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THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



ning and Planting Home Grounds, prepared 

 also by Mr. W. H Manning, and published by 

 the Stout Manual Training School, Menomonie, 

 Wis., price 35 cents. 



The Flower Show. 



Sir, — In our local Horticultural Society we are 

 endeavoring to renew the interest this winter, and 

 make it active for good in the community 

 To this end we wish to do all in our power 

 to advance the culture of flowers, both in the town 

 of Leamington as well as amongst the fruit grow- 

 ers and farmers. It is proposed we have a flower 

 show early in the season, also at the fall fair. 



Knowing, dear sir, that you have had experience 

 along this line in your own town of Grimsby as 

 possibly elsewhere, I should very much like a few 

 suggestions from yourself. If you can reply at an 

 early date I shall feel doubly grateful. 



E. J. M. Edelsten, Leamington. 



The flower show held by any affiliated socie- 

 ty may be made a great success, and prove the 

 source of immense encouragement to the society 

 if properly managed. The object aimed at 

 must be the encouragement of exhibits from 

 amateurs, and by amateurs we mean every 

 member of the society. We are well aware that 

 without large money prizes in view, the profes 

 ional florists will scarcely think it worth while to 

 exhibit, and their exhibits usually formed the 

 grand total of the old fashioned Horticultural 

 Society's exhibits. In such cases, where was 

 the amateur's exhibit ; where the well grown 

 begonias or geraniums from the dining room 

 windows ; where the coleus or fuschia, or the 

 calla, which have been the joy and the orna- 

 ment of the home ? Certainly not at the exhibi- 

 tion, for each one will say, " I have nothing good 

 enough to win a prize." The way to succeed is 

 to interest all these people, even the person who 

 has but one solitary plant. To do this, the di- 

 rectors must appoint a committee on exhibits 

 who will visit the homes of the members and 

 take a list of the pot plants they consider suita- 

 ble, providing also labels for the name of the 

 owner. Then on the day before the show, the 

 directors should send out a man to collect the 

 plants and bring them to the hall, where a floral 

 committee will arange them ; and engage the 

 same man to return the plants after the exhibi- 

 tion. This will cost some money, but it will pay 



big returns every time, for each family who has a 

 pet plant at the show will be fully represented 

 among the visitors, and brmg their friends along 

 with them. The result will be an abundance of 

 of plants on exhibition, an abundance of visi- 

 tors, and if a small fee of ten cents is charged 

 all who are not members, the receipts will far 

 over run all the expenses. 



For the best results from an educative stand- 

 point we would advise that a competent florist be 

 always invited to attend, and be paid for his time, 

 who would give information to all questioners 

 regarding the correct names of the various 

 plants, and the best care and treatment of them. 

 In small towns or villages we would only have 

 the show open one evening, possibly admitting 

 the schools from 4 to 6 p. m., and the general 

 public from 7 to 10 p. m., and providing some 

 orchestral music to enhven the occasion. 



It is by no means necessary to confine the 

 exhibits to flowers ; for vegetables and fruit are 

 quite as much in place among horticultural 

 products as the flowers. 



Profitable Apples for Lambton. 



Sir, — I am thinking of planting an orchard on 

 Lake Huron near Forest, Ont., and as you have 

 been referred to me as good authority to consult 

 as to variety most adapted to that section of coun- 

 try, also how to plant them, distance apart, etc., I 

 concluded to write you for porticulars. Of course 

 I prefer the most profitable apple for market as 

 that is my intention to make as much out of the 

 investment as possible. Would you recommend 

 planting plums between the apples or will it pay 

 to do so ? Can I find a market for them? Would 

 also like the names and addresses of some of the 

 reliable nurseries in Ontario. If you will please 

 favor me with the above information I will be 

 very much obliged. 



W. Rawlings. 



Our correspondent need not be in the least 

 limited in his choice of varieties of apple trees 

 for planting in West Lambton. Providing he 

 has suitable soil and other other local condi- 

 tions, he can grow any of the finer varieties he 

 chooses. As to the most profitable apple for 

 market no definite answer can be given. Some 

 seasons the Northern Spy is the most profitable, 

 when it ripens a firm flesh, a clean skin and a 

 high color, but in other seasons, like the present, 

 it decays too early, and is too small and irregu 



