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J'HE CANADIAN
■¥
FRUIT-CULTURIST
OR,
LETTERS TO AN INTENDING FRUIT-GROWER, .
ON THE
PROPER LOCATION, SOIL, PREPARATION, PLANTING, AND AFTER-CULTIVATON
OF
®iItltHiid8, Ifin^gaiids, and ©niidijnfi;
WITH DIRECTIONS FOR THE
BEST MODE OF CULTURE OF EACH VARIETY OF FRUIT;
AND SELECT DESCRIPTIVE LISTS OF THE BEST VARIETIES
OFTIIB
APPLE, PEAR, PLUM, CHERRY, GRAPE, PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, QUINCE
GOOSEBERRY, CURRANT, BLACKBERRY, AND STRAAVBERRY,
SUITABLE FOB
BY JAMES DOUGALL,
Windsor Nursehiks, C.W.
»•
A
CThird Edition)
Montreal:
JOHN DOUGALL & SON, PUBLISHERS,
1867.
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'i\k^v:u*^:..' A'iSuiM-ii^;'A..'A:A^ySiHui^-^i
4i
THE CANADIAN FEUTT-CirLTUBIST."
CONTENTS.
tiETTEn. Pa OB
iNTKODnCTORT LKTTKR 3
I. — On SiteS; Soils, &c., most suitablb foe FBUiT-OoLTintB. 4
II.— On Planting, and Aftbh Cari o» Fbcit-Tbhs, &o :.. 6
III. — On the Apple T
IV. — On tub Peak , 14
V. — On the Pluu 2©
VI. — On thb Gbbbbt 23
VII. — On thb Peach, Nkotakine, Apbicot, and Qcinci 25
VIII. — On TH«i Grapb ,,.,, 28
IX. — On thh Goosebbbbt, Cdbbant, Raspbibbt, and BLA^irawMti' 32
X. — On iHsSTBAyrBEBBT , 34
|v ^. — On the PnoFiTB of Fbuit-Cdltdrb, Matimmno, kc, 35
XII. — General Rbmarkb 36
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THE CANADIAN
FRUIT-CULTURIST;
OR,
LETTEES TO AN INTENDING FRUIT-GROWER,
ON :^HE
PROPER LOCATION, SOIL, PREPARATION, PLANTING, AND AFTER-CULTIVATON
OP
it(hati(h, ©tnf[i)jiiidjj, and ^aiiditns;
WITH DIRECTIONS FOR THE
BEST MODE OF CULTURE OF EACH VARIETY OF FRUI T ;
AND BELECT DESCRIPTIVE LISTS OF THE BEST VARIETIES
OP THE
APPLE, PEAR, PLUM, CHERRY, GRAPE, PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, QUINCE,
GOOSEBERRY, CURRANT, BLACKBERRY, AND STRAWBERRY,
SUITABLE FOR •
BY JAMES DOUaALL,
WllTDSOB NUBSIRIBt, C.W.
I
»
Montreal:
JOHN DOUGALL & SON, PUBLISHERS.
»E-—
1867.
■«
./
*^.v
H
Entered according to Act of the Provincial Legislature, In the year,
One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Seven, by James Doug all
in the Office of the Kegistrar of the Province of Canada.
ffr
''^=2^^S^j^s:5'
■»
I
LETTERS
TO All
INTENDING FRUIT-GROWER,
INTRODUCTORY LETTER.
■
Dear Sir, — As you •wish to plant fruit-
trees, but are unacquainted with their culture,
I will try to make the results of my experienoe
as plain to you as I can.
From an extensive correspondence with all
sections of the country on this subject, it has
greatly surprised me to find how very few, even
ofiutelligent and educated persons, are acquaint-
ed with the first principles of the planting and
culture of fruit-trees ; but it really should not
cause surprise, for what appears so plain and
simple to one trained to it from childhood, is
a very serious matter to those who have had
no opportunity of becoming acquainted with it ;
and all the works on the subject are so volumi-
nous that to those whose time is fully occupied
in other pursuits, it is almost a task to read them,
while their cost generally is so high as to debar
the great mass of the people from procuring them.
It will, therefore, be my endeavor in the fol-
lowing letters to give in as short a space as pos-
sible, all the directions that are absolutely neces-
sary to enable you, or those who have never
planted trees before, to do it successfully, as also,
lists of the best varieties of fruit suitable for the
different sections of this country, which my long
experiense, both of Eastern and Western Ca-
nada, will enable me to give, at least as well as
any one else.
My letters will be in the following order,
viz. : — On the Sites, Soils, and Aspects most suit-
able for Fruit-Culture ; Planting, and After Care
of Pru't-Trees, &c. ; Apples ; Pears ; Plums and
Cherries; Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, and
Quinces ; Grapes ; The Smaller Fruits ; Pack-
ing and Marketing Fruit ; and lastly, On the
Importance and Profitableness of Fruit-Culture
generally.
JAMES DOUGALL,
WlSDSOK, C. W.
*
.6=S5(H2?^'
■*
s^-
>!«••:,
LETTER FIRST.
^
ON SITES, SOILS, ETC., FOR ORCHARDS AND GARDENS.
*
Dbah Sir, — Owing to the great difference
in climate between the Eastern and Western
parts of Canada it is very difficult, nay, almost
impossible, to give rules that will be exactly
suited to all loca'ities, and therefore careful at-
tention and long experience can only fully teach
what ia proptr in each section of the country ;
still the following observations will greatly aid
all who desire to engage in fruit culture.
In the southern and western part of Canada
the more elevated portions of the farm or grounds
will, if the soil is suitable, be found the best for
planting fruit-trees, more especially of the more
tender varieties, while further to the north and
east these will be found too bleak unless natur-
ally or artificially protected by screens or belts
of trees, — evergreens being the best— from the
prevailing coldest wind in winter. It is a well-
known fact that the same degree of cold, if un-
accompanied with wind or protected from it,
will do very little injury to a tree, which, if in
an exposed situation, open to the wintry blasts,
would destroy or seriously injure it ; and as the
forests get cleared off this will be felt more and
more, aud greater care will be required for the
protection during winter of even the more hardy
varieties of fruits, than has heretofore been con-
sidered necessary.
Experience has shown how difficult it is to raise
new healthy orchards in some places where old
ones have formerly flourished ; and much of this
difficulty may be attributed to the want of shelter
from the cutting down of the forest trees. No
doubt when the old orchards were planted, they
were well sheltered ; and it is for the first six or
eight years after trees are planted, when they
are growing fast, that they are most susceptible
of cold, and require the greatest care and protec-
tion. When they have fairly commenced bear-
ing, and their growth is consequently more slow,
they will seldom be injured by cold, until they
grow old and feeble.
In the cold and more exposed situations in Scot-
land, it is customary to plant on the exposed sides
of the garden a belt of evergreen, and other trees
for its shelter ; and Mr. Tudor, the originator of
the ice-business in the United States, had a most
flourishing garden on the mos* exposed portion
of Nahant, where the stormy % ads from the At-
lantic made it previously impossible for a tree
-^=S^(g^^jS5!>-
or shrub to grow. The simple mode adopted by
him was the erection of screens, or open paling
fences, about 16 feet high, round the garden,
forming a double or treble row on the most expos-
ed side,, such fences b^ing placed about four feet
apart. Where they will grow, a belt of ever-
greens will be preferable to the fence, but with
him no tree would grow till these fences were
erected.
Throughout the whole of Canada, but more
especially in Lower Canada, protection of this
kind would be found very beneficial, and in
many places absolutely essential to the success-
ful culture of fruit, and these belts should bo
planted at the same time, or, if possible, previous
to the planting of the garden or orchard.
Fruit-trees will not succeed in a low, damp
situation, or where the subsoil is cold and wet.
When it is necessary to plant in such situations
the ground must be thoroughly under-drained
and trenched, or subsoil ploughed the year be-
fore you intend planting ; and it should be plen-
tifully supplied with ashes or lime to neutralize
what is called the acidity of the soil, caused by
water remaining long stagnant on it. It may
be taken as an invariable rule that wherever
the natural growth of the forest is stunted or
scrubby, it is lost labor to plant fruit-trees, un-
less the soil can be so amended by the above or
other methods as entirely to change its nature,
and make it suitable for the healthy growth of
trees.
Even in the rich western prairies it is found,
in general, impossible to cultivate fruit-trees,
partly owing to the lack of the necessary con-
stituents in the soil for their healthy growth,
and partly from the total want of protection from
the cold blasts of winter, which sweep over the
unsheltered and boundless prairies with irre-
sistible force ; and the level lands of Lower
Canada (or the French country) are in much
the same predicament.
The best localities for orchards and gardens
are those where the soil is naturally deep and
rich, with a warm subsoil, or one that can be
easily made so by under-draining. Where the
soil is peaty, or the rocks come too near the sur-
face, or where the subsoil is a tenacious clay,
the trees will rarely succeed well. It should
also be borne in mind that, though sandy soils
■«
■^
*
idopted by
pen paling
10 garden,
lost expo3-
it four feet
lit of cver-
', but with
enoes were
, but more
[ion of this
ial, and in
he success-
1 should be
le, previous
lard.
low, damp
d and w^ct.
1 situations
icr-drained
,he jear be-
ald be plen-
0 neutralize
caused by
it. It may
t wherever
stunted or
it-trees, un-
he above or
its nature,
growth of
it is found,
fruit-trees,
essary con-
iij growth,
ection from
jp over the
with irre-
of Lower
re in much
,nd gardens
y deep and
that can be
Where the
ear the sur-
acious clay.
It should
sandy soils
6
*
are warmer in summer, they are much colder in
winter than loamy or even clayey soils, and that
trees are more liable to be winter-killed when
planted in sandy soils than in others ; while
springy or wet sandy soils are the worst of all.
In the colder portions of Canada an exposure
sloping to the south, south-east, or south-west,
will be found the best ; and if sheltered by trees
or hills on the north, north-east and north-west,
it will be all the better.
A small orchard might in many cases bo
planted so as to be sheltered by the farm build-
ings on one side, and a hill or wood on two
other sides. The southern exposure might be
open without injury. This explanation will in-
dicate two of the advantages of planting trees
on the sides of hills, namely the natural drainage
and shelter afforded by such a site.
LETTER SECOND.
ON PLANTING AND CULTURE OF FRUIT-TREES.
Dear Sir,— Before planting fruit-trees the
land should, as a general rule, be thoroughly
underdrained to an average depth of 30 inches,
except where the subsoil is of a gravelly or open
texture, or is otherwise drained naturally. I
would, however, be far from advising that fruit-
trees should not be planted till the land is under-
drained, as it would preclude many who can-
not afford that expense from planting at all, and
many fine orchards and gardens are to be found
on land that has not been underdrained ; but in
almost every soil, except as above mentioned,
underdraining will be found of great benefit.
In fact without it you cannot give the ground
the thorough deep culture necessary for the
healthy growth of the tree, and the full perfec-
tion and early maturity of the fruit. After the
land is underdrained it should be well manured,
and if for a garden trenched with the spade two
spits deep. If sufficiently large for an orchard
a subsoil plough should, if possible, be run as
deep as practicable in the furrow, after the com-
mon plough, the season before planting. A com-
mon Scotch iron plough, with the mould-board
taken off, makes a good subsoil plough for this
purpose.
The directions for planting in all the horti-
cultural works I have read are in some essential
points erroneous, and apt to mislead new be-
ginners. For instance, they dkect that the
holes for planting the trees should be dug some
four feet wide and eighteen inches to two feet
deep, throwing away the subsoil and filling up
with a rich compost, than which no directions
could be worse in some soils or lead to more
disastrous results. Where the ground has been
underdrained and thoroughly trenched or sub-
soil-ploughed, and the manure well mixed
in, it is quite unnecessary to dig holes larger
than required for the reception of the root"*,
and where the ground is not underdrained,
unless it has an open subsoil, it is absolutely in-
jurious to dig holes deeper than the subsoil. For
example, it the surface soil is eight inches deep,
and the subsoil a retentive clay, to dig a holo
eighteen inches deep, filling up with rich compost,
just encourages the roots to grow downward
into this hole, which, in autumn, winter, and
spring, is filled with water to the total destruc-
tion of the young spongy roots ; and if the tree ia
not killed the first winter, it has the same strug-
gle to go through each following year. In
all cases where it is not convenient to under-
drain such soils, the hole — though the wider the
better — should not be dug deeper than to the
subsoil, which may be loosened a spit deep,
but not taken out ; and if the surface soil is not
deep enough to cover the roots, good soil or
compost should be got from elsewhere to cover
the roots to the necessary depth ; but, such soils
cannot be profitably used for fruit-culture with-
out underdraining.
The spring is undoubtedly the most natural
and suitable time for planting; but, in the
warmer parts of Western Canada, where the
ground is properly prepared or dry, the fall will
be found equally good for the apple, pear, and
plum ; but the more tender, such as the cborry,
peach, quince, &c., should be only planted in the
spring. Care, however, should be taken not to
plant too late in the fall, as the earth should be
fully settled about roots, and the trees well es-
tablished some time before the winter sets in.
From the middle of October to the middle of
November, according to the season or locality,
1 will be found the proper time for planting.—
■6=S^(H^^2^
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6
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Spring planting should be done from the early
part of April to the middle "of May ; in the latter
case the trees should have been lifted before
vegetation is too far advanced. But in no case
in heavy soils should the planting be done when
the ground is wet. It should be deferred till
the earth is dry enough to crumble round the
roots while planting, the trees being laid in by
the heels in the interim, and taken up and planted
as required.
Great care should be taken that the roots from
the time the tree is taken up till planted, should
not be allowed to dry. It is the want of atten-
tion to this that causes such a large proportion
of the trees supplied by tree agents and pedlars,
or sold at auctions, to fail. If the small fibres
of the roots get dried and dead at any time be-
fore planting, the tree must send out new ones
before it can grow. In moist seasons the apple
may do so to some extent, but the peai cherry,
&c., never can. I have seen thousands oi bundles
of fruit-trees arriving by rail and boat, for dis-
tribution throughout the country, with the roots
so dried up, that it would not pay to plant them,
though got for nothing. Even where properly
packed with wet moss round the roots, and
seemingly in good condition when received, the
trees may have been seriously injured, if not de-
stroyed, before being so packed; it is, therefore,
of great importance to purchase trees from reli-
able nurserymen on whom dependence can be
placed.
Before planting, broken and bruised roots and
branches should be cut smoothly off ; and where
the tree is young, requiring none but young
wood to be cut off, it can be pruned back as far
as you choose ; but where the tree is large, say
commencing to bear, nothing — except a part
of the last season's young wood — should be taken
off, till the tree has had one year's growth, after
which it may be pruned back as much as requir-
ed, as the wound will then heal over quickly,
which it would not do when large limbs are cut
off at the time of planting. The early spring, or
about midsummer, is the best time for pruning.
While the tree is being planted, one man
should hold it, and shake it gently, while the
other is filling in the earth or compost, which
should be quite fine, so as to fill up all interstices
amongst the roots. When the hole is about
three-fourths f.lled, a pail of water may be put
in to settle the earth bctte about the roots, but
this is only required in late spring planting ; fall
or early spnng planting, when the ground is suf-
ficiently moist, does not require it. No manure
should be put in the hole with the roots, unless
it be some old and well rotted, which might be
put in when the roots are fully covered ; but a
good mulching, two or three inches deep, of
fresh manure, put loosely on the surface around
tho tree as far as the roots extend, will be found
beneficial, after planting, at any season of the
year, while it is absolutely essential in late spring
planting.
In general, watering the trees after plant-
ing, and during the summer, is injurious. If
the tree will not grow without being watered,
it will never be got to grow with it. ' ^ring
over the leaves and branches t.lightly, is very re-
fi-eshing in dry weather ; and during droughts,
when the tree is suffering, the earth should be
removed for a few inches from above the roots,
and a thorough watering be given, replacing
the dry earth and mulch again. This is most
beneficially done after a rain, which, though it
may have wet the surface of the ground, has
not been sufiicient to reach the roots.
If the soil is light, or the orchard in an ex-
posed situation, it will be well to stake and tie
the trees securely as soon as planted to keep
them from blowing over ; but, as far as my ex-
perience goes with rather heavy soils, e-en in
exposed situations, I have never found it neces-
sary to stake the trees.
For the first few years after planting the
orchard should be well cultivated with root
crops, cabbages, or other low-growing crops
that require manuring ; but in no case should the
orchard be sowed to grain of any kind, except
Indian corn, which may be planted with ad-
vantage. But whatever the crop a space of at
least six feet in diameter round each tree should
be left unplanted, to be regularly hoed during
the season to keep down the weeds.
I will give additional particulars respecting
planting, culture, and pruning, and the distance
the trees should be set apart, in my other letters
on each kind of fruit.
ae
— *
* ¥■
7
'^
13 about
ay be put
roots, but
iting ; fall
and is suf-
lo manure
ots, uuless
1 might be
red ; but a
!S deep, of
ice around
ill be found
kson of the
late spring
fter plant-
jurioua. If
ig watered,
-ring
, is verj re-
l droughts,
1 should be
re the roots,
1, replacing
rhis is most
;h, though it
ground, has
in an ex-
take and tie
ted to keep
as my ex-
ils, e-en in
nd it neces-
(lanting the
with root
iwing crops
se should the
ind, except
ed with ad-
space of at
tree should
hoed during
s.
s respecting
the distance
other letters
LETTER THIRD.
ON THE APPLE.
The apple being the most valuable and useful
fruit of temperate climes, it is very important
that good varieties should be cultivated, instead
of a great number of inferior kinds as at pre-
sent. Good fruit always brings a good price,
and gives satisfaction to the consumer, while
inferior can only be disposed of to those
who arc ignorant, — a class often imposed upon.
This state of things is, in a great measure, caused
by Horticultural writers giving long lists of
several hundred kinds, which are all described
as being very good ; and nurserymen thinking it
necessary to propagate and cultivate for sale all
these varieties. The public have also been to
blame in this, for had any conscientious nursery-
man, ten years ago, published a catalogue com-
prising only some thirty varieties each of the
best apples and pears, and ten each of plums,
cherries, and peaches, his establishment would
have been considered a small a£fair, and those
with the 200 or 300 varieties would have
drawn the custom. Horticultural societies and
agricultural fairs have also been greatly to
blame. The chief prizes are always given to the
largest and best collection of fruit of each kind,
ibe exhibitor showing say twenty-five of the
best varieties of apples or pears, well-grown and
fine, would be passed over without notice ; while
one exhibiting only twenty of the best kinds of
inferior growth, and some hundreds of inferior
and generally worthless varieties, would take the
prize. This is also partly attributable to the
judges at these exhibitions, it being almost im-
possible to get those who arc thoroughly com-
petent, for the really competent judge would
have merely counted the best varieties, throw-
ing the infe-ior aside. Now, as receiving the
first prize for the best collection is an excellent
advertisement for a nurseryman, each has been
obliged to keep large numbers of worthless
sorts in their stock, and as those acquainted with
good fruit will not buy them they accumulate
on hand, and have to be sold low to tree ped-
lers and agents, who retail them throughout the
country as the best standard varieties. It will
thus be seen that it is really the interest and
profit of nurserymen to keep in stock only the
best varieties, but an ignorant public opinion
has obliged him to do otherwise. It will be the
object of these letters to endeavor to remedy
this evil, by enabling every one to know what are
the best varieties of each kind of fruit, which if
sent for to reliable nurscrjTnen, and not procured
from tree pedlers, will give entire satisfaction.
