OJ'E.X LETTERS. 



New Hybrid Cannas. 



Gooseberries in Simcoe Co. 



SiK, — You will remc-iiilifi timt at our an- 

 nual meeting at Kingston, I claimed to have 

 etieotcd crosses last season similar to those 

 producing the new orchid-llowered Caiiniis— 

 Italia, Austria and others. It is with plea- 

 sure that 1 advise you, that although only a 

 fraction of the seed referred to has bloonjeil 

 under glass, several similar forms have already 

 appeared — producing the tirst hybrids of this 

 type of Canadian origin. 



These crosses were largely eftected on a 

 seedling of my own originating, and like the 

 foreign varieties, present all the characteiis- 

 tics of true hybrids, aside from distinct change 

 in the form of the flower; the plant variation 

 from this seedling was more diveise than that 

 from similar crosses made on my large collec- 

 tion of foreign hybrids. 



At the same meeting I also referred to tw o 

 seedlings of unique form, the inferior petal 

 being abnormally developed, and much longer 

 and larger than those usually classed as supe- 

 rior. Prof. Saunders showed his interest at 

 the time, in this variation, by several critical 

 queries. Since then the leading Canna spe- 

 cialists of the United 8tatcs have advised me 

 that this novel variation has not yet come 

 under their notice. I hope to refer to these 

 and other items of interest at our Waterloo 

 meeting this fall. 



Vl. W. Ckofk, Simcoe, Out. 



Fruit Prospects in Quebec. 



Sir, — This year is going to be a poor one 

 for fruit, with the exception of currants and 

 goosebei ries, which are a heavy cro|). The 

 apple trees blossomed heavily, but with a sue 

 cession of heavy rains, late frosts and con- 

 tinued cold weather, the fruit has not set well, 

 and for all the spraying with Bordeaux every 

 week tince the buds began to open, the apples 

 and tiees have a measly looking appearance. 

 The past winter hivsbeeii severe on fruit trees 

 and plants, on account of not having our usual 

 supply of snow to protect the roots, and the 

 the heavy frost at Kaster destroyed a great 

 many trees. I did not lose any trees that were 

 in grass, but of those that weie cultivated I 

 lost about forty trees. The only plums we 

 have bearing are a few of the North West 

 varieties, the fruit-buds of the other varietiis 

 being tender. The Hurbauk Japan and Wil- 

 lard varieties have wintered through as well 

 as such varieties as Lombard and I'oud's Seed- 

 ling 



The fruit growers have lost a good friend in 

 the death of Mr. J. R. Clogg, wholejale fruit 

 and commission merchant, Montreal. He was 

 a straight, honest man in business, and in his 

 transactions he was the farmers' friend every 

 time. His death is a IjIow to the country ami 

 to the many friends who knew him. 



R. BkoijIK, 

 Oic/iard Bank, Coltati St. Pierre, ijue. 



Sir, — The wet spring has ijeen unfavorable 

 for the setting of gooeeberries. Champion 

 shows a large crop, Pearl and Downing a fair 

 crop, and the rest only a fe«. I mulched 

 heavily with theclearingupof the sheejiyard. 

 I have always thought that the heat and 

 drought favored the mildew, but this j-ear, 

 before we had a hot day, while it was raining 

 hard every day and almost cold enough for 

 frost, my English berries were white with 

 mildew. Fungicides washed off as soon aa 

 ap|)lied. I do not like mulching, because the 

 weeds come through in spite of all 1 can do. 

 I intend to burn it all and give thorough cul- 

 tivation instead. Possibly I shall mulch a.s 

 far as I can get well-rotted manure with which 

 to do it. My English berries are an awful 

 mess, even the foliage is rotten, as well as the 

 fruit. 



In reply to the enquiry regarding English 

 gooseberries, it seems to be a question of soil 

 and locality. Lancashire Lad is a complete 

 failure here. It does not grow enough wood 

 to live, and I have had it about six years. 

 Green Chisel is very promising so far. Suc- 

 cess seems to be an American, and does not 

 mildew ; the fruit is small. 



S. Si'ILLKTT, Nantyr, Ovt. 



New Gooseberries. 



SiK, — I have a gooseberry, without name, 

 which 1 consider tiie most valuable of any in 

 the garden. Samples sent you by post. It 

 was given to me by Dr. Harkness, Lancaster, 

 who had it from the garden of the late .lohn 

 McLennan (By-the Lake), where it liail been 

 in cultivation for at least ill years previous. 

 The history of the plant is not to be had, V)ut 

 it is presumed to have been imported from 

 England. It is a very vigorous grower, free 

 from mildew, large berry, good Havor, and 

 great cropper. 



The intense heat of the past few days has 

 cooked a considerable proportion of the goose- 

 berry crop, but unfortunately the fruit is 

 ruined in the operation. 



Have any of your readers tried the new 

 spineless goo.seberries sent out by -loosten. 

 New York, imported from France, last year, 

 anil what is thought of them ? 



('. W. YofNC, Cornwall, Out. 



Fruit Prospects at Whitby. 



SiH, — Since last writing you, we have had 

 Tery warm weather, and in consequence the 

 apple crop has dropped otf, so that at present 

 writing I think there will not be more than 

 half of the apples in this district there was 



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