194 



TIIR CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



flavor the richest of their autumn pears. 

 Downing, who is esteemed to be the 

 highest authority in regard to American 

 fruits, thus speaks of this pear :— 



" We do not hesitate to pronounce this 

 American Pear tlie richest and most ex- 

 quisitely flavored variety known. In its 

 highly concentrated, spicy and honeyed 

 flavor it is not surpassed, nor indeed 

 equalled, by any European variety. When 

 we add to this that the tree is the healthiest 

 and hardiest of all pear trees, forming a 

 fine, compact, symmetrical head, and bear- 

 ing regular and abundant crops in clusters 

 at the ends of the branches, it is easy to 

 see that we consider no garden complete 

 without it. Indeed, we think it indis- 

 pensable in the smallest garden. The 

 stout, short-jointed, olive-brown colored 

 wood distinguishes this variety, as well as 

 the peculiar reddish-brown color of the 

 fruit. The soil should receive a top- 

 dressing of manure frequently when the 

 size of the pear is an object." 



We have found this tree to be quite 

 hardy in our Canadian climate, and 

 remarkably free from the disease known 

 as pear-blight. Once or twice in the 

 course of twenty years have we seen 

 some of the twigs on the Seckel suflTer- 

 ing from the blight; but while other 

 varieties have perished and passed out of 

 sight, this has continued to flourish and 

 yield its annual crop of delicious fruit. 



The Manchester Strawberry. — It 

 can but be described in a single word — 

 "wonderful." So fine, so beautiful, so 

 firm, so highly flavored and highly per- 

 fumed, and so enormously productive. 

 Plants planted but last August forming 

 stools as large as a half -bushel measure, 

 producing fruit in such quantities as to be 

 literally piled about the plants. — Farm 

 and Garden. 



A MARKET FOR ONTARIO APPLES. 

 The following letter is from a life 

 member of the Fruit Growers' Associ- 

 ation of Ontario, who has for some 

 time been endeavoring to open a trade 

 with the Fruit Growers of this Pro- 

 vince. He wants only first-class fruit, 

 free from blemish, codlin moth, &c., 

 and is willing to pay for such fruit 

 whatever it is worth. But it must be 

 strictly first-class throughout; no infe- 

 rior apples in the middle of the barrel, 

 but each apple fit to be placed on the 

 table of any gentleman. Whoever will 

 supply him with such fruit, securely 

 packed and shipped in good season, 

 will find him a constant and increasing 

 customer. 



Y.^RMouTH, Nova Scotia, 



81.st July, 1882. 

 To THE Fruit Growers and Shippers of Ontario, 



Gentlemen, — As a member of the On- 

 tario Fruit Growers' Association, I have 

 for some years (since 1875) taken an in- 

 terest in the introduction of Ontario Ap- 

 ples into this market, from the persuasion 

 that when once well-known, reliable ship- 

 ments will meet a ready and extensive 

 sale, as well as from the more personal 

 motive of supplying my own family and 

 my friends with choice fruit. 



I have paid $1,020 in first cost of the 

 several lots shipped, and ^87 15 in 

 charges of transit, and have lost in all 

 about $300 in the price received for sur- 

 plus sold, owing to inferior quality of 

 shipments, and to damage by frost and 

 by decay. Last fall a party in Ontario 

 shipped 25 bbls. , ordered by telegram in 

 October, so late in November that they 

 were all frozen on the way, and did not 

 even reply to my letter advising him of 

 the fact. 



I cannot afford to persevere in experi- 

 ments with such expensive results. At 

 the same time I am desirous of continuing 

 to import Ontario Apples, either in 20-bbl. 

 lots for my own use, or in car loads for sale. 