With the exception of the common morello
cherry, and some varieties of plum, the apple is
the hardiest of our fruit-trees, and will stand a
greater degree of cold than any other, though
there are great differences in the relative de-
grees of hardihood of the different varieties.
Many suppose that propagating at the North
will acclimatize varieties for a cold climate, but
this is a mistake ; it is quite impossible to inure
a tender variety to a rigorous climate, and trees
grown in a milder locality are equally hardy
with those of the same sort grown in a colder. —
The chief cause of want of success is, that
young trees that have been forced on by high
culture to make rapid growth are not able to
stand as great a degree of cold as those grown
more slowly.
The apple w juld probably succeed in maiy
parts of Lower Canada where it has failed
hitherto, were the ground thoroughly under-
drained, by tile drains, from 16 to 24 feet apart,
according to ihe nature of the soil, and deep
enough not to be injured by frost, thirty inches
being sufficiently deep in Western Canada.
Thorough draining renders the soil warmer in
summer and prevents root-killing by frost \v
winter, which is sure to occur in a wet soil.
Closer planting, so that the trees might in a
measure protect one another, will also be found
beneficial in the colder or more exposed situations;
and a belt of evergreens planted for protection
around the orchard or garden, as mentioned in a
previous letter, would be a great benefit. The
more unsuitable the soil and climate, the more
necessary it will be found to take extra care of
the trees to counteract sueh drawbacks, aud it
is hardly worth while to be at the trouble niiu
expense of planting, if you are not willing to use
the means necessary for success.
The directions for preparing the ground, plant-
ing, Ac, in my letter on that subject, are es-
pecially adapted for the apple, and need not be
here repeated. Standard apple trees should be
planted in rich land suitable for their culture, at
from 30 to 35 feet apart, — while in poorer soil
and colder climate 25 feet will be found suffi-
•^^^(H^^^^
*
T
^-
8
■^
cient. It is better to plant at the greater dis-
tance, and put an early bearing kind of fruit be-
tween each two trees, which wil' in a great
measure pay for the planting and cultivation of
the orchard before the others come into bearing.
The only varieties, as far as my exporience goes,
suitable for this purpose, are the Keswick Codlin,
Hawthornden, and Wagener, — the first a late
summer, and early fall, apple ; the second a fall
apple, and the third a winter fruit. Standards
of these, more especially the two first, will
come into bearing the second and third year
after planting, and will bear enormous crops
every year of large fair fruit of a good quality.
The two first are good cooking apples, and the
last is an excellent red winter apple.
Mr. Barry in the " Fruit Culturist" and other
writers recommend that two dwarf apples on the
Doucin stock be planted between each standard
tree, and give diagrams of orchards so to be
planted, but they ignore the fact that it is neces-
sary to have the trees far enough apart to enable
a horse and cart to go between thi rows with
manure, and also to carry off the fruit. At any
rate every second or third row would need to be
left unplanted for this purpose, and planting
dwarfs will only be successful in rich soils or
with high manuring, as their roots do notextcnd
so far as standards and need the necessary food
brought nearer to them. These dwarfs as well
as the early bearing standard varieties would re-
quire to be removed as soon as the ground began to
be occupied with the permanent orchard trees, say
in ten or twelve years. Many of the best varieties
are nearly as long of coming into bearing on
the Doucin stock as the Standard, while the
Paradise stock, which causes early fruiting, is
comparatively worthless. One benefit of dwarf
trees is, that when it is necessary to remove
•a.
^
them, it can be done with great success, even
though the tree has been for years in bearing.
They could thus be planted in Dwarf orchards
by themselves, from 10 to 12 feet apart, or put
in to fill up the intermediate spaces in newly
planted standard orchards. Where the peach
tree succeeds it is often planted between
standard apples, being comparatively a short-
lived tree. Dwarf pears are also as suitable as
the dwarf apple to fill up an apple or a standard
pear orchard ; and as some hardy varieties bear
early and profusely they are perhaps the most
suitable fruit for this purpose.
Ill too many cases the young tree is allowed
to grow as it pleases till it begins to come into
bearing, when a vigorous pruning is given to
open up the tree in order to let the sun and air
to the fruit. This is a great mistake. The tree
should be annually pruned during midsummer,
iu which case it is only necessary to remove
young wood and the wounds heal over at once.
Where large limbs are cut out the frost gets in
and *hi sap exudes, causing often a dead strip
of bark for a foot or two down the main limbs
or trunk of the tree. This is generally attri-
buted to the great cold of winter, when, in point
of fact, it is in most cases due to careless prun-
ing. Whenever it is necessary to remove a
branch of an inch in diameter and upwards, it
should be cut oflf smoothly from the other
branch without leaving any projecting stub, and
the wound painted over with a solution of gum-
shellac dissolved in alcohol (which should be
kept in a well-corked bottle, for use as required,
as it hardens at once on exposure to the air) ;
this pruning should always be done in early
spring, immediately after the cold weather is
gone, and before vegetation has commenced to
any extent.
It is a very difficult matter to select the 25
or 30 best varieties of apples for general culture,
so as to be suitable for every locality, and to
please every one, as almost every person has
some apple that is a particular favorite, or suit-
able to his locality, though not generally
known, or so suitable elsewhere. In such cases,
each grower must add that variety to the fol-
lowing list, which will make it more complete
for him : —
Twenty-five of the Best Varieties of Apples for
Cultivation in Canada, arranged in the order
that they ripen.
•1. Early Harvest.
•2. Red Astrachan.
3. Large Yellow Bough.
•4. American Summer Pearmain.
•5 , Garden Royal.
0. Keswick Codlin.
AUTT7UN APPLIS.
•7. Autumn Strawberry.
*8. Alexander (on account of its size and
beauty.)
9. Hawley.
•10. Fall Pippin.
11. Gravenstien.
•12. Hawthornden.
•13. St. Lawrence.
wiNTta APPLia
Famouse.
Bellefleur Yellow.
Baldwin.
Hubbardston Noaanch.
•18. Pomme Grise.
19. Jonathan.
•14
•15
16
11.
1
(
I
9
■^
}Weak growers but
very dm
•20. Red Canada,
•21. Melon.
♦22. Esopus Spilzenburg,
•23. Rhode Island Greening.
•24. Wageuer.
25. Northern Spy.
The following list are alsc excellent varieties,
and are much prized in some localities, but they
have not been so generally proven : —
•26. Benoni, Summer.
•27. Early Joe "
•28. Maiden's Blush, Autumn.
•29. Goyeau "
•30. Domine, Winter.
•31. Dutch Mignonne,
32. Kingof Tompkias Co.
33. Pecks Pleasant,
•34. Canada Reinette,
35. Golden Russet,
36. Swaar,
•37. Roxbury Russet,
For those who like sweet apples, or wish to
plant them largely for feeding stock, making sweet
cider, or drying, the following list will be found
useful : —
<(
(I
ii
((
i(
i<
38. Golden Sweet,
Summer.
39. SummerSweet Paradise, "
40. Jersey Sweet, Autumn.
41. Spice Sweet, "
42. Bailey Sweet, Winter.
43. Danvers Winter Sweet,
•44. Ladies' Sweet,
45. Tallman Sweeting,
46. Well's Sweeting,
II
II
II
Crabs. — 47. The Montreal Beanty Crab is de-
cidedly the b^st and handsomest of all
the Crabs. 48. The Red Siberian, and
49, the Yellow Siberian, are also very
beautiful when in fruit, and 50, " El-
liot's fine cra,b," is a new variety that is
the most beautiful of all besides, being
a fine straight-growing tree.
Those marked with an asterisk have been
proved to succeed in Lower Canada. As all the
crabs grow well, even whore apples do not
thrive, it is unnecessary to mark them.
If any others of the above apples have been
proved in Lower Canada, I would be glad to
learn the fact.
The different varieties of the Crab Apple are
very useful for preserves or jelly, and are also
exceedingly ornamental, both while in fruit
and flower ; besides, they are the hardiest of all
the varieties of )he apple, and are uninjured by
the greatest degree of cold. The " Early Joe,"
in the above list of' summer apples, though an
excellent fruit and great bearer, would hardly be
worthy of its place, were it not that it is more
nearly allied to the Crab, from its mode of
growth, than any other apple, and nearly equally
hardy.
The following is a descriptive list of twenty-five of
the best apples for general culture^ arranged
in the order of ripening.
BUMMER APPLES.
1. Earlg i7arvei<.— Medium size, pale-yellow,
rich sub-acid ; tree handsome, upright grower
and good bearer ; ripens latter part of July and
August.
2. Astrachan Red.—h&Tge, deep vermilion
red, covered with bloom like a plum ; tender and
juicy, but rather acid; tree handsome, and free
grower, but not very productive when young.
Its great beauty will always make it a popular
fruit ; ripens latter part of July and August.
3. Bough, large yellow, or Sweet Bough. —
Very large, pale yellow, very tender, sweet and
excellent ; ripens in August.
4. American Summer Pearmain. — Medium
size, oblong, red and yellow streaked, dotted
over with whitish spots, very tender, so much
so, that when ripe, it bursts open in falling from
the tree, and sometimes cracks open in very wet
weather on the tree itself; a delicious apple,
one of the very best for gardens, but rather a
weak and slow grower for orchards ; ripens
gradually during August and September.
5. Garden Royal. — Round; somewhat flatten-
ed ; red and yellow; very excellent quality ; a very
handsome and regular, though not a strong or
fast, grower ; more suited to garden culture than
orchard ; it is the handsomest grower as a Dwa» ''
on the Doucin stock of any ; bears early and well ;
its great merits should be better known. August
and September.
6. Keswick Codlin.—LsiTge, oblong, pale yel-
low, acid, but excellent for cooking ; tree erect
and vigorous ; a very early and great bearer ;
fruit always large and fair. In planting an
orchard the trees might be placed fifteen feet
apart, having eve.y alternate one ot this variety
or of the Hawthornden, the ;ruit from which
would pay for the whole cost long before the
finer varieties occupied the ground, or were fairly
in bearing ; after which they could be taken out.
Ripens during September and October, but fit
for cooking early in August.
AUTOMN APPLES.
7. Autumn Strawberry. — Medium to large
size, streaked with light and dark red ; tender,
juicy, and fine ; one of the best, ripening during
September and October.
*
-^^:(^^}jc^
■*
nr
10
'^
8. Alexander. — The largest and handsomest
apple, nearly covered with bright red ; tree early
bearer and highly ornamental ; fruit rather coarse,
but is always in great demand on account of
its size and beauty. Ripens during October and
November.
9. Fall Pippin.^-VeTj large, roundish ob-
long ; yellow, tender, rich,and delicious ; vigorous
grower and great bearer ; succeeds generally
everywhere. October to December.
10. Oravenstein. — Large, pale rich yellow,
beautifully striped and splashed with bright red ;
flesh yellowish, crisp, tender, sub-acid, with a
rich aromatic flavor ; one of the best. September
to October.
11. Ilawthornden. — Large, clear pale whitish
yellow, with a beautiful blush cheek ; a most
beautiful Scotch apple ; the earliest and greatest
bearer of any, owing to which the tree never
grows very large ; fruit very fair quality ; and
good for cooking. Ripens September to Decem-
ber. See remarks on Keswick Codlin.
12. Ilawley. — Very large, yellow ; very tender;
rich, fine; excellent. September to October.
13. St. Lawrence. — Very large, streaked with
red on a greenish yellow ground ; flesh white
and very tender, juicy, with a very rich aromatir
flavor ; a most beautiful and popular market
apple, and probably the best fall apple for Cana-
da. October.
WINTER APPLES.
14. Fameuse. — Known at the west as "Snow
Apple ;" medium size ; nearly covered with bright
crimson ; flesh pure white, tender, and most delici-
ous ; a well-known Canadian apple ; one of the
greatest bearers and best everywhere ; tree a fast
growjr, and very hardy. Ripens in October,
and ieeps till February. The most valuable
apple for Lower Canada.
15. Baldwin. — Large, bright red, crisp, juicy,
fine, fair fruit ; a vigorous handsome grower ;
bears enormously every alternate year ; the most
popular appla for orchard planting and market.
This variety may prove too tender for Lower
Canada. November to March.
16. BellejleuT Telloio. — Large, oblong, yellow,
tender, and juicy, but rather acid ; tree an early
and great bearer, and grows spreading and
rather pendulous. November to March.
17. Esopus SpiUenburg. — Large, oblong, deep
led on a yellow ground ; flesh yellow, crisp, and
excellent ; esteemed one of the very best ; tree
of an irregular spreading habit. Nov. to April.
18. nubbardgton Nomuch. — Large striped;
yellow and red, with a good deal of russet ;
tender, juicy, and fine; good grower and great
bearer ; not so generally known as it should be.
November to January.
19. Pomme Grise. — Small bright russet ; very
rich and high flavored ; very shy bearer, but
a strong, stocky grower, becoming one of the
largest trees in the orchard ; succeeds admirably
from Windsor to Quebec ; one of the best dessert
fruits grown ; will always command double the
price of any other apple in the MontreaJ market.
November to April.
20. Jonathan. — Medium ; rather oblong ; yel-
low ground; nearly covered with s. brilliant
dark crimson ; a most beautiful apple ; tender,
juicy, and rich ; very productive ; a slender and
Irregular grower, but eventually becomes a large
tree. November to April.
21. Melon. — Large, pale whitish yellow
ground ; much covered with broken stripes of
reddish purple, becoming a brilliant red in the
sun ; a beautiful and delicious fruit ; flesh very
tender ; probably the best winter apple ; tree
rather slow and weak grower ; for orchards it
should be worked standard height on some
strong free-growing variety. Nov. to March.
22. Red Canada or Old Nomuch (Steel's Red
Winter of Michigan). — Medium size; yellow,
covered with bright red on sunny side with
whitish dots ; flesh yellow, crisp, tender, sweet,
and delicious ; tree a s'ow and slender grower,
and should be worked for orchard planting as
recommended for the Melon ; the most popular
apple in Michigan, where it is best known and
largely grown. Both it and the Melon are diflH-
cult to be procured, as they are unprofitable to
nurserymen on account of slow growth, and this
will be the case as long as all varieties command
the same price for same sized trees. Nov. to May.
23. Rhode Island Greening. — Large, greenish
yellow when ripe, sometimes with a dull blush
on the sunny side; flesh yellowish, fine-grained,
and tender, rather acid, but excellent for dessert
or cooking, considered one of the most profita-
ble and standard orchard appples ; tree a strong,
but at first not a straight grower. December to
March.
24. Wagener. — Medium to large, yellow, mostly
covered with deep bright red; flesh firm, subacid,
and excellent; tree a very early and most pro-
ductive bearer, owing tg whij:h, and its beauty,
it is exceedingly suitable for a Dwarf, or for
planting in the same way as Keswick Codlin
and Ilawthornden. December to Mav.
>pr
■^^^^O^^^
¥
of russet ;
and great
: should be.
asset; very
bearer, but
one of the
s admirably
best dessert
double the
eal market.
blong ; yel-
& brilliant
le ; tender,
slender and
mes a large
ish yellow
L stripes of
red in the
flesh very
pple ; tree
orchards it
t on some
0 March.
'Steel's Red
e; yellow,
r side with
der, sweet,
ler grower,
planting as
)st popular
:nown and
n are diffi-
rofitable to
h, and this
J command
ov. to May.
B, greenish
dull blush
le-grained,
for dessert
ist profita-
e a strong,
cember to
ow, mostly
3, subacid,
most pro-
ts beauty,
^arf, or for
ick Codlin
^
11
25. i*' rthem Spy. — Large, greenish, striped
with red, and when ripe quite covered on the
sunny side with dark crimson, with a fine bloom ;
flesh yellowish, juicy, rich, and higly aroma "",
retaining its freshness and flavor till July. Trte,
a remarkably rapid and erect "grower, and even-
tually a gretit bearer, though slow to come a
bearing ; commences vegetation very late in
spring, and thus escapes spring frosts when in
bloom ; one of the best and most beautiful long-
keeping apples known. January to July. This
kind has not yet answered expectations in Lower
Canada.
8WKET APPLSS.
For those who like sweet apples, or who wish
to cultivate them largely for feeding stock, for
drying, or other purposes, for which they are
very profitable, the following list will be found
suitable : —
Bough. — Described already. August.
Golden Sweeting. — Large, roundish, pale yel-
low ; a fair, fine, sweet apple ; a strong grower
and good bearer. August.
Summer Sweet Paradise. — A large, fine, sweet
apple ; round, greenish yellow, juicy, sweet, and
rich. August and September.
Jersey Sweet.— ^edhiva, striped yellow and red,
very handsome, tender, juicy, and sweet ; excel-
lent for cooking and feeding stock. August to
October.
Lyman's Pumpkin Sweet. — Large, pale-yellow
with a blush on sunny side ; waxen and beautiful,
tender, sweet, and fine ; a great bearer. Sep-
tember.
Superb Sweet. — Large, roundish, yellow and
red; tender, juicy, and .lob flavored; tree a
good bearer and grower, and succeeds well in
Maine. September and October. •
Bailey Sweet. — A magnificent sweet apple of
the largest size, deep reddish crimson ; flesh yel-
low, tender, sweet, juicy, and rich ; tree strong
erect grower, and productive. October to Janu-
ary.
JJanvers Winter Sweet. — Medium, with
brownish orange blush, sweet and good ; valu-
able winter fruit for baking or stock. Decem-
ber to April.
Ladies' Sweet. — Large, green and red (nearly
quite red), sweet, sprightly, and perfumed ; one
of the best winter sweet apples. November to
May.
Tallman Sweeting. — Medium, pale yellow
tinged with red ; flesh firm, rich, and very sweet ;
excellent for baking ; tree vigorous and produc-
tive. November to April.
Well's Sweeting. — Medium, green ; flesh tender,
sprightly, and rich ; an excellent early sweet ap-
ple ; tree a very stout, upright grower, and good
bearer. November to January.
ADDITIONAL LIST.
The followmg list are all very excellent apples.
