jj^ 



The Canadian Horticnltnrist. 



Fig. 79. 



This is evidently but an abnormally 

 shaped apple, as Mr. Wylie tells us 



there is no pear tree growing near it. 

 It may interest our readers to see it, 

 and therefore we have prepared the 

 accompanying sketch of this curiosity. 



Mixing Manure and Ashes. 



85. I have a quantity of hen manure which 

 I intend to apply to my garden and orchard ; 

 also some wood ashes. Do you advise 

 applying them separate or mixed together. — 

 J. C, Aultsville. 



Reply by Prof. Panton, O.A.C., Giielph. 



Do not mix hen manure and ashes, 

 because a chemical change takes place 

 and ammonia is freed. 



The lime and potash of the ashes 

 seizes the acid holding the am. in the 

 ^ hen manure, and the am. is thus let go 

 into the air. 



OPEN LETTERS. 



he Catalpa Speeiosa. 



Dear Sir, — As my apparent success 

 spoken of in the Horticiilfiirist and the 

 Report of the Fruit Growers Association 

 has, I believe, induced many to plant the 

 Catalpa Speeiosa, 1 think it but right to 

 inform you that unhappily I have found that, 

 while every one of mine has successfully 

 stood our northern winters, the tree has such 

 a drawback that nothing would induce me to 

 plant another. I have, in addition to smaller 

 ones, two with trunks measuring six inches 

 in diameter, both of which have had the 

 whole top half snapped off, completely des- 

 troying the trees, caused by heavy winds 

 after rain, the immense leaves being satur- 

 ated, making the trees top heavy. Every 

 Catalpa I have has had more or less 

 branches broken off in this way, and their 

 shape spoilt, though they are mostly planted 

 within high board fences, and protected with 

 surrounding buildings. 



I am sure that many of your readers will 

 be sorry to hear so poor an account of what 

 promised to be one of the most desirable 

 shade trees we have in this country. — L. H. 

 KiRKEV, Colliiigzvood, Septciitbcr 17, 18S9. 



Nopthepn Light Gpape. 



Sir, — Another year's experience with this 

 beautiful grape fully confirms the fact it will 

 ripen with !Moore's Early when planted side 

 by side on the same soil with the same 

 exposure. The owners are very sorry that 

 for several reasons the propagation of plants 

 has not been so rapid as they could have 



wished. Owing to the hea\-y crops produced 

 on the parent vine the wood of 1888 did not 

 ripen sufficiently to ensure its growth so that 

 the proprietors have only about three hun- 

 dred plants on hand. It is intended to wait 

 for another year or two before placing it on 

 the market for sale. Amongst the few 

 grapes that set well on the bunches this year 

 at Ottawa was the Northern Light, Niagara 

 and Moore's Early. As a rule other varie- 

 ties gave imperfect bunches, though this did 

 not occur in every locality. — P E. Bucke, 

 Ottaiva. 



Mitchell's No. 1. Tomato. 



Sir, — Will you kindly allow me to report 

 on Mr. Mitchell s No. i Tomato through the 

 medium of your valuable journal. I am not 

 only well pleased with the latter but am 

 proud of it, proud to see that Canadians can 

 support such a paper. No. i with me were 

 as good as any I have ever tasted in quality, 

 uniform in size and as large as samples at 

 Barrie show. But in my experience the 

 chief point of excellence is their being two 

 w^eeks earlier than any others planted. This 

 is also Mr, J. W. Lee's verdict, also that 

 of a neighbor. — S. Spillett, Naiityc, Octo- 

 ber 7, 1889. 



The Ontapio Apple in Nova Seotia. 



Sir, — My Ontario tree has succeeded ad- 

 mirably here. The tree is hardy, a vigorous 

 grower and an early bearer. In quality the 

 fruit is only middling, but is enormously pro- 

 ductive of large, sound, long-keeping apples, 



