446 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Fruit Growing in the North-West. 



686. Sir, — Can any of your correspondents tell me what fruits may be grown at 

 South Edmonton, Alberta ? Would the Russian apples succeed there ? 



Charlotte E. Gwyn, Maplehnrsf, Dundas. 



Reply by Mr. John Craig., Ottawa. 



Replying to the questions of Charlotte E. Gwyn, touching the possibility of 

 growing fruit in South Edmonton, Alberta, I may say that thus far our experi- 

 ence has not led us to expect that our present class of large fruits can be grown 

 with any degree of success in any portion of the North-West Territories. 

 Russian apples and Siberian crabs are, undoubtedly, the hardiest members of 

 the edible fruited class of the Pyrus family, but these have failed to endure the 

 winters in almost every case. A specimen apple was received, however, last 

 year, which proved to be " Whitney's No. 20 crab," and grown at Prince Albert. 

 It is possible that they could be grown to a limited extent by training them in 

 dwarf or bush form, and so arranging the roots as to allow of the trees being 

 laid down and protected in the autumn in the same manner that peach trees are 

 now being grown at the Central Farm at Ottawa. This division of the Farm 

 has been sending out during the past two years seeds of the hardiest crabs and 

 Russian apples to interested settlers in this line of work in Manitoba and the 

 North-West Provinces. It is hoped that by planting these seeds and securing 

 the trees on their own roots undisturbed, that a variety may be secured suffi- 

 ciently hardy to live and bear fruit in that climate. Having once obtained a 

 start, other seedlings would, no doubt, be produced with much greater rapidity 

 and certainty of success. Among the fruits which have succeeded at Indian 

 Head are the native Buffalo berry {Shepherdia Argentea), the Dwarf Sand 

 cherry {Frunus Pumila) of the Western Plains, the American gooseberries? 

 currants, raspberries and the native Saskatoon or Juneberry {Amelanchier). 



The Prince Eng-lebert Plum. 



6S'7. Sir, — Please tell me if Prince Englebert is a desirable plum ; what are its 

 faults, and is the tree healthy and productive ? 



Ed. Maus, Echo Place. 



Reply by Mr. S. D. Willard, Geneva, N. Y. 



We have fruited the Prince Englebert plum for years and regard it as one 

 of the finest in point of quality that is grown in the orchard. The tree is 

 perfectly hardy and an excellent producer, and everything to commend it. 

 Why there is not more demand for it I do not know. Its season of ripening, 

 however, may be a little against it, as it cannot be called a real early or late 

 plum, but I believe it is a variety that should be more generally found in all 

 orchards. 