Many persons would put some of them in the
select list of twenty-five in place of some I have
placed tbfi'e. A few of them are not well known
or have not been yet generally proved :—
Benoni. — Medium, round, red ; flesh tender,
juicy, and rich ; good bearer, and strong, upright
grower. August.
Early Joe. — Below medium to small ; yellow,
nearly covered with bright and dark red stripes ;
very tender, and one of the most delicious
apples ; tree slow but vigorous grower and
very hardy. For Lower Canada this should be
put in the select list in place of American Sum-
mer Pearmain, or Garden Royal. August.
Primate. — Medium, greenish white, with a
crimson Mush on the exposed side ; flesh white,
very tender, sprightly, mild subacid ; an excel-
lent dessert apple ; tree a strong and stocky
grower, forming a beautiful head. Last of
August, continuing in use till October. This
variety does well in Lower Canada.
William's Favorite.— ^Large, oblong, bright
red ; rich and excellent ; one ot the best and most
beautiful of apples ; a good bearer, but tree a
poor, irregular grower. August.
Maiden's Blush. — A beautiful, medium-sized
apple ; clear, pale yellowish white, with a beau-
tiful blush on the suany side ; tender and plea-
sant ; tree erect, good grower and good bearer.
This is much cultivated in Western Michigt.n
for the Chicago market, where it is a great favor-
ite and commands the highest price. Septem-
ber and October.
Ooyeau. — Very large, yellow, extremely ten-
der, rather acid and the very bast summer and
early autumn cooking apple, and to those who
like a very tender acid apple, an excellent table
fruit, but it is too soft for orchard or market,
as the slightest pressure bruises it, and it bursts
open in falling from the tree ; no garden should be
without one or two trees ; a strong straggling
grower, and bears annually a large crop of fine,
large, fair fruit ; a native of Windsor, C.W., and
not generally known. August and September.
The Peach Apple. — A beautiful mediimi-sized.
-^^m^^'
*
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12
■«
light yellow fruit, with pink cheek, but rather
poor quality. Tree grows with slender, strag-
gling branches, like the crab-apple, which it
resembles also in hardiness ; growing in exposed
situations, or clayey soils, where other apples
will not thrive. A good bearer. September and
October.
ffawkin's Pippin. — Very largo ; pale whitish
green ; extremely tender and good ; tree a very
sti'ong, stocky, upright grower, and early bearer;
is one of the very best esaDwarf on the Doucin
stock, as it is a perfect picture of beauty, cover-
«jd with its enormously large fine truit ; not gene-
rally" known. October and November.
Canada Reinette. — Large, greenish yellow,
crisp, tender, rich and juicy; very vigorous
grower. January to April.
Domine. — Medium to large, flat, greenish yel-
low, with bright red stripes ; very juicy, tender,
not very high flavored, but will keep fresh and
fine till May. Tree a very vigorous grower when
young, but as it is one of the earliest and most
enormous bearers, it is apt to get stunted when
old ; the branches have very few twigs, and
bear the fruit more like strings of onions than
anything else ; to have large fine fruit, fully half
the crop should be thinned out when small.
This variety would do to plant in intermediate
spaces, like Hawthornden and Keswick Codlin.
December to May, or even June.
Dutch Jliffnonne.— Large, orange, marked with
russet, and faint, dull, red stripes ; fine-flavored,
tender, subacid, and aromatic ; tree upright and
very strong grower, making one of the largest
trees of the orchard. November to March.
Does not ripen completely in Lower Canada.
Golden Russet. — Medium, dull russet, with a"
tinge of red on exposed side ; flesh greenish, crisp,
high flavored ; tree fine grower, with light-colored
speckled shoots, by which it is easily known ;
bears well, and is extensively grown. Novem-
ber to April.
Kinff (of Tompkins county). — A large hand-
some fruit, yellow striped, and splashed with
crimson; flesh yellowish, coarse, juicy, and ten-
der, with a rich vinous, aromatic flavor ; tree an
exceedingly fast and vigorous grower ; no apple
has been in such demand fur planting orchards
as this has been of late years ; but whether on
further proof it will sustain its present high
character is yet to be seen. Nursery-men will
be apt to praise it. as it grows as much in two
years as any other almost will grow in three.
December to March.
Feck's Pleasant. — Large, pale yellow, with a
brown cheek ; very smooth, and flesh firm and
rich, approaching the flavor of the celebrated
Newton Pippin, and succeeds well where that
apple will not thrive, as in the greater part of
Canada ; tree strong grower and fine bearer.
November to April.
Roxbury, or Boston i?«»se<.— -Medium to large ;
surface rough, greenish, covered with russet ;
flavor inferior. Its popularity is caused by its
productiveness and long-keeping ; tree hardy,
but not a straight, handsome grower when
young. December to June.
Swaar. — Large, pale lemon-yellow, with dark
dots ; flesh tender, rich, and spicy ; tree a mode-
rat grower, with dark shoots and large gray
buds. With good culture, it is one of the best
of apples. November to May.
Westfield Seck-no-further. — Medium to large,
striped with dark red ; flesh tender, rich, and
excellent ; tree good bearer and fruit always fair.
November to February.
DWABF APPLES.
List of Apples most suitable for culture as
Dwarfs ou the Doucin Stock, the Paradise stock
being unsuitable to this climate : —
American Summer Pearmain, Astrachan Red,
Bough, Early Harvest, Early Joe, Garden Royal,
Keswick Codlin, Alexander, Gravenstein, Haw-
kins Pippin, Hawthornden, Hawley, St. Law-
rence, BcUefleur Yellow, Hubbardston Nonsuch,
Jonathan, Melon, Red Canada, and Wagener.
NoTK. — The dates of ripening given above re-
fer to Windsor, C . W. As you go farther north the
date will becoiK a little later. The latest varie-
ties only ripen i^ *he house in Canada, and it is
doubtful if some oc them would attain suflScient
maturity in Canada East to do so.
.^a^^;f;?2i^
i
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13
•^
LETTER FOURTH.
ON THE PEAR.
1
Horticultural writers trace the origin of our
present fine fruits to some worthless variety
of the same species found growing wild in some
part of the world. The Pear has, according
to their views, been derived from the Pyrvs
comrrtvnu, an austere, worthless fruit, which,
they think, by the skill of man and culture,
has been developed into its present luscious state.
This theory of progressive development has been
shown in the case of animals and man to be ab-
surd, but no one hardly doubts but it is the case
with fruit and vegetables. My space will not
allow me to combat this view at length, suflSce
it to say that there is no evidence whatever to
support this theory. The earliest records men-
tion fine varieties of these fruits, the origin of
which was even then unknown, and there is lit-
tle doubt but they did exist of us good a quality
as our best at all times, from the beginning of
the world. When we are told that the Garden
of Eden was planted " with every tree that was
pleasant to the sight, or good for food," are we
to suppose tiat its best varieties of Apple,
Pear, Plum, Ac, were only Crab-apples, Wild-
choke Pears, Sloes, A;c. ? We may a-" well be-
lieve that Adam and Eve were Gorillas, or even
a lower type, and that man has been raised by
comparatively modern civilization to his present
state, as believe that only inferior fruits were at
first created. On the contrary, we have more
grounds to believe, that when first created, they
were superior to the best now in cultivation, and
that by care and culture we are only gradually
bringing them up to their original type of per-
fection with still great room for improvement.
We may, therefore, attribute the inferior fruits
now growing wild, either to distinct varieties or
to degeneration, caused by unsuitable climate,
soil, or want of cultura.
We know indeed, that natural and artificial
hybridization has produced wonders in the beau-
tiful double-flowers that have been originated
by modern skill and care ; that all varieties of
the same species will cross by natural or artifi-
cial hybridization, so as to make infinite new
forms and colors ; and that once the change in
structure has taken place there is almost no limit
to alteration or improvement — and, no doubt,
this has given rise in a great measure, to the
theory of progressive development; but, that
by sowing the seeds of the inferior wild varieties,
a superior fruit can be raised, without being
crossed with a superior, is contrary to all know-
ledge.
The pear is more easily affected by the
seasons than any other fruit, — one year it will
be small, insipid, and comparatively worthless,
while the next it will be large, juicy, and fine ;
the time of maturity also varies greatly, — the
same variety will be often from three weeks to
a month earlier in ripening one season than
another, so that sometimes what is generally a
winter pear, will ripen thoroughly late in au-
tumn.
As the pear grows more upright than the
apple it does not require to be planted so far
apart ; for standards 25 ftet distance will be suf-
ficient, and a Dwarf Pear, or even two, might
be planted between each standard, leaving suffi-
cient space at short distances to get in with carts
to manure the ground and take off the produce.
When the roots of the standards begin to oc-
cupy the ground the dwarfs can be taken up
and planted elsewhere. I have thus removed
dwarfs that had been planted ten to twelve
years with perfect success.
But though I recommend the planting of
dwarfs between the rows of standards, I, by no
..leans, consider it the best mode of culture, I
am convinced that to obtain the finest fruit and
the most profit, either in garden or orchard cul-
ture, the Dwarf Pear should be planted by itself,
the ground kept thoroughly cultivated, and no
crop of any kind grown with it. In this case
the trees should be planted ter *"' '. apart
each way ; and, if wished, an early-fruit-
ing, slow-growing variety, such as Bartlett,
Beurro Clairgeau, Doyenne d'Etc, Dearborne's
Seedling, Belle Lucrative, Seckel, &c., might be
planted in the spaces, to be removed afterwards.
They would thus be at first five feet apart each
way. In dwarf orchard culture, if this plan is
adopted, the intermediate tree must only be
planted one way of the rows, leaving each row
ten feet apart, to allow for cultivation with the
plough, Ac. A space of 12 or 14 feet should
be left between every third row, to enable you to
thoroughly manure the ground, which should be
done every year if possible ; for the roots of
the Quince being nearer the surface, and extend-
iA ■
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in J a shorter distance from the tree than those
of the pear, it requires its food to be brought
c'-osely to it. Newlj-planted trees should be well
mulched with freah baju dr stable yard manure
the first season they are planted ; and in all light
soils where the tree is apt to suffer from lack of
moisture during drougiitSj annual mulching will
be found very beneficial, if not indispensi'.ble.
The pear requires a better soil and higher cul-
tivation than the apple, as it will not thrive in
a cold or wet soil, or whtre the subsoil >': a wet,
heavy clay. A good loam or clay loam with a
porous sutsoil ia the best ; it also thrives well in
a rich gravelly s oil, or a sandy loam with a good
mixture of lime m the soil, such as will support
a good growth of forest trees. Where suitable
soils are not to be found, they must be made as
near as possible what is required by under-drain-
ing, manuring, &c.
No fruit requires high culture more than the
pear; but the thrifty growth and productive-
ness of the tree and the extra size and luscious-
ness of the fruit will amply repay all the care
and expense laid out on it. No one but a good
judge of fruit would believe a fine, large, doli-
cious pear grown on good soil, properly culti-
vated, to be the same variety as the small, astrin-
gent fruit grown on poor soil with little or no
care. The first may be said to be attaining its ori-
ginal perfection, while the latter is degenerating ;
and the fruit raised from the seeds of two such
specimens would probably be as different in
quality as the fruits they were obtained from.
The principal benefits to be derived from
planting dwarf pears rather than standard, are
that the fruit is, in general, much larger and finer
on the dwarf. It is also more easily gathered
without bruising or injury ; and the larger pears
are not so liable to be blown off before maturity
by storms, as when grown on tall standards.
Besides it is believed that where suitable varie-
ties are planted, a larger crop of much finer fruit
could be gathered from the same space of
ground.
The only variety of Quince on which the pear
can b dwarfed, at all suitable to this cli-
mate, is the Angers Quince, which is a freer
grower than any of the others ; while all varieties
of pears succeed better on it. Great disappoint-
ment has occurred to fruit-growers by some
nurserymen using the Fontenay, or Paris Quince
Stock (much used in France), and even inferior
varieties for working the pear upon, none of
which are at all suitable here. It is needless to
remark that the Thorn and all other atocka are
far inferior for this pvu^jose.
But it must be borne in mind that there are only
some varieties of the pear that will succeed per-
fectly on the quince. Many grow slowly and in
a few years get stunted, while a few absolutely
refuse to grow at all. I have worked npwards of
three hundred varieties on the quince, a largQ
portion have grown finely, and -uost of the
rest moderately, and only some ten varieties
have not growi at all. As nearly all these
have fruited for several years with me, I feel that
I can speak with some confidence on this subject,
as far as regards my soil and climate, as also to
the relative hardiness of the different varieties ;
with regard to which I am also much indebted to
Mr. Springle, of Montreal, one of the most intel-
ligent and practical cultivators of the pear in
Canada, and who has proved a number of va-
rieties. I may hero mention that be also ap-
proves of very close planting at Montreal, the
trees thus forming a mutual protection to cue
another.
About eleven years ago we had three very
severe winters, in succession, the thermometer
falling to 25 and 30 degrees below zero, which
ki''3d or badly injurp.d the very old apple or-
chards- along the Detroit river, also the Peaches,
Cherries, and Pears. The first of these severe
winters, while the thermometer fell so low dur-
ing the night, we had a bright sun during the
day. I had about ten thousand Standard and
five thousand Dwarf Pears, of all the varieties,
all well-grown trees from 4 to 10 feet high, kill-
ed that winter, the injury being done at the snow
line, apparently caused by the thawing of the
snow next the stem during the day and its
freezing again at night. Some varieties,
however, came through this ordeal with-
out injury. It was interesting and instruc-
tive to see a row of 500 of one variety perfectly
uninjured, while the next row, only four feet dis-
tant, of a tender variety, would be killed from
end to end, and probably the next row more or
less injured, according to the comparative hardi-
ness of the variety. Since then I have discon-
tinued cultivating the more tender varieties in
any quantity.
Very high manuring in a cold climate, where
the soil is naturally rich, tends to make too
strong a growth of young wood, which grows
till late in the season, and ia not sufBciently
matured to stand the winter; this should be
guarded against, mbre especially when the trees
'jK
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are young. 'When they fairly begin to bear, the
danger is in a great measure past. If about a
third of the length of the strong young shoots
were cut off about the 1st of September, th«
rest would ripen more perfectly. All strong
shoots that arise from the stem or main limbs
of the tree, and which are not absolutely
required to renew the tree, should be closely
cut out eai'ly in August so as to allow the
wound to heal over before the winter ; and in
all cases where it may be necessary, large limbs
or branchtts should be cut off in the spring,
close by the stem or limb, without leaving any
projecting stub, and the wound covered with a
preparation of gum-shellac dissolved in alco-
hol.
The proper time to gather the fruit is also of
importance to be known. All pears are better
of being gathered a short time before maturity,
and ripened in the house ; «s when ripened on
the tree they are, in general, mealy, and com-
paratively inferior. But care must be had not
to pull them before they have attained their full
size. Directions have been given that whenever
pears will separate easily at the junction of the
staik with the branch, on gently raising them
with the hand, it is time to pull them ; but this
is not an invariable test, as many varieties will
separate easily when they are little more than
two-thirds grown, and though some varieties,
such as the Bartlett, will ripen well when gather-
ed or blown off at this stage of maturity, they
are always smaller, and inferior in appeaiance
and coloring, while many varieties will shrivel
and be worthless. It is only experience that
will tell the right time. Winter pears should
be left on the tree as late as possible, so as not
to be injured with severe frosts. A slight frost
will not hurt them.
SELECT LIST OK TWENTY FIVE BEST PEiB8 FOR
GBNERAii CCLTCRE.
The following list of what I consider the best
twenty-five varieties of pears for general culture,
taking all things into consideration, will, I think,
greatly help the new beginner in fruit culture,
as well as those who haveliad some experience.
It is, however, very di£Scult to reduce the selec-
tion to exactly that number, as some left out are,
on account of their hardihood or other good
qualities, nearly as good as these, and for some
localities even better. I have given a supple-
mentary list of other varieties that are really
good, though many of them not yet suflSciently
tested to warrant them as suitable for general
culture.
I have also given a separate list of cookiug
varieties, the previous lists comprising only
table fruit. Thpse will be found very profitable
to raise for the market, on account of keeping
so well during winter. Sufficient attention has
not yet been paid to this branch of fruit culture.
I have also given a list of the most hardy varie-
ties selected from these lists, which will be found
most suitable for cultivation in the colder parts
of the country.
The times of ripening here given are the
average times of ripening at Windsor ; as you
go to the east and north they will ripen from a
fortnight to three weeks later ; they are also
placed in the list as nearly as possible in their
order of ripening :—
BUHUGR PEARS.
Doyenne d'Eti. — Small, clear, yellow ; often
shaded with red ; the best, very early pear ; a
free grower, and early bearer as a standard ; on
the quince it succeeds pretty well, but is apt to
overbear and get stunted, in which case half of
the fruit should be thinned out and the tree well
manured ; ripens early in July.
Beurre Gifard. — Medium size, greenish yel-
low, marbled, with brownish red ; the best early
pear, exceedingly juicy, sweet, and melting ; tree
a moderate grower, with slender reddish shoots ;
bears early and well on the quince, and as a
standard grows slowly at first, but becomes
eventually a thrifty and very productive tree.
August.
Supreme de ^iV/iper.— Medium size, yellow,
with a reddish brown cheek ; very sweet and
fine. The tree is a very erect grower, like a
Lombardy poplar, — succeeds well as a standard
or on the quince ; tree hardy, and a very early
and excellent bearer, — August.
Rostiezer. — Nearly medium size ; dull greenish
yellow, covered with brown and russet, exactly
resembling a Jargonelle inminature ; one of the
most delicious pears ; tree very hardy ; makes
very strong straggling shoots ; needs severe
pruning to keep it in shape ; succeeds well either
aa a Standard or Dwarf, — August and Sept.
fcUTtTHN PHARS.
Ananas dEtS. — Large, a most beautifal and
excellent pear, not sufficiently known ; an in-
ferior pear having been described under this
name in some works ; skin clear yellow with a
beautiful red cheek when exposed to the sim ;
■63^(^5)^==^
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surface wavy and uncTcn ; tree exceedingly
hardy, and succeeds well on the quince. Begins
to ripen latter part of August, and continues t'
ripen during September.
Lartlett. — Large, clear yellow, with some-
times a blush on sunny side ; sweet, buttery,
and excellent ; by far the most popular fruit we
have, and alway;? commands a higher price in
market than any other ; commences to bear early
as a standard, as which it succeeds best ; as a
dwarf on the quince it comes into bearing very
early, the fruit being very largo and beautiful,
but it does not grow so freely or make so per-
manent a tree on the quince as others, nor is it
so hardy in unfavorable situations. September.
Belle Lucrative or Fondante d^Aulomne. —
Above medium size, greenish yellow ; a delicious,
very sweet melting pear ; one of the very highest
flavor, and best either as a standard or dwarf;
tree hardy, and bears very early a large crop of
fine fair fruit annually, which doe.i not interfere
with the healthy growth of the tree. Septem-
ber and October.
