EDITORIAL. 



39 



teresting information than the vegetable sec- 

 tion. This department should be one of the 

 strongest. Vegetable growers should be as well 

 organized and should hold as many meetings 

 and conventions as the fruit growlers and flor- 

 ists. Speak up, vegetable growers, and let us 

 know what you are doing. 



FROM FAR AND NEAR. 



If the good that is done by The Horticulturist 

 as it goes fortih every month, is in comparison 

 to the territory covered, it does indeed fulfil its 

 mission to the very full. During the past 

 month subscriptions and renewals have been 

 received from Finland, South Afiica, Tasmania, 

 Switzerland, and Belgium, w'ith one as far 

 south in the United States as Georgia. 



Our aiivertising columns are sought by firms 

 as. far away as Mexico, one firm sending us an 

 advertisement from that country, which ap- 

 peals for the first time in this issue. Truly 

 does Spakespeare say, " How far doth the little 

 cancle throw its beams, so shines a good 

 deed in a naughty world." This does not neces- 

 sarily mean that we consider the world not 

 what it should be. 



It has been the custom in New England and 

 in several of the other eastern states, for a. few 

 years past, to place on the door of a house, at 

 the time of death in a family, a w'reath or 

 bouquet of flowers. In the case of the death of 

 an infant this sign of mourning iS' of smaller 

 dimensions and consists of small white flowers. 

 For olier persons larger bouquets are used, or 

 mere bunches of loose flowers tied with wiiite 

 ribbons. An excellent emblem often used is a 

 wreath of ivy leaves, or a sheaf of wheat tied 

 with white ribbon. These floral emblems 

 are much less gruesome than the customary 

 crape or ribbon decoration furnished by the 

 uncertaker. Would it not be a good idea to 

 adopt this custom in Canada ? 



Horticultural societies when planning their 

 wo;k for 1905 should arrange to subscribe for 

 The Canav-^an Horticulturist for all their mem- 

 bers. Many societies do this every j'^ear and 

 more should. The Horticulturist can help the 

 societies and the societies can help The Horti- 

 culturist. Officers of societies should bear in 

 mind that The Horticulturist is the only horti- 

 cultuial magazine published in Canada and 

 that it is 1he equal of any of the kind published 

 in the United States. 



The Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward 

 Isl-^nd Fruit Grow'ers' Associations held suc- 

 cessful conventions last month. Let us unite 

 in a hearty wish that the convention to be held 

 this month by our British Columbia brothers 

 will be the best of all. 



Prince Edward Island Fruit Growers 



(Coiuii.ued fii. Ill p.^Le 6.) 



The exhibition of fruit was ii surprise to 

 every one, as ail past exhibits at meetings of 

 the association w&re eclipsed by this one. 

 Fully 500 plates of Island fruit were shown, in 

 addition to which were the provincial collec- 

 tions from Nova Scotia, Ontario and British 

 Columbia, shown by the Dominion Fruit Divi- 

 sion ; a large number of varieties from the Ex- 

 perimental Farm, Nappan, and a splendid ex- 

 hibit of boxes and barrels. The visitors from 

 Ontario admitted that with the exception of the 

 recent fruit show at Toronto the exhibit of fruit 

 at Charlottetown was equal to any that has 

 been held in recent years in connection with the 

 Ontario Fruit Growers' Association. 



The great adaptability of the different parts 

 of the Island for growing apples was demon- 

 .strated, both the eastern and western parts of 

 the province being well represented. Kings 

 county, which has in the past taken a large pro- 

 portion of the prizes, was beaten in the county 

 collection class by Princes county, which ex- 

 hibited a fine lot of well grown fruit. 



One could not but notice the varieties which 

 are succeeding best on the Island, by the large 

 number of plates which were in competition and 

 by the color and maturity of the fruit. Among 

 these King, Spy, Ben Davis, Alexander and 

 Gravenstein would certainly rank highest. The 

 competition in Kings was very keen, the fruit 

 being well matured and highly colored. A la"rge 

 number of plates of Spy were shown, and while 

 the color of these was not as high as the King, 

 the fruit was clean and well f?i-o\vn. Ben Davis 

 is a great favorite on the Island. There was a 

 large number of plates of Alexander. This 

 variety succeeds especially- well en the Island. 

 The Gravenstein were in prime condition. Some 

 fine plates of Baxter, Bishop Pippin, Mann, On- 

 tario, Ribston Pippin, Blenheim Pippin, Stark, 

 Wagener and Wealthy were shown, all of which 

 varieties do well on the Island. Baldwins and 

 Greenings were not so good, and it is doubtful 

 if the foi'mer, especially, will prove a profitable 

 commercial apple. 



The exhibit of fruit in boxes and barrels Avas 

 good. The Gravenstein took first prize in 

 boxes, and the King in barrels. The Baxter is 

 an apple which is succeeding admirably on the 

 island and is proving a profitable variety with 

 those who grow it. The Dodd apple appears 

 to be a winter sort well worth looking after, 

 as the specimens shown at the exhibition were 

 of fine color and good quality, and it is a 

 variety which has keen tested for many years 

 on the Island. On the whole this Fruit Grow- 

 ers' meeting was an inspiration to str^n^er piid 

 Isl-^nd folk alike, a striking testimony to the 

 president and' an augury of the triumphant suc- 

 cess of horticulture in the garden of Canada. 



I greatly enjoy The Canadian Horticultui ist 

 and think it very instructive to fruit growers. 

 — (A. N. Ball, Port Hope. Ont. 



Have just read the December issue of The 

 Horticulturist. It is brimful of interest. My 

 congratulations and best wishes for future suc- 

 cess. — (J. C. Chapais. St. Denis. Que. 



