154 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



plum trees, and three good sized green- 

 houses. Besides these, the firm have about 

 2,000 yards of cotton, which are used for 

 forcing vegetables and cucumbers in early 

 spring. 



We take the following details from the 

 Leamington Post : 



The growth of early vegetables and fruit has 

 proven very profitable during the past few 

 years, and the new firm, with increased facili- 

 ties, will enlarge their building, add to their 

 greenhouses, and plant more extensively. The 

 firm have already three greenhouses, two of 

 them very large, while they also have what is 

 known as cold frames which require sixteen 

 hundred yards of cotton to cover. In irrigat- 

 ing their land they use an elevated tank holding 

 6,000 gallons of water. This is conveyed by 

 pipes and carefully distributed as required. 

 The greenhouses are used only for forcing early 

 vegetables. A windmill keeps the tank filled. 

 A perfect system of waterworks at a cost of 

 $400 is the result. In" addition to growing early 

 vegetables, which have so far been very profit- 

 able, they have nearly 5,000 trees, mostly peach. 

 A few plum, cherry and pear trees are also 

 grown. The principal business will be peach 

 culture. Mr. Hilborn, who has lately been in 

 Michigan examining the methods in use there, 

 has very advanced ideas, and is one of the most 

 progressive fruit growers in the county . Every- 

 where on the farm are evidences of thrift and 

 prosperity. His buildings are all neatly painted, 

 and no weeds are allowed to grow to the detri- 

 ment of the crop. The new firm know what is 

 required to ensure best results, and have suffi- 

 cient capital to carry out any plans desired. 

 During the past few years Mr. Hilborn has car- 

 ried on a very extensive business ; has built up 

 a good trade ; has made good business connec- 

 tions, and the new firm will be sure to enter 

 upon a period of increased prosperity. 



Labels for Varieties 



MANY people find a pleasure in having 

 about their homes an interesting 

 collection of trees and shrubs, but, through 

 neglect in labelling, by and by forget the 

 names of the varieties planted and conse- 

 quently half the interest is lost. For the 

 orchard, perhaps the old fashioned nursery 

 stake, painted white and tarred on the part 

 which goes in the ground, is as good as any- 

 thing; but if something more desirable is 

 wanted, and at the same time neater for use 

 in the ornamental grounds, cast iron labels, 

 such as shown in our cut from Popular Gar- 



dening, are more desirable. To get a stock 

 of them, make a model of wood, 10 or 11 

 inches high, one inch wide at the shank, the 

 head four or five inches across and two 

 inches wide, as shown in our engraving, and 

 send it to the foundry. Paint them white, 

 and write the names in black, with a brush 

 and paint, first outlining the letters with a 

 pencil. 



For large trees a simple label, e. g., Scar- 

 let Oak, is shown, made of a piece of tin 

 about four inches long by three inches wide. 

 Bend down about half an inch of the upper 

 edge at a right angle, which will form a lit- 

 tle coping for the label ; then make two little 

 holes just beneath this and pass a strong 

 copper wire through them, firmly nailing it 

 to the tree. 



Bunching Asparagus 



SO much depends upon the shape in 

 which the produce of the vegetable or 

 fruit garden reaches the market, that no one 

 who aims at success can afford to be negli- 

 gent in this matter. In putting up aspara- 

 gus for market a buncher will prove a great 

 convenience, enabling one to make the 

 bunches of uniform size, and to tie them 

 firmly. Raffia makes an excellent material 

 for tying, or the inner bark of the basswood 

 tree, such as is often used by nurserymen in 

 tying buds. After cutting, sorting and 

 washing, lay the stalks in the buncher. with 