Albertine. — Large, beautiful bright clear yel-
low with a reddish cheek ; a new pear of first
quality that will prove one of the best for mar-
ket ; tree hardy, with stiff rather horizontal
branches ; bears very early, and fruit always
fair ; succeeds exceedingly well oa the quince.
September and October.
Louise Bonne de Jersey.— La,Tge, handsome,
bright yellow, with a mottled reddish brown
cheek, sometimes brilliant red, melting and ex-
cellent , a good grower, and a most productive
bearer on the quince, on which it is better than
on the pear stock ; the most profitable pear for
the market when well grown, but in poor soils
or with careless cultivation it is often rather
acid and astringent. September and October.
Seckel. — Small, yellowish, russet, with a red-
dish brown cheek; the highest flavo.-ed and
richest pear known ; a stout but slow grower
making only a comparatively dwarf tree on the
pear stock ; on the quince it grows equally
slowly, though the fruit is larger and finer ; pretty
hardy. September and October,
Flemish Beauty. — Very large when well
grown, yellowish russet, with reddish brown on
the exposed side ; very sweet and excellent ;
tree hardy, a fine grower and bearer as a stand-
ard. On the quince it grows very slowly for
the first two or tliree years, becoming aferwards
a fine, large, thrifty tree, bearing enormous fruit.
Its growth as a dwarf is greatly improved by
^1^ ^ ^=2^(i^>^
double working (i.e. first budding u strong free
growing variety on the quinci', and the follow-
ing year budding the Flemish Beauty on the
previous yea: s pear shoot). September and
October.
Kmgsessing. — Large ; a beautiful and excel-
lent pear ; clear bright yellow, with a beautiful
carmine cheek where exposed to the sun ; ripen-
ing a short time before the old famous White
Doyenne, but larger and more beautiful, and not
liable to crack and spot like that variety ; the
tree is also exceedingly hardy, and succeeds well
either as a standard or on the quince ; the leaves
are dark green, and have a peculiar crumpled
wavy appearance, quite diiferent from any other
pear ; the slug — that pest of the pear — never
attacks it. This is not the Kingsessing de-
scribed in the other American Horticultural
works, the scions of it and the Tyson (both just
then introduced) were sent to me by mail by the
late Mr. Reid, of Elizabeth Town, New Jersey,
one of the most careful nurserymen in the
United States ; I therefore presume mine to be
correct. September and October.
Urbaniste. — Rather above medium size, yellow,
with a few gray dots, buttery, melting and rich ;
tree succeeds well both on pear and quince ; a
rather slow but healthy grower ; late of coming
into bearing ; owing to its being one of the most
hardy, it is suitable for cultivation where the
winters are severe. September and October.
Vezouziire. — Rather below medium size, yel-
low, oblate, irregular in form ; very juicy, melt-
ing, and agreeable ; not sufficiently large and
showy for a market fruit, and would not b&ve
been included in this list were it not for the re-
markable vigor of the tree and its great hardiness,
making it more suitable for general culture
throughout Canada than almost any other ; suc-
ceeds better than any other pear on the quince.
September and October.
Beurrd Deil. — Very large, skin thick, greenish
yellow at first, becoming dark yellow with large
brown dots, rich, sugary, melting, and delicious ;
a very excellent market fruit ; tree vigorous and
succeeds well on the quince. Sept. to Nov.
Duchesse d'Angouleme —Very large and beau-
tiful, when well grown a magnificent pear ; skin
yellowish green, becoming dull yellow, and in
some specimens a bright yellow with a reddish
cheek ; buttery, juicy, rich, and excellent ; an
excellent market fruit, but is only suitable for
the quince, on which it succeeds well ; will prove
tender at the North. October and November.
I
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17
,ron3 fi-e«
le fol?ow-
:y on the
nber and
,nd excel-
beautiful
an :
)U8 White
x\, and not
riety ; the
ceeda well
the leaves
r crumpled
I any other
ear — never
Bssing de-
jrticultural
(both just
mail by the
few Jersey,
aen in the
mine to be
size, yellow,
ig and rich ;
[ quince; a
) of coming
of the most
where the
October,
m size, yel-
uicy, melt-
large and
lid not have
for the rc-
at hardiness,
ral culture
other; auc-
the quince.
■ck, greenish
rwith large
id delicious ;
igorous and
to Not.
re and beau-
it pear ; skin
low, and in
th a reddish
cellent; an
suitable for
1; will prove
November.
Om^iin. — Very large ; this fine new pear is
not suIBcioctly known. As a dwarf on the
quinc, it is ulmo^^i unrivalled as a market fruit
on account f>f its vigorous growth, exceeding
hardinesp, early bearing, and great productive-
ness; skin smooth greeu till near maturity,
when it becomes a bright, clear yallow; the
fruit, when perfectly green and hard, w'U com-
mence falling from the tree, though there may
be no wind to cause it, it is then fit to gather,
when it can be barrelled and sent to market
with safety, as it will not mature or get yellow
for three weeks or a month. When matured it
is juicy, sweet, and excellent, and the skin can be
peeled off like a tomato or boiled potato. Oc-
tober and November.
Onondaga, — A very large melting pear, yel-
lowish green, becoming quite yellow at matu-
rity ; tree hardy ; early bearing and productive ;
succeeding well, either as a standard or on the
quince ; in cold seasons and poor soils, it is ra-
ther too acid for a table fruit. I have some
doubts about the propriety of putting this pear
in the select list, and think, the Pratt or St.
Michael Archange should probably be substi-
tuted in place ; but they are hardly suflBciently
proven yet. October and November.
Beurre d'Anjou. — Very large, greenish russet,
with often a dull, brownish, red cheek ; buttery,
melting, and excellent ; and will keep longer
without rotting at the core than any pear of its
season ; the tree is very hardy, succeeding well
either as a standard or dwarf; this is a noble
market fruit, and one of the best for orchard
culture. October and November.
BeurrS Clairgeau. — Very large ; the most mag-
nificent and beautiful of all pears, skin yellow,
inclining to fawn, shaded with orange, and a
brilliant crimson cheek ; buttery, juicy, and
sweet, a little granular ; one of the best for or-
chard culture ; succeeding well either as a stand-
ard or on the quince, though on the latter it is
slow of growth, but very early in bearing, and
fruit always large and fine. October to Decem-
ber.
WINTER PHARS.
ZJmwmw.— Medium size; a new winter pear
of great excellence ; ripening exceedingly well
in the house ; rich juicy, exceedingly sweet
and melting ; bright yellow, with a red cheek ;
probably the best flavored winter pear, suc-
ceeds we' on the quince. November to Jan-
uary.
BeurrS Gria d'^Tirffr.-— Medium size : skin a
little rough, golden russet ; flesh a little granu-
lar, juicy, buttery, -nd melting; rich and
sugary ; succeeds well on the quince. Novem-
ber to February.
Lawrence. — Medium size ; lemon yellow,
juicy, sugary; a little gritty at the core; tree
hardy and productive, either on the pear or
quince stock ; fruit ripening in the house with-
out trouble, like a barrel of apples. November
to February.
Glout il/iorceaM.— -Large, skin smooth, pale
greenish yellow, buttery, melting, sweet, and
rich, without any acid flavor ; astringent as a
standard or on cold soils ; but, with high cul-
ture, very fine on the quince, on which it suc-
ceeds best. December and January.
Winter Nelis. — Jledium size, yellowish green,
almost covered with russet • flesh fine grained,
buttery, and very melting, with an excellent sac-
charine aromatic flavor ; tree hardy, but crooked
and twisting in its growth. Succeeds on the
quince, but is best as r standard, on wli ch it is
excellent everywhere. December to January.
SKtBCT LIST OF
BAKINO OR
PEAUa.
STEWINO W1.NTBR
Vicar of Wakefield.— Yery large, long shaped ;
sometimes a fair table fruit, but in general
only fit for cooking. The tree is a very
strong grower both on pear and quince, and is
very productive, making a beautiful pyramid on
the quince. Unfortunately, it is not very hardy.
November to January.
Catillac. — Very large ; keeps all winter and
succeeds well on the quince, for which, like the
very large pears, it is the most suitable stock,
the fruit not being liable to blow ofi'.
Uvedale^s St. Germain or Pound. — Enormously
large, often weighing 2 lbs. and upward ; stews,
tender, and of a rich crimson color ; tree vigor-
ous and productive, succeeding well on the
quince ; keeps till May.
Leon Le Clere of Laval— li&Tge, handsome
and excellent, sometimes half-melting as a des-
ert pear ; tree exceedingly productive, being cov-
ered annually with large, handsome fruit ; hardy
and succeeds well on the qmnce. Keeps till May.
SUPPLEMENTARY LIST OF PEARS.
The following is a supplementary list of ex-
cellent pears, several of which are equal in
quality to some of those in the select list, though
not yet sufliciently proved. Many are quite new
and promise very fairly ; others are useful on
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account
b<;arer3.
of being hardy, or early and great
8CMMER PEARS.
^
Bloodgood. — Below medium size, bright orange
yellow, partially covered with russet ; very high
flavored, buttery, and uielting ; hardy and suc-
ceeds on the quince. August.
Dearborne's Seedling. — Small to nearly medium
size ; smooth, clear yellow, very juicy, sweet, and
melting ; a very early and enormous bearer, re-
quiring severe thinning of the young fruit to have
it large and tine ; succeeds admirably on the
quince, but apt tc stunt from overbeariug.
August.
Ducitesse de Derri d'Ete. — Small, yellow, with
red on exposed side ; very beautiful, high-flavor-
ed and excellent. Last of August.
Elliot's Early. — Medium size, a new fruit raised
by the late Judge Elliot of Sandwich, evidently
a seedling of the Madelaine ; fruit pale yellowish,
inclining to green, larger than the Madelaine,
and about a week earlier ; growth of tree nearly
allied to its parent, but perfectly distinct; suc-
ceeds on the quince, and if on further trial it re-
tains its high quality will prove the best very
early ])ear known. July.
■Julienne. — Medium, clear bright yellow, skin
^ ery smooth, a beautiful pear ; sweet, buttery
and juicy, but not very high flavored; succeeds
well on the quince. August.
Osband'.^ Summer. — Small, clear yellow, with
a reddish chsek, sweet and melting, with a
sugary, perfun'eil flavor ; pretty hardy, and forms
a beautiful dwur-cree on the quince. August.
Ott. — Below medium, yellow, delicious, high-
flavored ; a seedling from Seckel ; does well
on the quince. August and September.
Tyson. — Rather below medium, deep yellow,
russeted with a crimson cheek ; fine, juicy, melt-
ing, and sugary ; tree hardy, and does exceed-
ingly well on the qu'nce. August and early
September,
AUTUMN PBAR8.
Abbott. — Medium ; yellowish, considerably
shaded with crimson ; buttery, juicy, and melt-
ing, not very high-flavored, — its greatest quali-
ties being its thrifty growth both on pear and
quince stock, and being one of the most hardy of
pears. September and October.
lieurri Bosc. — Large, smooth, dark yellow,
with russet dots and streaks tinged with red ;
flesh white, melting, and buttery, with a rich
delicious flavor ; by many this is considered one
of the best pears ; but it will not grow on the
quince. September to October.
Beurri Oobault. — Medium ; exceedinglyjuicy
and melting ; very jjleasant and refreshing, but
not very high-flavored ; on strong, warm, rich
soils this is one of the best early fall pears ;
grows exceedingly well on the quince ; is one of
the earliest and greatest bearers ; fruit requiring
severe thinning out to be flne ; on sandy or])Oor
soils it is insipid; like all early and great bear-
ers, requires high culture. September.
Beurri Konig. — Large, greenish, very sweet
and melting; a flne new pear, succeeds well on
the quince. October.
Bezy de Montigny. — Medium ; yellowish green,
very smooth and well formed; melting, juicy,
and buttery, with a sweet musk flavor ; grows
very well on the quince ; is a very early bearer
and productive. October.
Bufum. — Below medium ; deep yellow, with
russet dots ; more than half of the fruit covered
with bright red ; buttery, sweet, and excellent ;
very strong and upright grower, bears very pro-
fusely and succeeds well on qumce. September.
Doyenne Boussoch. — Rather large ; skin
rough, deep yellow, with some russet and a red-
dish cheek ; buttery, juicy, aromatic, and ex-
cellent. October.
Doyenne de Cornice. — Large ; a new pear of
great excellence ; tree very thrifty, and grows
finely on the quince ; rather slow of coming
into bearing. October.
Doyenni White. — Large, medium ; smooth,
clearyellow, with often a red cheek ; very melt-
ing, buttery, rich, and delicious. Where it suc-
ceeds there is no better pear of the season ; but,
unfortunately, it cracks and spots almost every-
where now. Grows well on the quince. October
and November. This sort is remarkably hardy,
and thrives perhaps best of any in Lower Canada.
Doyenni Gray. — Strongly resembles the white
but is covered with a lively cinnamon russet,
and is rather higher flavored ; it is the only
pear in these lists that I have never been able
to procure true, and have, therefore, never fruit-
ed it. October and November.
GratioU of Jersey. — Medium ; skin rough,
greenish ; partially russeted, and sometimes
with a reddish brown cheek ; very rich, vinous,
high flavor ; succeeds on quince. October.
Kirtland. — Below medium; entirely covered
with a bright yellowish russet ; juicy, sweet,
aromatic ; a seedling from the Seckel, but not
so rich ; succeeds on quince. September.
t
i^
'^^m^^^
*
grows
coming
smooth,
very melt-
lere it suc-
ison j but,
ost every-
October
bly bardy,
: Canada.
the white
ion russet,
the only
been able
leverfruit-
iin rough,
sometimes
h, vinous,
tober.
ly covered
cy, sweet,
il, but not
iber.
%
19
*
1^
Napoleon. — Rather large ; smooth, clear green,
becoming yellowish ; exceedingly juicy, but not
very high flavored. It is thought very much of
by some ; but it is rather tender, and can hardly
be recommended. September and October.
Pratt. — Large, yellow ; sprinkled with russet
dots; juicy, melting, sweet, and fin'^; makes a
beautiful, upright, growing tree, eitht rasa stco-
dard, or on the quince, on which it succeeds
admirably ; new and not much known. October.
St. Michael Archange. — Large, yellow, with
russet dots ; juicy, melting, with a rich, but not
very high flavor ; a very handsome pear ; suc-
ceeds well on quince. October.
Soldat d'Esperin or Soldat Laboureur.^An
immense and excellent pear, when properly cul-
tivated ; under poor cultivation it does not at-
tain half its size ; falls from the tree before matu-
rity, and is worthless ; smooth, yellow, dotted
with russet; flesh granular, melting, juicy
with a sugary, vinous flavor ; one of the strongest
growers on the quince, and very productive.
Williams Early. — Small, round, bright orange
yellow, with a scarlet cheek ; very beautiful,
juicy, rich, with a slightly musky flavor; tree
grows freely, and is very hardy and productive
both on pear and quince ; not so good as some
others of the same season, except on account of
ita suitability for a severe climate. September,
WINTER PEARS.
Jielle de Noel. — Medium, clear smooth yellow,
with often a reddish cheek; very handsome, juicy,
sweet, and perfumed, one of the strongest grow-
ing pears on the quince, and enormously produc-
tive ; to have fine fruit, one-half should be thinned
out. December and January.
Beurri Baclielier. — Very large, round, green-
ish; buttery, juicy, and melting, quite new; suc-
ceeds well on the quince, and bears very young.
November and December.
Beurri Easter. — Large, yellowish green, with
some russet; buttery, melting, juicy, and swoet.
When the fruit is fair it is one of the best, but is
apt to be irregularly shaped, knobby and hard ;
hardy and succeeds well on quince. January to
April.
Bexirri Millet. — Medium; greenish, nearly
covered with large rr.iset dots, sometimes en-
tirely covered with russet ; fruit rough, not
handsome, but exceedingly sweet, melting, and
juicy ; grows finely on the quince. Last of
November to January.
Beurre Langelier. — Medium ; fruit always fair ;
pale yellow, with a reddish cheek ; buttery.
juicy, and rich; hardy, productive, and forms a
beautiful pyramid on the quince December and
January.
Beurri Winter, Rivers. — uarge, green, rough,
spotted with russet ; buttery, melting, vinoua
or 8ub-acid ; very hardy, and an early and pro-
lific bearer ; quite new ; succeeds on quiuce,
January to February
Blanc Perni. — Large, green, very like Leon
le Clerc of Laval, but tree of a freer growth ;
does exceedingly well on the quince ; an early
and prolific bearer. December and January.
Dilices de Ilardenpont — Large, green, becoming
yellowish at maturity ; juicy, sweet, and good ;
tree hardy, very strong grower ; succeeds well
on quince, and bears early. N'ov. and Dec.
Fondanle de Cornice. --Large, whitish green, be-
coming yellow ; always smooth and fair ; juicy,
sweet, and good ; tree succeeds well on quince ;
a low, irregular grower, but one of ih» earliest
bearers, and enormously productive. November
and December.
Forelle or Trout Pear. — Below medium, rich,
lemon yellow ; deep red on the sunny side, where
it is marked with large margined crimson spots
like a trout ; the most beautiful of all pears.
Melting, juicy, and rich ; tree a strong grower,
with dark, reddish brown shoots ; very hardy,
and succeeds very well on quince. November
to January.
Jones Seedling. — Small, yellow, covered with
bright russet, with cinnamon red on the sunny
side; buttery, juicy, sweet, with a brisk vinous
flavor ; tree very hardy, and succeeds well on
quince ; an enormous annual bearer ; fruit ripens
without care, like a barrel of apples ; an excel-
lent market fruit. November and December.
Josephine de Malines. — Medium, yellowish rua-
sety, buttery, juicy, sugary, and perfumed ; when
in perfection an excellent pear; succeeds on
quince. November and February.
S'iadame Elim. — Medium, a fine, ne«v, long
shaped pear, bright yellow, with a beautiful car-
miua cheek ; one of the most beautiful and best
of pears ; buttery, melting, and perfumed ; suc-
ceeds pretty well on quince, but not yet sufli-
ciently proven. November and December.
Prevost. — Medium, clear, smooth, yellow, with
a handsome carmine cheek ; juicy, sweet, and
good, always fair ; tree hardy ; grows very
strongly on quince ; an early and enormous
bearer ; fruit will need thinning severely ; makes
the handsomest Dwarf Pyramid of any when
covered with fruit. December to February.
■^
^
»•
20
There are many other Trry good new pears
which I have not sufficiently proved to recom-
inend, but all the older varieties not included
in these lists are comparatively inferior.
LIST or BABDY SORTS BELIEVED TO BB BDITABLB
FOR KABTKHN CANiU>A.
