28o The Canadian Horticulturist. 



THE TALMAN SWEET AND THE GRAVENSTEIN. 



HE frontispiece of the July number of the Horticulturist is 

 embellished with a fine illustration of the Talmas Sweet apple. You 

 half apologize for bringing this old variety of apple into such 

 prominence. In the early history of this county, the Talman Sweet 

 was a very common variety in our orchard, but most of them have 

 disappeared, mainly by other and more salable varieties being grafted 

 upon them. In those days they found a ready enough sale, but now 

 they are not wanted. Your own treatment of its merits leaves little 

 to be said of it either pro or con. It possesses one quality, however, you have 

 not enumerated. It is without doubt one of the best apples we grow for pick- 

 ling. It retains its size, form and flavor when pickled, better than any other 

 apple I know of. 



You quote Mr. Nicol as recommending the Talman Sweet as good stock 

 upon which to graft more tender varieties, amongst which he enumerates the 

 Gravenstein, which, he says, " can only be grown in favored localities." I have 

 frequently heard the Gravenstein referred to as being a tender apple tree, and 

 was once told by an eminent authority that it could not be grown successfully 

 as far north as Owen Sound. I have long ago been convinced that the Graven- 

 stein should be ranked amongst our hardy varieties. I have three of these in 

 my orchard which have been twenty-two years planted, and will match them 

 against any three apple trees in this Province of like age for size, form and 

 vigor. I have no recollection of seeing three finer apple trees anywhere. They 

 have withstood the rigor of this climate during all these years without a twig 

 being touched by frost. I am so impressed with their hardiness that I have 

 top-grafted every tree so treated in my orchard with scions off these trees. To 

 those who know the quality of the Gravenstein it needs no commendation. To 

 my mind, it has no exual amongst the late fall varieties. For cooking or dessert 

 it is alike good. Its form is faultless, and it possesses a rich aroma peculiar to 

 itself, and it is uniformly large and attractive to the eye. This is the apple that 

 gave to Nova Scotia its premier place, in the markets of Britain, amongst the 

 apple-exporting countries of America, and it surprises me that its cultivation has 

 not received more encouragement in this Province. 



Owen Sound. R. McKnaught. 



Here is something for our ladies readers to try their skill on. Take a leaf 

 of a tree or shrub, place it over a small piece of white linen soaked in spirits of 

 nitre, and insert between the leaves of a heavy book, with a sheet of paper to 

 receive the impression. Lay the book away for a few days and then examine. 

 The leaf will be devoid of color, which will have been transferred to the paper 

 in all the original beauty of tint and outline of the leaf. So says one who has 

 tried the experiment. 



