpedient to
establish a factory on the Farm ; but that very great advantage would be derived from the
establishment in the neighbourhood, by private parties, of a Cheese Factory and a Butter
Factory on the most approved principles — in whbh accurate experiments could be made for
public guidance, and the best modes of operation taught to the pupils of the Agricultural
School, in consideration of a specified fee for each pupil, or an annual bonus for the School.

42. That there should be an officer, known as the Rector, whose duty should be to take
charge of the boarding house and its inmates when they are not engaged in their field or class-
room duties. It should be his duty to preside at meals, to keep the books, and act as Trea-
surer of the Institution ; and under the instructions of the Principal to make purchases and
sales, and c nduct the necessary correspondence. He should officiate at morning and evening
prayers, and must necessarily be a man of reliable character, business capacity, kindly yet firm
disposition, and unmarried.

43. That over the Poultry, Bird and Bee department, there should be placed a fore
man, thoroughly skilled in all that concerns the propagation, management and preparation
for the show ground and market, of the special objects of his care, and their products. It
should be his duty to take personal charge of the whole department, and with the aid of the
pupils to perform all the daily work connected with it. He should be competent to direct
the attention of the pupils to the properties, habits, and comparative merits of the different
breeds and to the most approved modes of housing, feeding, and breeding them.

44. That over each of the three principal departments of the Farm should be placed a
thoroughly efficient foreman, capable, under the instruction of his director of executing the
whole of the practical work of his department, and of giving instruction to the pupils in
their daily operations.

45. That in the Mechanical department there should be a foreman carpenter and a fore-
man blacksmith, who, with the assistance of the pupils, should do all the necessary repairs,
and as much as possible of the general carpenter work, waggon work and blacksmith work of
the institution. They should be first-class mechanics, able and willing to give the pupils such
instruction as may enable them to handle common tools, and do the ordinary repairing work
of a farm.

46. That the foremen of all the departments should at first be single men, who should
reside on the farm and receive their lodging, board and washing a part compensation for their
services; but that the permanent plan of the farm should provide for the future erection of
cottages for them, on sites convenient for their special work, and for protection of the pro-
perty.

47. That there should be a Housekeeper, of large and matured experience in the man-
agement of young persons — who would take active control of the domestic affairs of the
boarding house, and personally interest herself in the health and comfort of the pupils. She
should be a widow or single person without encumbrance, and give her whole time to her
duties. She should employ and change, from time to time, the domestic assistants required to
aid her — who should be women of matured experience in the care of young persons.

383

48. That every effort should be put forth to obtain yearly from the farm a satisfactory
financial return ; that the aim should be to produce from it the best classes of animals, seeds,
plants, fruits, vegetables, &c. ; and that the surplus products should be disposed of, as far
as possible, at periodical sales by auction.
All which is respectfully submitted.

David Christie, Chairman.
George Brown,
James Skead,
John McOatjl,
George Buckland,
James A. McLellan.
Andrew Wilson,
D. W. Beadle.
Toronto, Jan. 31, 1874.

384

APPENDIX TO EEPORT

OF THE

K=>

APPENDIX (H.)

AMOUNTS EXPENDED FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICUL-
TURE AND ARTS IN ONTARIO IN 1873.

No. 1. — Amounts paid to Agricultural Societies in 1873.

Name of Society.

Addington

Algoma*

Bothwell

Brant, N

Do S

Brockville

Bruce, N

Do S

Cardwell

Carleton

Cornwall

Dundas

Durham, E

Do W

Elgin, E

Do W

Essex

Frontenac

Glengarry

Grenville

Grey, N

Do S

Haldimaiyl

Halton

Hamilton

Do (Horticultural Society)
Hastings, N

Do E

Do W

Amount.

Carried forward

$ cts.
700 00
300 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
350 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
350 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
350 00
140 00
700 00
700 00
700 00

18,290 00

Name of Society.

Amount.

Brought forward.

Huron, N. ..