Supreme de Quimpor, Urbaniste,
kostiezier, i3eurr6 d'Anjou,
Ananaa d'Et£,
Abbott,
Belle Lucrative,
Albertine,
Flemish Beauty,
Kingsessing,
Graslin,
Vczouzicr,
Onondaga,
■*t
Williams Early,
Lawrence,
Olout Horceau,
Leon lo Clerc of Laval,
Forelle,
Jones Seedling,
Prevost.
White Doyenne,
Fondante de Cornice,
LETTER FIFTH.
ON THE PLUM.
■f ^'
V
Owing to the attacks of the curculio the cul-
tivation of the plum has been in a great measure
discontinued in many parts of the country ;
but as that pest appears to bo gradually dis-
appearing in many places where its ravages were
severely felt ; and as it has never extended in
any serious degree to many parts of the coun-
try, we may expect that more attention will
be given to this delicious fruit. I may add
that by proper attention, even where the curcu-
lio is worst, abundance of plums can be got, not
only with jut trouble and expense, but with a
profit, apart from the value of the fruit.
The plum does not succeed well in a light
sandy soil, nor is a heavy cold clay suitable for
it. A good loamy or clayey-loam soil, that will
retain sufficient moisture to keep the tree in vigor-
ous growth, will be found the best. In light, diy
soils, or in hard clays, the plum is liable to a
leaf-blight, the leaves becoming spotted, and fall-
ing off in July and August, leaving the fruit im-
mature, sour, and worthless. But even in un-
suitable soils many of the strong-growing vari-
eties will do well, it being the weak, slow-grow-
ing varieties that are most affected, and also
easiest injured by the severity of our winters. —
As the plum is to be found in almost every part
of the country, intending planters can easdy as-
certain if it thrives, and is free from the curculio
in their locality, and guide themselves according-
ly, better than by any general rules that can
here be given.
The progress of civilization and wealth has
given a general knowledge of the best way of
preserving and canning (ruit ; while the cheap-
ness of sugar has enabled almost every one to
preserve fruit in a way utterly unknown to
the great mass of our ancestors. This has
wrought a revolution in the varieties of plums
wanted ; there being comparatively little demana
for the smaller and inferior kinds of plums, such as
damsons, &c., used for making jams ; while
every one wishes the large handsome plums for
preserving and canning.
The American Horticultural writers, such as
Downing, Thomas, Barry, Ac, besides having
written, some time ago, when our knowledge was
not so good regarding the best fruits as now, —
had to write for a wide range of country, em-
bracing almost all varieties of climate. They were,
therefore, unable tO depend wholly on their own
knowledge and experience, but had to consult
correspondents in various parts of the country
as to the varieties n suitable for their locali-
ties ; many of whom, probably, were incompe-
tent to give the proper information.
Writing for Canada, which embraces, com-
paratively, a small range of climate, I am saved
from depending on the knowledge of others,
being satisfied that healthy, strong-growing,
hardy varieties, which best stand the climate here,
where the thermometer sometimes falls to 25
degrees below zero and under, will be found the
most suitable for culture everywhere. I have,
therefore, discarded from my select list a large
portion of those recommended in the select lists
of these writers, as being with our present
knowledge comparatively unworthy of cultiva-
tion, and have only recommended those that I
know from my own experience to be the best for
the climate, and for the requirements of the
public. All the slow-growing, weak, or tender
varieties, with the exception of the Green Gage, —
and even it cannot be recommended for general
culture, — I have left out; substituting those
above-mentioned that have large and handsome
fruit, which, should the grower have any surplus
to dispose of, will always bring the highest price.
^.•
'^^'^diS^^^
*,
21
^
The plum can be planted from twelve to
fifteen feet apart, and wherever the curculio is
plentj it should be planted in a yard bjr itself (in
that case closer planting, saj ten feet distant,
will be more profitable) This yard should be
surrounded by a high paling or close board fence,
into which the poultry-house should open, and a
sufBcient number of fowls, in proportion to
the size of the ground, should be kept all
the year round. If this is not convenient
coops of fowls with young chickens should be
brought in the plum yard, and placed here and
there under the trees, when the fruit is com
mencing to form, and kept there till it is nearly
full-grown. I have found this a perfect protec-
tion from the curculio, two separate yards being
annually loaded with fruit ; while in the garden
adjoining, where chickens are not allowed to run,
and in my nursery grounds, I have never saved
a plum. No other mode, I am convinced, wir
preserve them where the curculio is plenty,
excepting laying sheets under the trees, and
jarring them daily for about a month after the
fruit commences to form, which is very trouble-
some and expensive, and is often rendered com-
paratively abortive by two or three days of
rainy weather (at the time when the curculio is
most plenty) preventing the usual jarring of the
trees, during which time nearly all the fruit
will be stung. The first mode, with the pre-
sent high price of chickens and eggs, will be a
source of profit, besides being a pleasure to many.
When thus grown, the plum-yard will require
neither manure nor culture, and will be all the
better of being seeded down with grass after the
trees have commenced bearing, as the fowls will
keep it closely eaten down, the grass being ne-
cessary for their health. Where so protected
the plum is liable to overbear, and the fruit
will be greatly improved by thinning sufficiently
to prevent the plums from touching one another
when ripe. When allowed to grow in large
clusters, pressing against each other, they are
very liable to rot at the time of ripening, and
the spores of the rot-fungus quickly spread over
all the tree, destroying sometimes nearly the
entire crop. The fruit when over-crowded is
also undersized and has little flavor.
The plum requires very little pruning. Where
growing very strong the young shoots that are
too long should be shortened, and any branches
that cross one another, and where too close in
the centre of the tree, should be cut out. It
also requires to be well manured, unless grown
as above recommended, so as to keep the tree
healthy and vigorous. Salt has been much
recommended as a manure, and also as a
preventive for the curculio. For the latter it
is worthless, and it should be used with great
caution as a manure. A friend killed all his
plum trees by spreading salt on the surface of
the ground, in the way advised by the principal
horticultural works. The plum is liable in some
localities to a disease called the black knot.
Whenever this occurs, the branch affected should
be cut off considerably below the knot, and
burned. But the strong, healthy-growing trees
are not liable to be attacked ; as parasitical in-
sects, by one of which it is probably caused,
seldom or never attack healthy trees, the feeble
and diseased being the most liable
SELECT OESCRIPTIVK LIST OF BEST PLUMS.
Oreen, Yellow, or While Pluma in order of
Ripening.
McLaughlin — Large ; greenish white, becom-
ing yellowish, marbled with red in the sun ;
flesh yellow, firm, juicy, very sweet and luscious ;
adheres to the stone. Middle to last of August.
Lawrence's Favorite.— Large ; yellowish green,
clouded with streaks of darker green, with a
few brownish red dots ; flesh green, remarkably
juicy, melting, and rich, free-stone; one of the
most delicious plums. August.
Guthrie's Apricoi. — Large ; bright golden
yellow, with a beautiful red cheek ; flesh
orange ; a little coarse, but very rich and deli-
cious ; adheres partially to the stone ; tree very
hardy, and one of the strongest and largest
growing kinds ; does not bear so heavily as
many ; fruit, therefore, always large and fine.
August.
Drap d' or d' Esper7u. —Meiinm to large ; oval
yellow with light streaks of green beneath,
which gives it a rather greenish appearance in
the shade; flesh yellowish, very tender, juicy,
and rich, free-stone. Last of August and Sep-
tember.
Grenn Oage. — Small, green with a tinge of
yellow at maturity dotted or marbled with red
on t exposed side ; flesh green, exceedingly
meltiiig and juicy, sprightly and luscious, has
always been considered the standard of high
excellence, separates from the stone. Being of a
slow growth and dwarfish habit in some places
it is liable to leaf-blight, and therefore cannot
be universally reconmicnded. August and
September.
.^S^^^f^jS^
■*
^
22
Washington. — Largest size ; oval, dull yel-
low, with faint marks of green ; flesh firm, sweet,
andluscious, separating from the stone ; tree too
tender for general culture. August and Sep-
tember.
LucomVs Nonsuch. — Large; round, gree.i,
flesh pretty firm, green ; sweet, juicy, and good ;
adheres slightly to the stone. This is a very
hardy, free-growing plum, which, with all the
properties of the green gage is much superior
for preserving, and well calculated to take its
place. August.
Jefferson. — Large, oval ; golden yellow, with
a purplish red cheek ; flesh orange, rich,
juicy, luscious, and high flavored ; separates
pretty freely from the stone. This fruit has
been praised more highly than it deserves.
September.
Outhrie's late Green. — Above medium to large,
round, dark green ; flesh greenish yellow, juicy,
sweet, and high flavored ; tree a strong thrifty
grower and excellent bearer ; in great demand
as a market fruit for preservmg, as it has all the^
qualities of the Green Gage, though not equal to
it as a desert fruit. September.
/A. Magnum Bonum, White. — Very large, oval,
Qv pale whitish yellow ; flesh sweet, firm, rather
\j\ coarse, but one of the best for preserving, parts
from the stone. This is the English Magnum
Bonum, quite different from the Yellow Egg of
this country, which is a clingstone, and much
inferior. September.
Reine Claude de Bavay. — Large round, green,
with stripes and splashes of darker green ; flesh
yellowish green, very rich, juicy, and melting,
separates from the stone. This is a very excel-
lent fruit, good for desert, and, on account of the
lateness, excellent for preserving. September
and October.
Coe^s Golden Drop. — Large, nearly equal to
the Magnum Bonum ; oval, light yellow, marked
with rich red spots on the sunny side ; flesh firm,
yellow, rich, r weet, and delicious, adhering to
the stone ; will not ripen well to the north. —
September and October.
PUKPLK, BED, OB BLUB PLUMS.
Diapree Rouge.— Large, oval, reddish-purple ;
flesh pale green ; juicy, very melting, rich, and
delicious ; one of the best ; separates freely from
the stone ; tree rather slow-growing. August
and September.
JUediterranean.-^L&Tgt, oval, bright orange;
in the shade covered with scarlet on the ex-
posed side ; flesh bright orange, firm, sweet, and
excellent ; tree a free grower, and great bearer,
— too much so, — fruit being liable to fall off
when over-loaded ; this is a variety of the Red
Magnum Bonnum, but is much superior and
fine for preserving. August and September.
Lombard — Large, oval, violet red, paler in the
shade, dotted with dark red ; flesh deep yellow,
pleasant and juicy, but not very rich; adheres
partly to the stone ; tr«e exceedingly hardy
strong, and vigorous ; great and constant bearer,
withstanding the attacks of the curculio
better than any other variety ; a very beautiful
and excellent market plum. August.
Diamond. — Very large roundish oval ; the
largest purple plum ; dark purple covered with a
fine bluish bloom ; flesh deep yellow, rather
coarse and dry; sweet though not high-flavored,
free-stone. Free strong grower, hardy and pro-
ductive ; an excellent market fruit, being good for
preserving or canning. September.
Victoria. — Very large, oval ; the most beauti-
ful of plums ; fine bright red ; orange red in the
shade ; flesh deep j ellow ; separates freely from
the stone ; of a good, moderately rich flavor ;
tree very productive ; one of the very best mar-
ket fruits, and excellent for preserving. Sep-
tember.
Smith's Orleans — Large, oval, reddish purple ;
flesh yellow, firm, juicy, but rather acid flavor ;
adheres very firmly to the stone ; tree one of the
most hardy and vigorous growers. September.
Damson Winter, — Small, round, black, with a
copious blue bloom ; flesh greenish yellow,
sweet, rather tcid at the stone, which adheres
closely. This is the best of the damsons ; tree
strong, healthy grower. October, hanging long
on the tree.
Prune d'Age :. — Above medium, oval, violet
purple ; flesh greenish, yellow, juicy, sugary, and
rich ; adheres slightly to the stone ; one of the
best for drying. September and October.
Fellenberg. — Large, dark-blue, with a bloom ;
flesh dark yellow, juicy, sweet, and good ;
separates from the stone ; this is as good as any
of the prune plums for those who wish to cul-
tivate them.
Farther north the time of ripening would be
a few days later than the above dates.
Several other varieties arc equally good with
these; but, not having proven them, they are
not included.
-^^^m^^^
-^
23
'¥.
LETTER SIXTH.
ON THE CHERRY.
the
rather
I
The cherry is the earliest of our fruits, com-
mencing to ripen early in June, and continuing
in season during that month and July ; some va-
rieties even ripening as late as August and Sep-
tember. Its delicious flavor, usefulness, and
healthfulness will always make it a popular
fruit. Unfortunately, the climate of a large por-
tion of Canada is too rigorous for the finer va-
rieties— the I . rt and Bigarreau cherries — to
thrive. The varieties of the Morello, and per-
haps a few of the Duke cherries, are the only
ones that succeed in Lower Canada.
A large portion of Upper Canada, more especi-
ally along the shores of Lakes Ontario, Erie, St.
Clair, and a part of Huron, and the rivers flow-
ing into them, is well suited for the culture of
all of the varieties. There is no reason why
the more favored parts should not cultivate suf-
ficient to supply the rest of Canada. The prin-
cipal drawback to this has been the ravages of
' the birds, from which in many places it is almost
I impossible to save the fruit. The only remedy
I for this is to plant plenty of trees, so as to have
j abundance of fruit for both the birds and your-
self; for it is a barbarous mode to try and
save cherries by destroying birds, as they
are of far greater benefit on account of the
immense numoer of insects they devour than
the fruit they destroy. The only exception to this
is the cedar bird or waxwing, commonly called
the cherry bird, which does not come from the
south, in general, till the cherry begins to ripen,
and leaves again when the difierent kinds of
fruit it likes are past. This bird never eats in-
sects (at any rate, as long as it can get fruit,
notwithstanding some accounts tr. the contrary
written by partial observers), k^ut will devour
an enormous quantity of fruit in a day, being
literally a glutton.
No tree grows faster or ':% more symmetrical or
ornamental than the Heart or Bigarreau cherry.
If it were planted in rows along the road-sides in
the fence corners, as in Germany, and even as
the U. E. Loyalists from Pennsylvania, who
early settled in Western Canada, did with the
Kentish and Morello cherries in many places, we
would have plenty and to spare, besides refreshing
the weary traveller. I asked a friend who had al-
ways plenty of the finest cherries, both for him-
self and market, how he preserved them from the
birds as I could save none of mine. He said
he had planted along the fence near his wood-lot
a long row of the common Kentish, and the birds
never came to the garden near his house to eat
the others till these were done.
The birds are nearly as fond of the berries of
the upright Tartarian honeysuckle, ripening at the
same time as the cherry, which is perfectly hardy
and makes the handsomest ornamental hedge of
any shrub. If used more for hedges, in cemeteries,
on lawns, and as screens, the fruit would supply
a great number of birds, and consequently, in a
measure, stvve the cherries.
The cherry requires a light loamy, or gravelly
soil; but it will also do on any good soil that is
dry, or in which there is not stagnant water in
the subsoil. Where that is present, the land
must be drained before planting. It requires
very little pruning, in fact after the head is once
properly formed, it only requires some of the
small wood in the centre of the tree to be thinned
out, or such branches as cross and bruise one
another removed.
Cherries may be devided into three classes, first
the Heart and Bigarreau, \yhich are virtually
the same in growth and appearance of the fruit ;
and, though one is tender-fleshed, and the other
more solid, there is not much distinction be-
tween them. The other classes are more dis-
tinct, viz., the Duke Cherries, which are of
slower growth than the Heart, and make smaller
trees, besides being more hardy, and the Morello,
which are quite distinct in their growth, having
slender and pendulous twigs or branches, and
are perfectly hardy.
The following list combines a sufficient num-
ber of the best in each of these classes for all
practical purposes of cultivation ; —
CLASS I. — HEART AND BIOARRBAU CIIEURIKS.
*•
Early purple Guigne. — This is the earliest
cherry, ripening the first week in June, when it
is purplish red, and sweet, but, if allowed to
hang a week longer, will nearly double in size,
becoming black and delicious. Tree hardy.
Belle d' Orleans. — This comes next in succes-
sion ; larger than the former, pale red, tender
exceedingly sweet and excellent.
KnigMs Early Black — Resembles the black
Tartarian, but ripens a week earlier ; large, black ;
^
^'
24
«
flesh T^urple, rich, juicy, and hign-flavored. Tree
sprr-'iding. Middle of June.
J)'ack Tartarian. — A superb, large fruit,
glossj', purplish black ; flesh purplish, rich, juicy,
and delicious ; tree erect and vigorous. Middle
of June.
Rockport Jiiffarreau.—La,Tge, bright red,
shaded with amber ; flesh rather firm, juicy, rich
sweet, and excellent. Middle of June.
Ohio Beauty. — Large, bright red; tree a
vigorous grower and great bearer ; an excellent
cherry. June.
Governor Trooi.— Large, yellow, shaded with
red, becoming nearly all bright red ; tender,
sweet, rich, and delicious. June.
Elton. — Large, pale yellow, with a delicate
red cheek; flesh nearly tender, juicy, rich, and
excellent ; one of the very best ; tree a free
grower and the hardiest ; it and the Early Purple
Guigne being almost the only varieties of this
class that will stand severe cold. June and July.
Bigarreau^ or Yellow Spanish. — Very large ;
whitish yellow in the shade, deepening to bright
red in the sun ; flesh pale yellow, firm, juicy,
rich, sweet, and delicious; tree vigorous grower.
June and July.
Black Eagle. — Pretty large ; deep purple,
nearly black ; flesh purple, rich, juicy, and highly
flavored. July.
Bigarreau Napoleon, or Holland Bigarreau. —
One of the largest cherries ; amber, marbled, and
dotted with dark red ; flesh very solid, but juicy,
with an excellent flavor.
Belle Agathe. — A new cherry, not yet proved
in this country, but worthy of trial on account of
its lateness ; medium size, bright red, sweet,
firm, yet juicy and agreeable ; ripens in Sep-
tember, and will hang on the tree if protected,
till October.
CLASS n. — DUKE CHKRBIBS.
May Duke. — Large, red, juicy, and fine; a
well known variety, ripening early in June, and
hanging long on the tre*?, with increasing excel-
lence.
Archduke. — Large, very rich, and good ;
ripens about ten days after the May Duke j tree
more pendulous when old ; the finest of the Duke
Cherries. June.
Duchesse de Palluau. — Large, dark red ; a very
large and robust variety of the Duke cherry, of
excellent quality. June.
Empress Eugenie. — Large ; an early variety of
the May Duke of the same quality ; ripens about
ten days before it. Not introduced into this
country yet, but deserving of trial.
The Belle de Choisy and Reine ITortense, be-
longing to this class, are in all the select lists of
other works, but though the fruit is fine, and
they make beautifully formed trees, they are such
poor bearers that they cannot be recommended.
CLASS III. — MORELLO CHERRIES.
Belle Magyiifique. — Very large, sub-acid, and
excellent ; hardy. August.
