56 



THE UANADIA'N HOKTICULTURIST. 



of the soil had us much to do with the 

 failure of the a[)))le trees as the severity 

 of our winters. My garden, as well as 

 most of the farming land of Muskoka, 

 is good T-ich soil, surrounded by hills of 

 j'ock and i-olling stones. From nio.st of 

 the>e hills springs of water are con- 

 stantly running to the lower lands, and 

 until these springs are cut off and 

 turned into a proper coui'se by drains, 

 the land is kept too wet and cold in 

 places for healthy vegetation. Since 

 draining I have planted AlexawJer and 

 Tetofsky apples, which passed through 

 the first winter all living. I planted a 

 second set of pears, plums and cherries, 

 all of which, notwithstanding my 

 draining, are going through the 

 annual process of freezing down and 

 growing up. 



The Glass Plum, received from the 

 Fruit Growers' Association, has grown 

 a good size, but so far has borne only 

 two ])lums. A graft from it on a 

 native wild plum is growing stronger 

 than its parents. Of five Spanish 

 walnut ti'ees planted three died, and 

 two are grown beyond risk, one as high 

 as second story window. Canadian 

 walnuts and butternuts were partially 

 frozen, but I think will do when roots 

 get stronger. My English walnuts are 

 growing, but I protected them the first 

 winter. I have a hedge of English 

 filVjerts and Kentish cob nuts grown 

 from nuts bought in Toronto. The 

 Berberry, Buckthorn and Scotch Sloe 

 are quite hardy. Roses d,o better here 

 than in Toronto. Gr rapes will be a 

 success with winter protection. They 

 did not ripea tliis year, as we had more 

 cloudy than tine days. Royers showed 

 fine bunches and strong wood. The 

 last a))i)les planted are tlic; Snow, Mann, 

 St. Lawrence, Russet and (Jolvert, but 

 they have not yf>t jiasscd ;i winter. 

 Yours truly, 



V. W. V,.^■vr.. 



Muskoka. 



NEW VARIETIKS OF GRAPES IN' THE 



EASTERN TOWNSHIPS, PROVINCE 



OF QUEBEC, SEASON 1883. 



Just as the interest in gi-ape cul- 

 ture has been given an impetus 

 through the introduction of many 

 valuable varieties for high latitudes, 

 we have been overtaken by two succes- 

 sive cold, wet, and discouraging seasons, 

 which tend to give us a higher appre- 

 ciation of the earlier and hardy varieties. 

 On many sections the crop was almost 

 an entire failure. The immunity from 

 frost along the Champlain Valley, 

 Richelieu River, Island and vicinity of 

 Montreal, and some localities on the 

 Ottawa matured most varieties, the best, 

 however, lacking the flavor of favorable 

 seasons and the projierties necessary for 

 successful wine making. 



BLACK VARIETIES. 



Early Victor has surprised us by its 

 merits, its foliage is remarkable for 

 vigor and resistance of fall frosts, its 

 bearing capacity equally sur])rising ; 

 undei- proper treatment it may be fairly 

 classed as an extra early variety of 

 better quality than any of the early 

 Labruscas. Tlie Worden, though not 

 very new, is yearly winning its way in 

 popular favor and should entirely dis- 

 place the Concord in this Province, as 

 it is certain to ripen, of larger size and 

 suj^erior quality, and nearly as vigorous. 



Moore's Early, though early and 

 showy, is so far a shy bearer. Aniinia 

 Roger No. 39, has improved in size and 

 productiveness, is a large, rather dark 

 purple, bearing very compact clusters, 

 and is probably . the earliest of his 

 liy])rids of its color. 



Linden, from its large leathery leaf, 

 gave promise of good properties, but 

 was disappointing in fruit, colored the 

 lirst, but was not eatable for weeks 

 after. 



Belvidere has fruited for three 

 years, a profu.se bearer, early, large in 



