ii8 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



" Though my experience in the growing of this plum has not been fortunate, I 

 am incHned to regard it very highly. In 1888, on seeing favorable mention 

 made of it by Messrs. EUvvanger & Barry, I received from them a few scions, 

 from which I propagated several fine trees and grafts, but lost all of them but 

 two grafts — one of which was inserted in a bearing tree, and the other in a small 

 seedling which was protected by the snow — by the severe weather of December, 

 1892, and of January and February, 1893. The graft on the bearing tree, 

 though apparently dead, also revived the following summer, and bore about 

 twenty-five plums, which, though much shaded by surrounding branches, attained 

 a good size and appearance, and a sample of them I exhibited in two of my 

 collections of plums which took first prizes last year at the Industrial Fair at 

 Toronto, and at which the judges, I was informed, regarded my Grand Dukes 

 with much favor. In appearance, quality and size it resembles the Bradshaw 

 somewhat, but I think its color, when grown in a more favorable exposure, will 

 be darker than that variety. It ripened ten days before the Peach plum. 

 Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry reported it exempt from rot, but I did not find it so, 

 as several samples decayed very badly." 



Mr. John Craig, Horticulturist at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, 

 writes on the i5lh ult. as follows : '"I can give you very little in the way of 

 personal experience regarding Grand Duke plum. It was discussed at the 

 meeting of the Western New York Horticultural Society, Jan., 1893, where Mr. 

 S. D Willard included this variety in a list of twelve best plums. It was included 

 principally on account of its lateness and handsome appearance, as well as 

 good quality. It was not included, however, in a list of the six best plums, 

 ofifered by the same gentleman. The tree, in common with most other varieties 

 of Pfumis domestica, has failed at the Experimental Farm. I may say that it is 

 being planted to a considerable extent, partly, I suppose, on account of judicious 

 advertisement, in the Annapolis Valley, N.S. I have always been impressed 

 with the handsome appearance of the fruit." 



THE HOWEL PEAR. 



In the October number of the Horticulturist of 1893, I was much 

 pleased to see a beautiful cut of the Howel pear. Having had a remarkable 

 experience with it, I relate it for the benefit of others. About 30 years ago 

 3 planted 75 pear trees, mostly standards. There were about 15 varieties, and 

 ;among them the Howel. In 10 years one half had blighted and died, in 20 

 •years there were only five left and in 25 years every one was dead but Howel. 

 It is still living and bears a full crop of perfect pears almost every year. The 

 '.tree is not large, it has borne so very heavy that the growth of wood has been slow. 

 The soil is a gravelly loam ; about three feet below the surface is a bed five 

 or six feet deep of dry open gravel, just above the gravel there is ten to twelve 

 incbfis of pretty stiff clay. 



St. Marys. S. H, Mitchell. 