Kentish or Early Richmond. — The common red
cherry of the country ; medium bright red, be-
coming dark-red at maturity ; very hardy, and
prolific ; pleasant when ripe, and excellent for
cooking.
Morello. — Large, dark-reddish black, acid, and
rather bitter ; hardy and a great bearer ; only
fit for cooking.
IVouvelle Royale. — Large ; a cross between
the Kentish and May Duke ; more nearly allied
to the latter, with dark, glossy leaves ; the
latest and largest of the class (new), not yet in-
troduced, but may be found hardy and worthy
of trial.
Dwarf Cherries on the Mahaleb stock are the
best for garden culture. The Duke and Mor-
ello cherries are the most suitable for dwarfing ;
but the others, though growing larger trees, do
vei-y well. Orchard-house culture of the cherry
on this stock is much in vogue in England ; and
it might be advantageously practised in the
colder parts of Canada, where the finer kinds do
not succeed. As it is not the object of this work
to give directions for culture under glass, those
intending this mode of culture are recommended
to get the " Orchard House," by Thomas Rivers,
of the Sawbridgeworth Nurseries, Herts, Eng-
land, which can be procured from Messrs. Long-
man & Co., London.
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25
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LETTER SEVENTH.
ON THE PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, AND QUINCE.
THE PEACH.
The greater part of Canada is unsuitable for
the open air culture of the Peach, but along the
borders of our lakes and rivers, say from below
Toronto to near Goderich, in suitable soils and
localities, it can be brought to perfection; and
in sceral places in the more Southern parts of
the country, it could be grown as a profitable
crop for the market.
The tree requires a warm, dry soil. A rich
sandy loam with a porous subsoil is the best, and
next a good mellow loam ; though a rich clay
loam properly underdrained (which is essen-
tial to the peach culture in Canada) is con-
ducive to greater longevity of the tree ; and on
this soil, though the fruit is not so large, it is
much higher flavored and more juicy. In a
light, sandy soil the tree bears young and plen-
tifully, but is very short-lived. If the soil is
naturally rich it does not require higli manur-
ing, but in poor soil it should have au annual
toivdressing of manure late in fall.
In orchard-planting the trees coald bi plant-
ed at 15 feet apart each way; but 12 feot dis-
tance will be found sufficient if proper atten-
tion is paid to pruning, which merely consists
in shortening in each spring all the previous
year's shoots or young wood, to the extent of
from one-third to one-half, according to the
vigor of the tree, and cutting out any small,
weak growth in the centre of the tree. As the
Peach in favorable seasons is apt to greatly
overbear, causing the fruit to be small and in-
sipid, and greatly injuring the tree unless the
fruit is severely thinned out, the shortening
in system of pruning by reducing the crop fully
a third, saves all the evil effects of overbearing,
keeps the tree more healthy and within bounds,
while the fruit is much larger and finer flavored.
For planting, trees should not be more than
one, or at most two years old, and should be
well cut back to about two and a half feet
from the ground. Plenty of young shoots
will spring, of which, only the three best situ-
ated should be left to form the head of the tree,
which should be cut back the following spring
as above directed. While the trees are young,
hoed crops may be cultivated, taking care to
leave gufficient space round each tree free from
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cheek ;
crop. As soon as they begin to bear, no other
crop should be taken from the ground, which
should be kept mellow by regular ploughing,
harrowing, and cultivation, so as to keep it free
from weeds and grass, which injure the trees
more than regular cropping, and this remark
will hold good with all young orchards.
When the trees get stunted from any
cause, such as overbearing, lack of pruning or
manuring, so that the young wood is too weak
to bear good fruit, a good top-dressing of ma-
nure should be applied in fall, and early in the
following spring all the main branches should
be cut back, which will cause ii vigorous growth
of young wood, renewing the tree, and ena-
bling it to bear abundance of fine fruit.
The following is a list of the varieties that I
would recommend for open air culture : — For the
orchard-house, the slower-growing, high-flavored
varieties arebest ; as, thougli many varieties,
such as Early Crawford, produce beautiful,
large fruit under glass, they are in general in-
sipid, and greatly inferior to those grown in
open air.
The serrated-leaved peaches are liable to mil-
dew of the leaves in open-air culture. The
Early York and Rosebank are the least subject
to it Wthis class. Under glass the mildew does
not affect them, or can be easily cured. Those
with globose or reuiform glands at the base of
the leaves are more vigorous growers, and more
suitable for open-air culture, not being subject
to mildew.
PALE-FLESHBD PBACHES.
Ilaile's Early. — The earliest large Peach, a
new variety of great excellence ; strong, ro-
bust grower. All the other earliest peaches have
generally serrated leaves, and are subject to
mildew, which this is not. August; flowers
small ; leaves with globose glands.
Early York. — The earliest good Peach ; me-
dium-sized frui^ ; pale, yellov Mte, nearly
covered with pale-red dots ; red in the
sun; very tender, melting, ru and juicy;
leaves serrated without glands ; flowers large.
August.
Walters Early. — Large, ripening shortly after
Early York ; skin white with a beautiful red
melting, juiey, and excellent ; tree
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hardy, vigorous, and productive ; latter part of
August ; flowers small ; leaves globose glands.
Grosse Mir/nonne. — Large ; skin pale greenish
yellow, mottled with red with a purplish red
cheek ; melting, juicy, and rich ; one of the
best ; latter part of August ; flowers large ;
leaves globose glands.
BrevooTt. — Rather large ; pal'^ v lowish-
white, with briglit red cheek ; fl ly firm ;
rich, sugary, and fine-flavored ; early Sep-
tember ; llowers small ; leaves reniform glands.
George IV. — Large ; pale, yellowish-white,
finely dotted with red, deepening to a dark
red cheek in the sun ; very juicy, melting, witli
a rich, luscious flavor; early September. Ifaine's
Early Red, Large Early York, Honest John,
and some others, so closely resemble this that
they are not worth keeping distinct. They are
all fine Peaches, if not identical ; flowers small ;
leaves globose glands.
Rosebank. — Large ; pale greenish white, with
a beautiful dark-red mottled check ; melting,
rich, juicy, *and excellent ; one of the best ;
a moderate bearer ; fruit always large and fine ;
raised by the author ; early September ; leaves
serrated without glands ; flowers small;
Oldmixon Freestone. — Large ; pale yellowish-
white, marbled with red with a deep-red check ;
tender, with a rich, sugary, vinous flavor ; early
September ; flowers small ; leaves globose
glands.
TBLLOW-FLESHED PEACHKS. ■>
Crawford's Early. — Very large ; a splendid
Peach ; oblong ; skin yellow, with a bright red
cheek ; flesh yellow ; melting, sweet, and excel-
lent ; tree hardy, vigorous, and productive ;
early September ; flowers small ; leaves globose
glands.
Bergen's Yellow. — Very large ; skin deep
orange mottled with red, and dark-red cheek ;
flesh deep yellow ; melting, juicy, with a rich,
delicious flavor ; ripens early in September, a
little after the Crawford's Early ; finer flavor,
but not so great a bearer as it ; flowers small ;
leaves reniform glands.
CLING8T0N PEACHKS.
Oldmixon Cling. — Large, roundish oval ; skin
yellowish white, dotted with red, with a lively
red cheek; flesh pale white; melting, juicy,
rich, and luscious ; early September ; flowers
small ; leaves globose glands.
Large White Cling. — Large, round; skin white
■with a yellowish tint, dotted with red, with a
a light-red check on the sunny side ; flesh ten-
der ; melting, juicy, luscious, and high flavor-
ed ; September ; flowers small ; leaves globose
glands
THE NECTAt?INE
Rcrpiires the same soil and culture as the
peach, but being smooth-skinned is very liable
to attacks of the curculio ; it is also very liable
to rot on the tree at the time of ripening ; a
few trees may be planted by amateurs, but for
general sulture it cannot be made profitable.
For orchard-house culture under glass, it will
well repay all the trouble by its great beauty
and delicious flavor.
The following are the best varieties : —
Hunt's Taiony. — Medium size ; the best early
nectarine ; yellow, with a dark-red cheek ; flesh
yellow, rich and juicy, leaves serrated ; Au-
gust.
HarJwick Seedling. — Large ; pale green with
a violet red cheek ; melting, sweet, and good
flavor ; early September ; globose glands.
Large Early Vioht. — Large ; skin pale yel-
lowish green, ner.rly cohered with dark purplish
red, mottled with darker spots; flesh whitish;
mcUing, juicy, rich, and very high flavored ;
ripens early iu September ; flowers rather small ;
glands reniform. The Violette llativc or Early
Violet is very like this, but smaller and docs
not got grow so vigorously.
iVew White. — Large, round; skin white, with
sometimes a slight tinge of red where exposed
to the sun ; flesh white, tender, juicy, with a
rich vinous flavor ; ripens early September ;
flowers large ; glands reniform.
THE APRICOT.
The same remarks as those applied to the
nectarine are suitable for the apricot ; it is
equally liable to attacks from the Corculio, and
to jar the trees, as recommended for plums,
causes all the fruit to fall off; it is also more
tender than the peach or nectarine. In suit-
able localities a few trees might be planted in
the plum yard, where fowls are kept, as it
ripens very early, and is very beautiful. It is
peculiarly liable to be eaten by the Baltimore
Oriole and other birds.
For orchard-house culture it is well adapted,
as the tree is very productive, and can be easily
kept within bounds, while the great beauty and
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excellence of the fruit make it a very orna-
mental as well as valuable tree.
The best varieties are :—
Breda. — Rather small; skin orange ; darker
oranr,fe in the sun ; flesh, deep orange, ricli
and high-flavored ; it is rather more hardy than
the following, but not so good ; early August.
Large Early. — Medium size ; iiale orange in
the shade ; bright orange with some reddish
spots in the sun ; flesh orange, rich, and juicy ;
latter part of July.
Moor Park. — Fruit large ; orange with a
brownish-red cheek, mottled with numerous
dark dots ; flesh firm, bright orange, juicy,
with a very rich, luscious flavor ; early August.
Peach. — Largest size ; skin yellowish in
shade, but deep orange, mottled with dark,
brownish red in the sun ; flesh yellow, juicy,
rich, and high-flavored. Early August.
THE QUIXCE.
The quince is more hardy than the peach,
and will succeed farther north than it. It re-
quires a rich, deep, loamy soil, which should be
underdrained to insure good crops of fine fruit.
The tree should be trained to a stem two or
three feet high, after which it will require
very little pruning, except keeping down the
suckers or shoots from the lower part of the
stem. The fruit is greatly prized for preserves
and jellies, and always commands a high price
in the market. It might be profitably cultivat-
ed in many places in Canada, more especially
along the borders of Lakes Ontario and Erie,
and the Niagara and Detroit Rivers. It should
be planted from 10 to 12 feet apart; and
requires deep, rich cultivation, with an annual
dressing of manure. Salt is said to be very
beneficial along witli other manures, but care
must be had not to give too much ; a thin
sprinkling v, ill be sufficient, which should bo
applied in spring ; other manures are best ap-
plied in fall.
BEST VAHIETIES.
Angers. — Rather small, round, bright orange ;
a basket of this variety can hardly be dis-
tinguished at a short distance from medium-
sized oranges. Tree very vigorous, and of free
growth, being the only one suitable for working
the pear upon. This variety has beeu strangely
overlooked by cultivators. It is more easily
trained than any other variety, and tiio fruit is
excellent for preserves; it comes rather slow
into bearing.
Orange or Apple-Shaped. — Large, roundish ;
this is the most popular variety ; it stews ten-
der, and is of excellent flavor ; and is of a
bright golden color, equal in size to a large
apple.
Portugal. — Large, bright lemon color ; tree
a vigorous grower, and a great and early
bearer, but rather late in ripening, so that
it will not mature except in the more southern
parts. The variety generally described as the
Portugal is not the true one, which is very little
known in this country.
Kea's Seedling. — Very large ; a superb fruit,
averaging about one-third larger than the Apple
Quince ; of the same form and color, and equal
excellence ; a thrifty, vigorous grower, and
productive..
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28
LETTER EIGHTH,
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ON THE GRAP15.
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r
The grape is the most delicious and healthful
of fruits. Unfortunately, the finest varieties —
the European — can only be grown to advantage
under glass in this country ; the season being too
short to bring the best, such as Blacls Hamburg,
Bo wood Muscat, &c., to perfection, and the
climate being otherwise unsuitable, inducing mil-
dew of the leaves and berries.
Under glass even in cold vineries — i. e., with-
out artificial heat — these varieties come to great
perfection, and no doubt could be grown on a
large scale for the supply of the market, by those
skilled in their culture, so as to give a fair profit
on the capital and labor expended. As it is not
the object of this letter to treat of the culture of
the grape under glass, I will restrict myself to
the open-air culture for which the Native Gbapb
is admirably suited in many parts of Canada.
Very few of the native varieties commonly cul-
tivated are sufiiciently hardy or ripen their fruit
early enough to allow of their culture in the
greater part of Canada. Several are early
enough to ripen in favorable seasons as far north
as Montreal, but none, with the exception of the
Clinton (which is inferior), are hardy enough to
stand the rigors of a Canadian winter without
protection, except in the western portions of the
country ; but, as it is easy to cultivate the grape
80 as to give it protection during winter, this
need present no insuperable barrier to its suc-
cessful cultivation, if early enough varieties can
be procured.
Great advances in this direction have been
made of late years, and the Delaware, and more
lately the Adirondac, and probably some others,
will be found, except in very unfavorable seasons,
to ripen well through the greater part of Ca-
nada ; and, as new and earlier and hardier va-
rieties are raised, there is no reason why, even-
tually, good grapes should not be grown from one
end of Canada to the other.
Several varieties of the wild grape grow spon-
taneously, and ripen their fruit from far below
Quebec to the western extremity of the Province ;
those in Lower Canada ripening very early. By
judicious crossing of these with some of the
earliest and finest of the less hardy native va-
rieties, no doubt new varieties could be obtained
suitable for culture in the colder parts of the
Province. Something has already been done in
this direction ; Mr. Rogers, of Massachusetts, hav-
ing crossed the Charter Oak GTrape with pollen
from the Black Hamburg, from which he has
raised several fine varieties. His No. 4 is said
to be nearly as large and fine as the Black Ham-
burg, aud as early and hardy as the Dela-
ware. Probably a cross between it and the ear-
liest of the Lower Canada varieties might prc-
duce one perfectly hardy, requiring no protection
in winter in the severest latitudes.
The Concord, Adirondac, and Delaware would
also be useful to experiment with, though the
latter is rather weak-growing and small in the
berry for crossing with one still smaller.
At present we have varieties that with more
or less winter protection will succeed well in a
large portion of Canada West, and even as far
north as Montreal and Ottawa; while all along
the shores of the Detroit River, Lake Erie, the
Niagara River, and a portion of Lake Ontario,
where the soil is suitable, vineyard culture will be
found as profitable as any wb re on this Con-
tinent, with the exception of what are now called
the Grape Islands, at the upper end of Lake
Erie, while the largest of these, Pele Island,
nearly equal in size to all the rest, belongs to
Canada, and is as suitable for the vine as the
best of the others.
The soil most suitable for the grape is a well-
drained, strong, clayey loam ; and the nest best
is a strong, gravelly soil. In a low, black loam
or in a sandy soil they will not do so well. In
the clayey soil the fruit colors better, ripens ear-
lier, and is more full of the saccharine principle,
and is less liable to mildew than in the other
soils.
The exposure may be various at the west, but
towards the east and north it should be on a
south or south-westerly slope, fully exposed to
the sun for as much of the day as possible, but
protected by trees or screens from the cold
northerly winds. This has been found of great
benefit on the Grape Islands, where a belt of
trees is usually left along the shore on the ex-
posed sides of the islands. The winter on these
islands is as severe as on the main shore oppo-
site, and even considerably farther north, the
lake being an aally frozen over. What makes
them more suitable for the vine than elsewhere
is, that, being surrounded by water on all sides.
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29
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tbey are not liable to late spring and early fall
frosts, which are the greatest hindrances to the
profitable culture of the grape in this coun-
try. It is the ameliorating influence of open
water on the air that recommends the shores of
the great rivers and lakes for fruit-culture.
This benefit is lost at a very short distance back
from them, more especially on the northern
shores of the lakes ; hence the southern shores
are more suitable for fruit or vine culture, as the
coldest winds have to pass over the water to
reach them, and are warmed on the way. It is
this that makes the shore of Lake Ontario, from
Hamilton to Niagara, one of the best fruit-grow-
ing localities in Canada. If it were not for tlie
[;reat accumulation of ice at the northern end of
Lake Huron, the shores of that lake at the
southern extremity would be equally good.
For the garden culture of the grape it is more
difiicult to give suitable brief directions than
for the vineyard culture ; as the situations and
soil where they are required to be planted will
be so various in the former, while in the latter
no one will think of planting largely unless
everything is suitable.
A very common mode of culture is to make a
long arbor overarching a walk, planting vines
on both sides and training over it. This will
only succeed in the warmest parts of Canada,
and cannot be recommended ; as the vine on the
inner side of the trellis or arbor is not ex-
posed to the sun and air, and the ground under it
is kept damp, predisposing the vine to mildew.
A simple trellis, which may be such as is here-
after described for vineyard culture, running
north and south, so as to expose each side of
the vine to the influence of the sun, will be found
the best. Nothing should be grown for, at least,
four feet on each side of the trellis, that the sun
may have free access to the earth to warm it,
as much depends upon this for the proper ma-
turing of the fruit. A trellis set up against the
wall of a house (a brick wall is best), or a high
fence with a southerly exposure, will also be
"Tound excellent; and in towns where there is
not space for a garden, a few vines can be
grown to great advantage in this way, provided
there is sufficient space of good ground for the
rootc to extend in, and where, if necessary, the
vine can be laid down and protected during
winter.
Persons having a kitchen or low building
covered with a flat composition gravel roof,
may also grow a few vines to great advan-
tage, by training them up to a single cane
till they reach the roof, and then extending them
along the roof on a trellis about fifteen inches
above it. This trellis is easily made. All that is
necessary is to have blocks of wood six inches
square and fifteen inches long ; these are set on
end, in rows, on the gravel roof, and slats of
wood or strong wire nailed along them each
way, connecting the blocks together so as to
make them quite firm. I have followed this
plan for years, and find that the fruit grows very
large, ripens much earlier, and is much finer
flavored than those grown on the common trellis.
In the colder parts of Canada — unless the
vine is perfectly hardy — it will be necessary to
protect it during winter. The best way to do
this is to prune it as soon as the leaves fall, and
before winter sets in loosen it from the trellis,
lay it down on the ground, and cover it with a
few inches of earth. Litter or manure may be
put over the earth ; but, in no case, should these
be next the vine, as they tend to keep it too
damp. The vines should bo uncovered and
trained to the trellis as soon as the cold weather
is over in spring. The 1st of May will be early
enough in the greater part of Canada.
