1 86 Work in a Canadian Orchard. [Sess. 



in spring of the white wagtail, a species which the field 

 naturalists of Clyde have proven to be a very regular migrant 

 there. 



One more example of a striking change, and my list of 

 species to be noticed on this occasion will finish. I allude to 

 the missel-thrush, which, when I began bird-nesting, was a 

 very scarce bird indeed. Nowadays it is probably one of the 

 first nests that a boy adds to his spoils. 



v.— WOBK IN A CANADIAN ORCHARD. 



By Mr JOHN PURSELL. 



{Read Jan. 25, 1905.) 



It was my good fortune to have an opportunity of paying 

 a visit to Canada in the autumn of last year. I sailed from 

 Glasgow in the s.s, Corinthian on the 10th of September. 

 By the 19 th we were sailing up the Gulf of St Lawrence. 

 On the 20 th we got our first real view of New Brunswick. 

 The coast line is high, and clothed all over with trees, which 

 come down close to the water's edge. The maple tree is 

 everywhere in abundance, with its marvellously beautiful 

 foliage shading from golden yellow to blood-red. We took 

 1 2 ' days 7 \ hours to reach Montreal. When I arrived I 

 noticed a large quantity of apples at the docks for shipment, 

 and it was very interesting to watch the Government fruit- 

 inspectors at their work. They are most particular as to 

 the qualities packed under the different brands. It was at 

 Morrisburg that I first saw a real Canadian orchard, but as 

 my view was only from the steamer, I cannot say much about 

 it, except that the trees were heavily laden with beautifully 

 coloured apples. It was on board the Spartan steamer on 

 Lake Ontario that I ate the first Canadian grapes I had ever 

 seen. I had previously heard they should be swallowed whole, 

 and I always thought that it was a joke, but find that when 

 one breaks the skin the inside comes out like a tough piece 