; Do S

jKent

'Kingston

(Lambton

ILanark, N

I Do S

I Leeds, N., and Grenville
; Do S

Lennox

Lincoln

London

Middlesex, N

Do E

Do W

Monck

('Niagara

I Norfolk, N

Do S

I I Northumberland, E

I Do W

I Ontario, N

|! Do S

jlOttawa

Oxford, N

Do S

Peel

Perth, N

Carried forward.

$ cts.

18,290 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

350 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

350 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

350 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

350 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

700 00

36,490 00

This Society did not qualify so as to receive the full amount of the grant, $700.

3S£

No. 1— Amounts paid to Agricultural Societies in 1873. — Continued.

1

Name of Society.

Amount.

Name of Society.

Amount.

Brour/ht forward

Perth, S.

$ cts.
36,490 00
700 00 ,
700 00 1
700 00 j
700 00
700 00
700 00 i
700 00 j
700 00
700 00
700 00
700 00
550 00
700 00 1

45,440 00

Brought forward.

$ cts.

45,441 00

700 00

Peterborough, E

Do W

1 Waterloo, N

700 00

Do S

iWelland

I Wellington, N

Do C

! Do S

iWentworth, N

Do S

|York, N

700 00

Prescott

Prince Edward

Renfrew, N .'

700 00
700 00
700 00

Do S

700 00

7c0 00

Simcoe, N

700 00

Do S

700 00

Stormont

I Do E

700 00

Toronto . .

Do W

700 00

Victoria, N ,

Total

Carried forward...

53,840 00

No. '1. — Amounts paid to Mechanics' Institutes in L873.

Name of Institute.

Amount. "

Name of

1

Institute.

Amount.

Aurora

$ cts.
200 00
124 00
(a) 600 00
234 72
200 00
400 00
148 00
400 00
200 00
400 00
300 00
400 00

90 00
400 00
200 00
169 20
300 00
1-50 00
400 00
400 00

80 00
265 30

Brought

INorwood

1 Paris

forward

% cts.
6,061 22

Ayr

100 00

Barrie .'

200 00

Berlin

Peterborough

Port Elgin

400 00

Brampton

146 00

Brantf ord

400 00

Brighton

Richmond Hill ..

325 74

Clinton

400 00

Collingwood

St. Mary's

400 00

Dundas

400 00

Elora

Smith's Falls .!.!.'....!.!.....!.....! '. ..

1 Stratford

,Strathroy

Thorold

Toronto

jUxbridge

i Whitby

200 00

Gait .

302 00

Grimsby

400 00

Hamilton

Hespeler

400 00
400 00

Kincardine

London

200 00
400 00

Meaford

[Woodstock

!

Cost of Inspection
Total ...

of Institutes

1

400 00

Milton

Mount Forest ,

11,534 96
9 410 00

Newmarket

Niagara

Carried forward

6,061 22

11,944 96

(a) Of this sum, $400 was on account of grant for 1872.

dse

No. 3. — Total Payments for Encouragement of Agriculture and Arts, 1873.

SERVICE.

Appropriation.

Expended in
1873.

Unexpended or
Over-expended.

Electoral Division Societies, 73 at $700

Do 1 at $550

$ cts.

51,100 00

550 00

2,450 00

10,000 00
500 00
500 00

% cts.

50,840 00

550 00

2,450 00

10,000 00

500 00

500 00

700 00

11,944 96

3,282 97

80,707 93

$ cts.
260 CO

Do 7 at $350

Agricultural and Arts Association

Fruit Growers' Association

Entomological Society '.

Dairymen's Association

700 00*

Mechanics' Institutes

Sundry Services

20,000 00
2,000 00

8,055 04
1,282 97*

Total '

87,100 00

6,332 07

* Over-expenditure.

F.

T. JONES;

Accountant.

Department of Agriculture and Public Works,
Toronto, 3rd January, 1873.

28 79 * %JU^

BROCK UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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