The training hereafter recommended for vine-
yard culture will be found very suitable for the
open trellis in the garden. More elaborate sys-
tems might be successfully adopted, but it is
difficult to give directions, without wood engrav-
ings, that will give an intelligent idea of what is
required.
VINEYARD CULTURE,
The mode adopted at the Grape Islands in
Lake Erie is probably the best.
The vines are planted in rows eight feet apart,
and from six to eight feet distant in the row, ac-
cording to the variety, the Concord being the
farthest apart. During the first, and often-
times the second year, they are trained to tem-
porary poles, the trellis being put up the second
or third spring. The trellis is made of stakes
or small posts set eighteen feet apart in rows
north and south, and from four to five feet
high. The posts at each end are larger
than the others, and are brai 1 so as to resist
the strain of the wire. The wire used is No. 9
annealed iron. In general only three wires are
used, though some use four ; where three are
used, the first one is placed eighteen inches from
the ground, the upper one four feet, and the
other intermediate. These wires are stretched
along the row and fastened at each post by a
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staple driven in so tightly that the wire is pre-
vented from slipping, thus avoiding sagging in
one place more than another, and distributing
the strain from contraction, &c., equally along
the whole line.
Where four wires are used, the bottom one is
placed fourteen inches from the ground, and
the others at equal distances apart. It takes
about twelve hundred and fifty pounds of wire
to an acre where four wires are used.
TRAININO THE VINE.
Wiien the vine is planted, all the canes but one
are cut close away, and only one cane from the
bud nearest the ground of the remaining one al-
lowed to grow. Some do not train it the first
year, but it is better to tie it up to a temporary
l)ole as it grows ; it requires no other pruning.
In the fall it is cut back to within a foot of the
ground, and covered with earth to protect it.
The second year allow two canes to ^row
from the buds nearest the ground, rubbing off the
rest. These should be trained vertically to the
trellis or pole, and if strong, each might be al-
lowed to bear one bunch of fruit. The laterals
that shoot from the bud at tl 8 axils of the leaves
of the young shoots, should be pinched off after
they have attained one or two leaves in length ;
this is only necessary for a short distance at the
lower end of the canes ; above that they may
grow as nature directs.
In the fall these should be cut back to three
buds each (or four to ineure three good buds),
from which six canes can be grown during the
third year, which are to be trained vertically on
the trellis. Each of these canes may be allowed
to bear two or three bunches of fruit ; the
laterals should be pinched off as before directed,
till the cane reaches the top of the trellis, when
it may be allowed to grow as it chooses. In the
fall three of these canes alternately are cut back
to two buds each, and the other three left three
feet long.
Fourth Year. — The canes cut back to two
buds each will produce six canes for fruiting the
fifth year. These are trained upright to the
trellis, and the laterals pinched out as before,
while the three canes left long are bent over the
middle wire in the form of a bow ; their ends
fastened to the lower wire ; this causes the buds
tp start more regularly. The vine is now con-
sidered fully established, and each bud on the
long canes will produ'ie a brancli which will
bear two or three bunches of fruit ; these
branches may bo stopped at the second leaf be-
yond the last bunch of fruit. In the fall the
tliree canes that have fruited may be cut entirely
away, three of the other canes cut back to two
buds each, and the other three, which should
always be the highest on the vine, left tnree feet
long as before.
The subsequent management is to cut out the
three bearing canca every fall, cut back three of
the young canes to two buds, and the other
three to three feet each. Each of the canes for
fruiting the following year may be allowed to
bear two or three bunches of fruit, which, with
the three bearing canes, will be as much as the
vine can bring properly to i)erfection. Very
little summer pruning is required except what
has already been directed. The water-shoots, —
that is the shoots springing from the main stem
of the vine — should be taken off entirely early in
June. After some years, the main stem of the
vine gets too high, in which case it is well to
select a coui)le of strong water-shoots near the
ground to renew it ; these are cut back to two
buds each at the fall pruning, and two canes are
permitted to grow from them the following
year. In the fall these are cut back to three
buds each, and the o)d vine above them cut en-
tirely away ; but it is best to renew only one
half of the vine at one time, leaving the other
half to the following jear.
Where it is necessary to protect the vines in
winter, they should be grown as low as possible,
to make it easier to bend them down and cover
with earth.
One great cause of success in the Grape Is-
lands before alluded to is, that they are on a
limestone forniation, the rock coming near the
surface, in some places too near for successful
culture. When the vine is planted in a very
deep, rich soil, or when the subsoil is a rich,
damp clay, the roots are induced to go too deep,
out of the influence of the sun. On these soils
the vine will flourish for a a few years, till the
roots get deep, when they will be liable to mil-
dew and other diseases. For such soils, deep,
thorough underdraining is indispensable.
Between the rows of the vines, the earth is
cultivated with the plough and cultivator in the
same manner as Indian-corn. Without perfectly
clean culture, success cannot be expected. Be-
fore the vines are planted the ground should be
well-manured by i)loughing in, after which, for
years at least, unless the ground is poor, they
will require no manure. Peep trenching, so as
to bring the subsoil to the surface, has been found
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injurious ; those planted after only common sub-
soil ploughing having dono best. Deep trench-
ing and manuring tend to draw the roots too
far down, as before-mentioned.
LIST or BK9T NATIVE ORAPIS.
In the Grape Islands the Catawba is the one
most cultivated, and the Isabella next ; but the
Concord is taking the place of the latter on ac-
count of its greater vigor and hardiness. The
Delaware is also getting more and more into
cultivation, but the former is considered the
most profitable ; and as if cannot be grown so
successfully on the mainland, back from the in-
fluence of the lake, there will always be a de-
mand for it from the Islands where it matures so
well.
As yet but few varieties can be recommended '
for general cultivation in Canada. The follow-
ing are the best and are placed in their order of
ripening : —
Adirondac. — This is a new grape of fair qua-
lity, and one of the earliest yet raised. At Mon-
treal in 18G0, though a most unfavorable sea-
son, it ripened in the open garden by the 14th of
September, at which time the Delaware was only
beginning to color. If it were perfectly hardy
it would be all that is required ; but it is not
more hardy than the Isabella, which is evidently
its parent. The bunches are of good size ; the
berries as large and of the same color as the
Isabella, but more round ; the flavor is good.
Delaware. — Bunches small, compact, gene-
rally shouldered ; berries small, round, light
red; skin very thin ; very sweet and delicious ;
almost without pulp ; pretty hardy, but h the
better of protection ; ripens in September. It
requires higher culture than the others, as it is a
weak and slender grower.
Ilart/ord Prolific. — Bunches and berries large ;
dark purple with a blue bloom ; pretty good in
quality, but with too much pulp. Berries apt
to fall from the bunch when ripe ; except for its
earliness it cannot be recommended, and it can-
not compare to those previously described.
Concord. — A very vigorous and hardy vine,
suitable for general culture in "Western Canada ;
bunch large and shouldered ; berries large,
round, almost black, covered with a full bloom ;
flavor good, though not first-rate. Horace Gree-
ley's prize of $100 for the best grape for general
cultivation was in 18GG awarded to the Con-
cord for its many good qualities.
CZj'nion.— Bunches small, compact; berriea
small, black covered with bloom ; it colors
pretty early, but is not fit to eat for a consider-
able time after. As it is perfectly hardy, and
will stand the winter without protection through-
out Canada, it is suitable for covering arbors,
&c. It is also extensively used for vineyard culture
in Canada. The Franklin, a seedling from this,
bids fair to be much superior. It is earlier,
larger in the bunch and berry, and better flavor-
ed, while equally hardy and otherwise aimilar.
Diana. — Bunches small ; very compact ; light
red ; sweet and good flavored, but not a hand-
some color, and liable to become opaque when
the bunches are exposed to the full sun ; a very
strong grower, but does not ripen its wood well.
Some prize it very highly, bat it cannot be re-
commended for general culture.
Isabella. — Bunches large , berries large ob-
long ; when well-grown, nearly round ; dark
purple, nearly black, covered with a blue bloom ;
flavor good. In the west, except in very severe
seasons, it stands the winter without protection;
it will only ripen well in the more favored lo-
calities, and will soon be replaced with the Adi-
rondac and others.
Catawba. — Bunches large, sIiOl ^-d ; berries
large light red, becoming darker when fully ripe.
A very excellent grape, much more hardy than
the Isabella, requiring little or no protection at the
west, but ripening too late to succeed anywhere
except along the shores of the Detroit and
Niagara Rivers, Lake Erie, and a small part of
Lake Ontario ; this is the great wine grape of
Ohio and the Grape Islands.
NBW VARIBTIBS NOT YBT SCFFICIKNTLY TBSTKD,
BDT WHICH PR0MI8B WBLL.
Rogers Hybrid, No. 4. — This is a new grape,
which I have not yet proven ; but it is said by
those who can be depended on to be very fine.
Bunches and berries very large, resembling the
Black Hamburg, one of its parents. Quality
very good ; said to be as early and hardy as the
Delaware. If on further proof it is found equal
to the description, it will be very suitable for
general cultivation. Rogers, Nos. 15' and 19
are also said to be good.
lona and Isarella. — These are new varieties
raised by Dr. Grant, of lona, New York, and
have been much prized on account of their ear-
liness and quality. The first is a dark purple
grape, the last a light red, and botli bid fair to
be acquisitions, more especially the last.
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32
LETTER NINTH.
'^.
ON THE GOOSEBERRY, CURRANT, RASPBERRY, AND BLACKBERRY.
THE GOOSEBERRY.
Thorc are two drawbacks to the successful
and profitable culture of this fruit in this coun-
try,— the miMew and the caterpillar, to which
may be added in some localities the birds. The
Baltimore Oriole, and the Scarkt Tanagor, two
of our most beautiful birds, are very fond of
this fruit, and for years I have not been able to
get a ripe berry, and have therefore not Vjcen
able to test the different varieties as I could
have wished.
Some of the English varieties, such as the
Whitesmith and a few others, do not appear to
be subject to mildew, while the Houghton seed-
ling, and some other crosses with the American
wild gooseberri??, are perfectly exempt.
Different localities, and even different parts
of the same grounds, are much more free from
it than others, for which there is no way of ac-
counting.
The small green caterpillar, and more lately
the Britijih gooseberry caterpillar, have in-
creased to so great a degree in some places,
that the leaves of both the gooseberry and ,
currant are entirely eaten off before the fruit ,
is ripe, and the crop is lost. Patience in '
clearing the bushes of these pests by hand- |
picking, or other contrivances, or by waiting I
till they disapjjear through natural causes, ;
which they in general do sooner or later, is the I
only remedy.
The gooseberry requires good, rich soil, well-
manured annually, as, unless it grows strongly,
it is apt to suffer from the great heat and
droughts of our summers, and the fruit becomes
small and inferior.
The best mode of pruning is very simple ; all
suckers rising from the bottom of the stem
should be taken off early in the season, and a
portion of the old wood should be cut out an-
nually, leaving younger to take its place, tak-
ing care not to have the centre filled up with
small wood. As a general thing it is better
after the bushes have grown six or seven years,
to root them out, having new plantations com-
ing on to replace them.
BEST VARIETIES OP OOOSEBERniEg.
The following are amongst the best varieties ;
but, except by trial of many of the best varie-
ties, it id impossible to tell which are the most
suitable for the climate in any given locality.
Some of the large, smooth Lancashire varieties
are apt to spoil with the sun, getting opaquo
and sour. Instead of remaining transparent and
s'veet.
The smaller varieties are probably more suit-
able here, and they are also finer flavored.
The following can be recommended : —
SMALL HIOH-FLAVORED BERRIES.
Champagne Red, Green Gage Smooth,
Champagne Yellow, Keen's Seedling Red,
Early Hairy Green Ironmonger Red,
Gage, Warrington Red.
AMERICAN VARIETIES.
Houghton's Seedling Reddi'sh,
American Seedling,
and sub-varieties of these.
These are crosses between the small, smooth,
wild gooseberry, and the English ; they arc
weaker and more slender growers than the
English, very thorny, and the fruit small ; but
it is better for preserving, being richer and more
aromatic in flavor.
I have raised some very fine varieties, hy-
brids between the wild prickly-fruited variety,
and the Euflish, or rather from seed of the ori-
ginal hybrid, again crossed with the best Eng-
lish.
These varieties grow very strong ard up-
right,-the young shoots covered with light yel-
lowish-brown spines ; the fruit is of various
sizes and colors, some smooth and some hairy ;
i many of them are of excellent flavor, and I
think will be found more suitable to the climate
and great acquisitions. I have not yet beon
able to test them suflRciently as to productive-
ness.
BEST LANCASHIRE PRIZE SORTS.
Bed. — Atlas, Crown Bob, Hopley's Champion.
White. — Ostrich, Wandering Girl, White-
smith.
Green. — Angler, Conquering Hero, Thumper
Riley's.
Yellow. — Bank's Dublin, Husbandman, Pilot.
Many others, however, are probably equally
as good as these. The Whitesmith is the surest
variety for a large crop of choice fruit. The
Early Sulphur will not answer in this climate.
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THE CUKRANT.
Tlio cultivatidii of this fruit is so eiisy and
wcll-kuowu that it in waste of .space to d»Vell
ou it; but if fine, very largo berries are want-
ed, they must ho well-manured, and pruned
more or loss, cutting out all the suckers, and
(he old wood when it has borno a few years,
and pruning about a third off the ends of the
stronger young shoots annually, keeping up a
good supply of two-year-old wood for bearing.
The following varieties are the best : —
Black Naples. — This is the best black, being
thi^ largest and longest keeping, as also the
most hardy.
White Dutch. — When got true, — which isdifli-
ciilt, — is the best white, both us regards flavor
iiud vigorous growth.
White Grape. — Very large, beautiful, and fine.
Cherry. — Red ; largest of all, a little too acid
and not just so hardy, but very beautiful and
good.
Lon^Bunched Red Dutch ; Fertile de Paluau,
— These are nearly similar ; very large, fine,
and extremely productive.
La Versaillaiae. — Red, very large, and abund-
ant bearer.
Victoria or Houghton Castle. — Rod ; a good
late variety, with long bunches, but not so
vigorous a grower as others.
La Jlativc— Red ; is a very early and excel-
lent variety.
THE RASPBERRY
Succeeds well on almost any soil except a
stiff cold clay. It should be protected in win-
ter by carefully bending down the canes,
and covering them with earth. In Lower Ca-
nada they do well by merely layitg down and
putting billets of firewood over them, the deep
snow being gufiBcient protection.
They should be planted in rows four feet
apart, and from three to four feet in the row.
The common way of training is to tie the
bearing canes of each plant to a pole about four
feet high every spring ; but the fruit will be
finer and more easily gathered if the canes arc
more spread out. A good plan is to put wooden
or iron stakes — the last are the best, and if
pointed are eaiily planted— about twelve feet
apart in the row, along which two wires, such
as are used for grape trellii, or smaller, are
stretched, — the highest about two and a half or
three feet from the ground, — and attach the
canes to these in a fan shape.
After the fruit is gathered (or in the fall) the
canes that have borne should bo cut down close,
and the weakest of the young canes of the same
season pulled out ; leavicg only four or fire of
the strongest canes for bearing next year, which
in the following spring should be shortened to
from three to four feet, according to their
strength. Anaimual top-dressing of manure is
fall i.'< requisite for their successful culture. Tho
ground among them should not be dug.
The best varieties are Red AntToerp, Yellow
Amwerp, Fastolff, red. Prince of Wala, red.
Tho Philadelphia, and Brinckle's Orange are
also excellent, hardy, aud good varieties.
There are several varieties of autumn-bearing
raspberries, the best of which are October Red,
and October Yellotn, or Merveille des Quatre Sai-
sons. To make them bear well in fall, tho canes
should be cut close down in spring, as it is on
tho young shoots that spring from these that '
tho fruit is borne ; as too many young shoots
arc apt to come up, the weaker ones shonld be
pulled up, leaving the others about a foot apart.
THE BLACKBERRY.'
TLe New Rochelle or Latoton is the one prin-
cipally cultivated; it succeeds very well in
general, though in some soils the cane is not
sufficiently hardy ; the fruit, unless very ripe,
is too acid.
The Kiltaniny is in much request now, and is
said to be much superior to tho Lawton.
Owing to the roots sending up suckers all
over, and the strength and length of the cane^.
it is hard to keep them within bounds in the
rows, so as to get at them easily to gather tho
fruit : they must be kept open by repeated
ploughing between the rows.
The formidable character of tho prickles on
blackberries renders it somewhat disagreeable
to tend them.
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84
LETTER TENTH
ON THE STRAWBERRY.
-^
No fruit, with the exception of the apple, in
80 generally iiaed as the strawberry ; its easy
ctiltiiro ami great produrtivenes.i, together
with itd delicious flavor and wholosomencBS,
has made it almost a necessary of life during
its season, while it is largely iu demand for
preserves.
The cultivation of the strawberry has con-
sequently increased enormously, but it has not
kept ])ace with the demand, and hence the price
has been gradually increasing, instead of dimin-
ishing.
The improved methods of packing, and facili-
ties for sending the fruit safely great distances
by railway, have greatly increased the consump-
tion and prolonged the season, as those raised
towards the south are sent north before the fruit
here is ripe, while those raised at the north are
sent south later in the season.
The cultivi .ion is very simple, and almost
any good ground, if well manured, will produce
them in perfection.
The ground should be prepared during sum-
mer by ploughing in (if for field culture) a good
coating of well-rotted manure ; it should be fre-
quently ploughed so as to have the manure well
mixed, and the ground in good tilth, free from
weeds, by the season for planting, which should
be latter end of August or September. Wait
for a good rain and then plant at once in rows
from 2^ to .3 feet apart, and from 12 to 14
inches in the row. Three feet apart is none too
much.for Wilson's Albany, and equally strong-
growing varieties, while 2 J feet will be sufiRcient
for La Constante and other weaker-growing
ones. They need no further cultivation till the
following spring, except hoeing them should
weeds appear ; for the strawberry does not re-
quire the ground to be kept loose, rather pre-
ferring a compact soil, as may bo seen by the
strongest runners growing in the alleys of the
beds. As winter approaches each row should
be sJ'ghtly covered with straw or litter, but not
sufficiently thick to prevent your seeing the.
green leaves peeping through here and there ;
if too thickly covered, the leaves get blanched
before they are uncovered in spring, and the
crop is materially injured.
If the plants were got in early enough to make
a good growth the same fall, a fair small crop
will be got the next season. After it is gather-
ed, the plough with a very sharp coulter should
bo run lightly bet";oen the rows from time to
time, so at to cut off all runners, and the culti-
vator and hoe used to keep down the weeds.
