THE 



Canadian Horticulturist 



Vol. XiX. 



isse 



No. 4. 



PROMINENT CANADIAN HORTICULTURISTS.— XXV. 



W. M. ORR, Fpuitland. 



fWENTY years ago, Mr. W. M. Orr was engaged in successful 

 commercial life. His duties had bopn such as to lead him to visit 

 many parts of Ontario, Quebec and the Eastern Provinces ; and he 

 had improved his opportunities to note the most favorable locali- 

 ties. Passing frequently through the Niagara Peninsula, he 

 was so enamoured with its beauty of situation and its productive 

 fruit farms, that he resolved to make a total change in his life 

 work, and settle down on a farm in this famous fruit region, at 

 a place now known as " Fruitland." The farm of ninety acres 

 in extent, protected from frost by the mountain on the south 

 side, and the ameliorating influence of the water on the north, is favorably 

 located for the growth of tender plants. 



When Mr. Orr began to plant fruit, his friends predicted failure. What 

 could he do with a fruit farm, having no experience ? But he did not fail. He 

 gradually extended his plantations of fruit. A small vineyard, then ten years 

 planted, was soon enlarged to cover fourteen acres of ground, and included the 

 following varieties : Champion, Niagara, Vergennes, Concord, Rogers 3, 9, and 

 22, Worden and Delaware. These varieties have all been profitable, but if 

 compared in this respect, they would stand about in the order named. This 

 has been his experience, yet he would not advise others to plant Champions. 

 The Niagara has been a favorite variety with him, and he has planted one-third 

 of his whole vineyard to that variety. The Vergennes keeps so well that he 



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