The Canadian Horticulturist. 175 



The Report of the Dominion Experimental Farms is very extended, 

 and shows what enormous amount of work is in hand. The work of the Fruit 

 Experimental Stations of Ontario will supplement and extend the good work 

 undertaken by the Dominion Horticulturist, by testing the adaption of various 

 good varieties of fruits to different localities of the province. 



The Geneva Grape is a new variety of white grape, of good size, and fine 

 quality ; a good keeper. The vine is said to be hardy. We have sent out this 

 grape to a large number of our subscribers this season, and we hope it will prove 

 valuable. 



The supply of this grape is now exhausted, and those still desiring the grape 

 will receive the Colerain another new white grape, a seedling of Concord. It is 

 also an early grape of good quality, and a very vigorous and healthy grower. 



Chestnut Growing promises to become an important industry in certain 

 sections. The European varieties, such as Paragon and Ridgeley are the most 

 profitable so far tested. One grower in Pennsylvania has 40 acres of wild chest- 

 nut sprouts grafted to Paragons. The tree bears yearly and the nuts are large. 



The Japan chestnuts are not quite so good in quality, but are very preco- 

 cious in bearing and very productive. The Alpha is supposed to be the earliest 

 variety in existence ; nuts large, two to three in a burr. The Giant and the 

 Superb are two other Japan varieties of promise. The trees are from $2 to $5 

 each, but will soon be cheaper. In the meantime the Ontario Fruit Experiment 

 Stations are setting these varieties at St. Catharines, Grimsby, Burlington, and 

 Whitby, in order to ascertain whether they will endure our climate. 



The Grimsby Horticultural Society held their spring meeting in the 

 Town Hall on Friday evening, the 17th of April. The managing committee had 

 secured a large number of beautiful house and greenhouse flowers from the 

 members, and filled a long table with them reaching down the centre of the hall. 

 There were palms, hydrangeas, begonias, double fringed petunias, callas, oxalis, 

 fuchias, geraniums, pelargoniums, coleus, Nile grasses, etc. The first hour 

 was given to social greetings and viewing the flowers. Then the president called 

 all to order and proceeded with the programme. Papers were read on the 

 improvement of the lawn and on the cultivation of sweet peas, chrysanthe- 

 mums, and begonias, besides some delightful instrumental and vocal music, and 

 a recitation by Miss Pettit, the daughter of the President of our Association. At 

 the close, the secretary gave to each member an ounce of sweet peas, two cannas, 

 two chrysanthemums, two begonias and a special named variety of gladiolus. 

 The membership now is 67. 