The following year will give the greatest and best
crop, and it will not be advisable to take more
than three crops off the same rows, but the
bed can bo renewed by spreading manure be-
tween the rows the third season, cultivating it
in, and allowing runners to grow. In the fal!
the old row is ploughed down, and a strip of
the runners between the old rov.'s allowed to
grow for the two next years' crop, after which
the whole should be ploughed down, having a
new plantation coming on to replace it.
In September, 18G5, I planted a large piece
of ground that was in cabbages and cauli-
flowers, with strawberries, a row of strawber-
ries being put between every row of cabbages,
the shade from which protected them from the
sun. When the cabbages were cut the stalks
were left in the ground and the loose leaves lit-
tering about; they had no other protection.
But as the winter was severe without snow,
they would have been better of some. The
ground has never been ploughed or cultivated
since, merely hoed to keep down the weedr ; the
lunncrs have been allowed to grow so that the
land is fully covered with strong, fine plants,
and the prospect of aa enormous crop next sea-
son is almost certain ; after the crop is off they
will be ploughed into rows again, and kept
clean for the next year.
Market gardeners could, without any loss of
ground, easily thus plant strawberries amongst
cabbages, as the manuring for the latter is suf-
ficient for the strawberry also.
Wilson'i Albany is, without doubt, the best,
for market purposes, of any strawberry we now
have. Its great productiveness, — double that of
any other variety, — its hardy, vigorous growth,
and good carrying qualities, — make it the only
one I can at present recommend for general
cultivation for the market. Several other va-
rieties are very good, and of better flavor
(though as they are principally used with ice-
cream, sugar and cream, &c., and for preserv-
ing, a little more acidity makes no material dif-
ference), but none of them are so hardy, ripen so
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35
best,
mow
3at of
3Wth,
only
Ineral
va-
lavor
ice-
fcserv-
dif-
benso
parly, and continufi rlprning bo long in auccra-
uion UH the \Vilaon'n Albany.
The AgricuUuTixtf J)owner't,and liusnell'i J'r»-
lijici, 7'riomphe de (Hand, Due de Malakof,
Bonti de St. Julien, &c., tliuugh all (^ood anil
ns^riil I'or nniatcur.i, jre not to In- reromnii'inlcd
fur the market. The only other variety that
now jfrows is La Cotutante, a v<>ry line, very
large, Holid-fruitod, and very late variety. Tiie
])lant.s are dwarf, lint, robust and hardy. Tbio
Hortbear.4 a fair crop, whirb, coniinp; in latr,al-
way.H comniands the hij;he.st price, as it bears
carriage well.
LETTEll ELEVENTH
ON TIIE PROFITS OP FRUIT-CULTURE, MARKETING, ETC.
'k *
pnopiTS.
The profits of frnit-cnlture, when carried on
with skill and nndivided attention, are large ;
but when it is merely tried in connection with
general farming or other employm nts, it will
usually prove unsatisfactory. The apple is
the only fruit that the farmer can cultivate to
advantage for the market, and at the same
time attend to the ordinary crops and labors
of the farm. Where the other kinds of fruit
are largely cultivated (and unless largely cul-
tivated, 80 as to make it worth while sending
to the best markets, it will not pay well) they
take so much time and skill, that unless the
whole attention of the fruit-raiser is devoted to
the business, it will not be done well.
Many of the small fruits require so much
cheap labor to pick them for daily market, that,
unless in the neighborhood of towns where
children can be got to pick them, they cannot
be profitably grown on a large scale ; and fruit-
farms should, at any rate, be in the neiglibor-
hood of large cities, or near water or railway
communication.
In horticultural works and periodicals, in-
stances are often given of the great profits to be
derived from fruit-culture, but to collect these
accounts together would be only apt to mislead
the new beginner and lead to disappointment.
The fruit-grower must make up bis mind to
have unprofitable years as well as profitable,
as an overcrop one year will usually cause a
poor crop the next, or the severity of the win-
ter may injure or destroy the blossom buds,
or they may be injured by late spring frosts
while in blossom. SuCSce it to say, that, with the
necessary capital and knowledge, a well-situ-
ated fruit farm with a suitable soil and climate,
will pay as well as, or better than, any other
business that could be engaged in with tlic same
means, while it is a respectable, healthy, and
delightful employment. This has been fotind
the case wherever it has been properly gone
into, and fortunes have been made from it in al-
most every section of the United States. In
Canada we have been very backward in this
matter, but people are thinking more of it, and
it only lacks the necessary knowledge which
these letters are in a measure intended to sup-
ply, to induce the cultivation of fruit as a busi-
ness for the market.
Lauds in the Lake Erie Grape Islands suitable
for grape growing, are now worth from $;;io to
$400 an acre, and are eagerly bought up at the:>o
prices, principally by intelligent Germans,
who make an easy, pleasant, and profitable live-
lihood out of three to five acres planted in
vines.
Strawberry and other small fruit culture has
been also very profitable in the neighborhood of
the large cities ; w. .le the peach, in suitable lo-
calities, such as at St. Joseph, in Michigan, has
proved exceedingly profitable, the crop from
a ten-acre orchard in good seasons bringing
from six to nine tliousand dollars delivered on
the grounds.
Much delay and disappointment has been
caused from parties engaging in fruit-growinjr
who knew at first very little about it. Many gave
it up before succeeding, and those who wee suc-
cessful only learned by dear-bought experience
what were the best varieties to cultivate, and
the proper way to do it. It has been my object
in these letters to give the new beginner the
benefits resulting from a long and careful expe-
rience, so that with proper attention he will be
certain of success, and be as well advanced in
knowledge at the commencement as many
others are after years of failure. ,
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36
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I'l 1
MARKKTING, ETC.
At first I intended giving directions at length
for the proper gathering, pacliing, and market-
ing of fruits; but, on consideration, I tliiulvitwill
be useless, as the improvements from year to
year are so great, botli in tlie packages in which
tlic different kinds of fruit are packed, and in
tlic mode of transportation to market, that any
directions given now would be superseded by
better methods long before the fruit from trees
planted now would be ready for market. The
new beginner must, therefore, when the time
arrives, ascertain from the fruit-dealers in the
larger cities, the best methods of marketing
their fruit.
As many farmers, however, have large bear-
ing orchards of apples at present, it may be
well to give a few hints on gathering and mar-
keting that fruit ; and Pears, when in sufficient
quantity, should be treated in the same way.
The fruit shoidd Ix", carefiUly gathered by
hand, and packed as gathejred into new flour
biirrels ; old Hour-barrels that liavc held flour l)e-
ing unsuitable, as tiie fruit will neitlier kcefi nor
look well iu them. Many carefully gatlier tln^
fruit from tlie ijouglis, and pitch it carelessly into
the basket or barrel ; while otliers, after carefully
filling tlieir basket, emjity it into Uie barrel,
tluis more or less bruising all the fruit, and
sjioiling it for long-keepi.'i'r. Ajjplcs should be
handled as carefully as eggs. As the barrels
are iilled, they should be gently shaken, so as
to fdl the barrel quite full, and tlien be lieaded
up 'ind put into a c;^ol shed or outbuilding till
time to send to market, or jjut in tlie cellar ;
which latter should be jjcrfectly dry, cool, auil
dark. Fruit gathered and packed iu this way
is worth fifty per cent, more than iu the usual
way that ii is done iu Canada.
LETTER T W E T. F T IT
GENERAL REMARKS.
In concluding these letters, it may be well to
dwell a little more at large on the suitability
of Canada for a frnit-growing country, and
the benefits to be derived from planting and
cultivating fruit.
The*fruit-growing portion of Canada may be
flaid to extend from its southern extremity in
latitude 42 to the 4'ith degree of North latitude.
Except in very favorable localities the apple
will not succeed further north, and iu un-
favorable ones it will not thrive even as far
north as 46", though some otlier kinds of fruit
will.
Owing to the greater part of Western Canada
being surrounded by the great lakes, and East-
ern Canada having the valleys of the St. Law-
rence and Ottawa, the climate is much more
favorable for fruit-raising than at the same lati-
tudeSj or even further south in the interior
ofthe United States removed from the in-
fluences of these waters. It will thus be Sk^en
that we have ample space within our bounds of
the richest soil, and most favorable climate, for
raising the greater part of the finest fruits
grown iu temperate climes.
Montreal was long famsd for the finest and
best apples raised on this continent ; its Fauieusc,
St. Lawrence, Pomme Grise, and others, have
never been equalled, let alone surpassed ; and
though of late years the trees have not been ap-
parently so hardy there, it is not so mucli
caused by a change of climate as tlie cater-
pillar, which for years back destroyed tlie leaves
annually, thereby greatly weakening the trees,
and making them unable to withstand severe
winters. Laist year this pest had, in a great
measure, disappeared ; and tiiere is no reason
why both the valleys of the St. Lawrence and
Ottawa should not be covered with thriving
orchards if projier precautions for shelter and
the destruction of insects were adopted.
There is no difficulty in growing fine frnit; it
is both a healthy and pleasant pursuit, and a
little practical knowledge after reading these
letters will enable beginners to do it with suc-
cess, so that they will have abundance for the
use of their OAvn families, and a surplus to dis-
pose of.
Ihit, to insure satisfactory results, the plant-
ing should be general throughout a locality, as
there is nothing more discouraging to the en-
terprising fruit culturist who has been the
pioneer in planting and cultivating a small
orohard in a new part of the country, or where
*•
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37
fniit. liad not provionsly boon frrown, than to
find, as soon as the n'sults of his care antl
labor are beginning to be realized, by his treos
coniniencing to bear, that his orehard is in-
vaded, his fruit stolen, and his trees broken
down, jirobahly by the sons of his nearest neigh-
bors. But this will bo always more or less the
rase until planting becomes general, when each
family will find itself interested in discouraging
such conduct.
The enterprising and intelligent fruit-grower
(and it requires enterprise and intelligence to
succeed in any business) who is willing to
devote his ■whole energies to that end will
always succeed ; and, besides being really a pub-
lic benefactor, will ac(juire as handsome a com-
petence as he could from the same amount of
skill and capital invested in other business,
and with much less risk of loss than he would
in commercial pursuits.
Hut it is not the fruit culturist alone that will
bi; benelited : the mass of the people in our
oities, towns, and villages, who at present have
^^ notiiing like an adequate sup|)ly, will also be
1 benefited by having abundance of fine fruit
r< liroiight within their reach and means.
Hut it is still more important for the farmer
or owner of a smaller lot of land to at once go
into fruit-raising, which need not be on a largo
scal(! at first. In many parts of the country,
more ( ■.,,ecially in the eastern, few or no fruit
trees have been planted, and the inh.abitantsare
•jitlier entirely dependent upon wild fruits, or
on those imported from a distance, which ar«
high in price, and, probably from long carriage,
inferittr in cpiality ; or, as is more often the case,
have to do without entirely.
Now every farmer should have abundance of
fruit and to .spare, on his own farm, as it is con-
ducive to both the health and comfort of his
family, and everything that tends to make home
pleasant and comfortable should be encouraged.
No wonder that the farmers of Lower Canada
when they visit the United States and see the
farm homes there imbedded in thriving orchards,
and eompare them with their own bleak and
cheerless homesteads without a tree of any kmd,
in many i)lace8, near them, — no wonder, I say,
that they wish to emigrate to what they suppose
U) be more fertile lands and genial climes ;
when the fact ia that their own country and
homes could bt^ made ecpially as pleasant by
ado]ning the same means.
In many parts of Eastern Canada it is sup-
^
posed that the apple will not grow well on the
old cleared farms, owing to the soil being worn
out, and that only rich newly-cleared lands are
suitable for it. If this theory were correct, it
would be equally ap])lieable to Western (Janada,
where, it is well known, such is not the cass.
The idea, however, is, no doubt, in a measure
correct, though from a different cause than su])-
posed. It is the surrounding woods sheltering
the new farms from the cold winter that makes
the i)rincipal difference ; and too much stress
cannot be placed upon proper shelter from
woods or belts of trees, as being more thaaanj-
thing else what is required for successful fruit-
culture in Canada, and even much further
south.
If those going on new farms would bear this
in mind, and in the process of clearing leave
belts of trees on the sides exposed to the coldest
winds, they would find their account in it both
as regards fruit-growing, stock-raising, and
grain-growing. The present custom in clear-
ing farms is to begin at the front on the conces-
sion line, and clear off everything in the shape
of a tree till they come to near the rear of the
farm, where a portion is left uncleared, to give
them a future supply of firewood, &c. A much
better plan would be to leave a strip or belt of
trees down each side as well as in the rear, and ''
also in the front if that is the coldest exposure.
The large trees from these belts could be cut out
as required, leaving the second growth to .shoot
up, which makes by far the best shelter. These
remarks apply more especially to the more level
farms ; hilly ones will require to be sheltered
in conformity with the exposure of the land, and
the hills themselves afford excellent shelter,
which is one reason for the thriving of orchards
on hill sides.
A pretty dry soil, the result either of na-
tural or artificial drainage, is essential also to
the preservatiiJU of fruit trees from the severity
of the climate of Canada.
On old cleared lands, the best mode, under
the particular circumstances of each case, should
be adopted. In many instances, a good shelter
could be had by having the dwelling-house
and some of Se ont-buildings on one side, and
the barns and stables op the other side of the
orchard ; the other sides, if sheltered by hills or
trees, would make it complete ; or, in case of
need, a belt of evergreens and other trees
might be planted.
It is very necessary that the orchard should ba
-4^^S^>?2^
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¥■
38
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near tbe house and out-buildings, so that fowls
and pigs could have the run of it to pick up in-
sects and fallen wormy fruit; but, in this case
care should bo taken to ly,ve a good fence be-
tween the barn-yard and it, to prevent cattle
getting in. Too many have only a poor or tem-
porary fence between them, and in winter the
cattle have the run of the orchard, browsing on
and destroying the trees. Sheep, even, can be
permitted to run in a young bearing orchard,
with good advantage, if proper precautions
are taken to have the branches 30 high
from the ground that the sheep cannot reach
them, and the stems protected in the following,
or some other manner, to prevent them from
gnawing the bark of the trees :^
A very simple mode of protection is to take a
section of bark from a young elm or other suit-
able tree, say of six inches in diameter, and
of the neccpsary length to reach from the
ground to the branches. This can easily be done
by cutting two circles through the bark at the
proper distance apart, and then slitting it up
on one side, when it can easily be removed. The
bark will at once contract loosely round the stem
of the fruit-tree, and will bo found a perfect
protection from sheep, or from wild rabbits in
parts of the country where they are plentiful ;
and it will also be a great protection from frosts
in winter, as it is the action of the bright sun
on the frozen stem, more especially at the snow
line that causes the greatest injury from the
alternate freezing and thawing of the bark.
No young orchard (unless growing very
strongly) should be aeeded down to grass till the
trees have commenced to bear. Previous to that
time, it should be cultivated with hoed crops
that require manuring annually. In no
case should grain of any kind (except Indian-
corn) be sown, as it is destructive to or-
chards ; more of which are permanently injured
from this cause than any other ; but where from
any cause it may be snlvisable to seed it down
earlier, a space of from four to six feet in dia-
meter round each tree should be kept clear from
grass ir weeds by repeated digging or hoeing
till the trees fairly commence to bear ; and where
root crops or Indian-corn are planted, it is
equally necessary to leave that space round
each tree unplanted, to be kept perfectly free of
weeds.
Some think that seedling apples are more
hardy and bear better than grafted ; but even
were such the case (which it is not if proper
varieties are scleci^d) it cannot be advisable to
plant them, as the fruit is comparatively worth-
less, and any surplus cannot be profitably sold.
They are also, in general, of much slower growth
than the better varieties of grafted fruit, while it
costs as much to cultivate the worst as it
does the best varieties.
Should the directions given in these letters,
which are derived from upwards of thirty years'
practical experience, enable the intending
fruit-grower to plant and cultivate trees satis-
factorily and profitably, they will have served
the end I had in view in writing them.
JAMES DOUGALL,
Windsor, C.W., March, 1867.
^
-^=^^5^?^=^
THE
OOlMff»ffBN-OEr> 1645-0,
Devoted to the best interests of the people, temporal and eternal,
Imt connected with no party or denomination,
JS ISSUED IN THE POLLOWINQ EDITIONS :
DAILY WITNESS, by mail, $3 per annum.
MONTREAL WITNESS [Semi-weekly] $2 "
WEEKLY WITNESS $1
AIL ly ADVANCE; AND THE PAPER STOPS WHEN THE SUBSCRIPTION
EXPIRES.
PUBLISHED BY
JOHN DOUGALL & SON,
MONTREAL.
THE CANADIAN MESSENdER,
A FORTNIGHTLY PERIODICAL,
DEVOTED TO
EIDTJO-AuTIOnsr,
TEIs/IFEIl-A.3>TCE,
-A.a-E,iaTjriTTJE,E, and
Price, Twenty-five Cents per Annum.
A Club of Nine Copies sent for Six Months for One Dollar.
The <« Canadian Messenger*' goes Free tbrongli the JUalls
xjistxiIj j-A.3srxj-A.ii-x' 1, laee.
PUBLISHED BY
JOHN DOUGALL & SON,
MONTREAL.
¥
M
m
mm
■1W"
f)
'^^^
-CsJO^t^
mtmuataatmmLm
'■^
WINDSOR NURSERIES.
i
JAMES DOUGALL,
-vsrzi^jDsoiR, oisrx..
Offers for Ralo a ttiic Stock of FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, VINES, Ac, at
very low prices, fou cash, consistiug iii part of:
APPLES -STANDARD.— From two to seven years oUt, the latter In a bearing state, of all the
best varieties, principally budcletl (not root-grafteil) trees.
APPLES— DWARF'.— A large and very fine Stock of all the best varieties on the Doucln Stock
(the Puraillse Stock being unsuitable for this cllmiitf) from two to six years old. The older
ones are in a bearing slate, and will bear transplanting well.
PEARS^-STANDARD.— The best leading varieties.
PEARS— DWARF.— A large stock of over 30O varieties, including all the best kinds, from two to
six years old, principally commencing to bear. Being grown on a heavy soil, without
manure, the trees are short-jointed and hardy, and will bear transplanting into any soil
with safety, which trees raised on light, heavily-manured soil will not do.
— ALSO —
( ; PLUMS, PEACHES,
CHERRIES, (iUINCES,
GRAPES, CURRANTS,
Of Ai^L THE Best Varieties.
^
STRAWBERRIES, Ac, &C.,
ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ROSES, &c., IN vaeiety.
— AND —
TULIPS and HYACINTHS of great variety, from his splendid collection of the finest named
sorts. These can only bo got in Fall.
All Orders— which should lie sent early, accompanied with the money—promptly attonted to,
and ttie trees lifted carefully, and packed so as to send any distance with safety.
JAMES DOUGALL.
Windsor, Omt,, April, 1868.
■63^0^2=d-
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