OPEN LETTERS. 



varieties are comparatively few. I give be- 

 low two lists of which includes quite a range 

 of colors. Those in the first are single and 

 many of them are new. Those in the second 

 are double or semi-double, and most of them 

 are well known standards that have not yet 

 been surpassed : 



I, — M. A. Boulaus, rich crimson-scarlet. 



W. A, Chalfant, bright scarlet. 



Mrs. A. Blanc, salmon. 



Mrs. E. G. Hill, salmon-pink. 

 Madonna, delicate soft pink. 

 Snowdrop, dwarf, pure white. 



-J. J. Harrison, bright scarlet. 

 Gen. Grant, orange scarlet. 

 S. A. Nutt, dark crimson. 

 Adrien Corret, magenta crimson. 

 Mons. de la Rue, pink. 

 La Favorite, pure white. 



©jpdij^ L(i1H(iD«§< 



Fruit in New York Market. 



Sir, — Late in December I purchased three Cali- 

 fornia Winter Nelis pears, that weighed a little 

 more than 2^ lbs. , for thirty cents. On the same 

 fruit stand there were more than forty pears of 

 the same variety equally large and fine. The 

 quality was best, and they were free from de- 

 tects. I never supposed Winter Nelis could be 

 grown so large. In January I secured two Eas- 

 ter Beurre pears that weighed one full pound each 

 for thirty cents, and the dealer had many more 

 equally fine and large. I have eaten smaller 

 pears of the same variety, of better quality. 

 Nevertheless, they were delicious. I found some 

 prime specimens of P. Barr>' to-day at 10 and 

 12^ cents each. For the latter half of this month, 

 and March and April, the P. Barry pears and un- 

 surpassed. They reach here carefully packed in 

 prime condition, as hard as stones, and go into 

 cold storage until the market is ready for them. 

 Prime strawberries from the South to-day bring 

 40 cents per basket. They are large pints or 

 small quarts. They are in perfect condition. 

 Beautiful and perfect heads of Caulitiower, 12 

 to 15 inches in diameter, are in market. When 

 Cuban prosperity is restored, we shall have fresh 

 vegetables and fruits from that island in January 

 and February', and from Bermuda in March and 

 April, and from our Southern States in May and 

 June. Freights by steam vessels from Cuba will 

 be low, and with cold storage such products can 

 reach us in fine condition, and sell at moderate 

 prices. Late strawberries, raspberries, black- 

 caps, blackberries and currants will command 

 better prices than early fruits grown in this sec- 

 tion. We have had a fair supply of handsome 

 apples, but few of fine brisk subacid flavor, such 

 as can be grown in Ontario. I have purchased 

 fine large and fair Greenings, Spitzenburgs, Bell- 

 flowers and Golden Russets, and then thrown 

 them into the gutter after tasting them they were 

 so insipid. 



Brooklyn. Francis Wayland Glk.n. 



Dishonest Packing. 



Sir, — We see by Canadian Grocer that you and 

 Mr. Orr called on the Minister of Agriculture to 

 endeavor to find some means to put a stop to dis- 

 honest packing of fruit, especially of apples for 

 exportation. Our canning factory here has had a 

 great amount of trouble this year when opening a 

 barrel that was bought as Spys or Baldwins to 

 find them sweet apples or poor little cider apples, 

 of no use whatever, and all other fruits to a cer- 

 tain extent are not properly graded and labeled. 



We are of opinion, 'as we wrote you in Decem- 

 ber last, that the only way to stop this rascality is 

 by Act of Parliament, making it compulsory when 

 fruit is sold that it be properly labeled with the 

 growers' name, number of lot, township and 

 county; in case he did not pack it himself , the 

 man's name who did pack it ; in case he sold to a 

 dealer, then the dealer's name. The grower or 

 dealer to become personally liable for damages, 

 and every one connected \\nth the packing to be 

 criminally liable for committing a fraud and be 

 punished b}- fine or imprisonment or both. 



We have never seen the rules for grading as 

 made by your Fruit Growers' Association. Would 

 like very much to have them. 



We will be ready to assist all we can at any 

 time to further the purpose about which we are 

 writing 



Waterford. Bowlbv Bros. 



A New and Valuable Forage Plant. 



Capt. E. A. Wilson in January Horticulturist 

 recommends a Desmodium or Beggar Weed. 

 Would Capt. Wilson kindly give the specific 

 name, as there are about eighteen species of Des- 

 modium in the United States and about nine in 

 this province ? I have found seven species g^row- 

 ing within a mile of my home, in light, sandy 

 soil. Desmodium Candense or Tick Trefoil is the 

 most likely species as a forage plant ; it gfrow.s 

 about from four to six feet high. I have noticed 



