200 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



that the consummation of that desire may be hastened. The Ontar>. Fruit 

 Growers' Association recognize that this Province of Ontario may be nn„j not 

 only the greatest fruit producing country on the Continent, but one o( the most 

 picturesque and attractive countries in the world to live in. This being their 

 faith they are following it up with work, hence the organization of the affiliated 

 societies and the sending out of lecturers to address them at their annual meet- 

 ings. 



The first of those societies that I had the privilege of visiting in the month 

 of March, was at the Town of Port Hope. Port Hope is so naturally picturesque 

 that little need be done by man to set off its romantic beauties. Much, how- 

 ever, has been done in this charming town in the way of floriculture, and there I 

 found a very enthusiastic Horticultural Society, numbering well up to a hundred 

 members. The floral display in the hall at their annual meeting was very fine, 

 and the meeting though not a large one was made up of the best citizens of the 

 place. It is almost needless to assert this, for had they not been the best 

 people they would not have been there where flowers and nature were the topics 

 of thought and expression. The society at Port Hope is particularly fortunate 

 in having among its membership Dr. Purslow, of the Collegiate Institute and 

 Dr. Bethune of Trinity College School. These eminent scholars and natural- 

 ists made the writer's duties very light, and after their exhaustive and valuable 

 papers I spoke briefly, in a general way, confining myself to no particular topic 

 There is much missionary work for the Port Hope Horticultural Society to do 

 in the immediate districts to the north and westward where many farm houses 

 are in a state of neglect when a very little effort and expense would add much 

 to their comfort and attractiveness, and hence to their value. 



Mitchell. T. H. Race. 



SMALL FRUITS. 



Nitrate of soda is a valuable fertilizer for these crops, especially strawberries 

 and raspberries. It should be applied with powdered phosphate of lime to 

 produce its best effects. This application to strawberries will not only double 

 but sometimes treble the yield. The berries are larger in size, handsomer in 

 color and of fine flavor. 



Ordinary manure will not produce such results, for the reason that it is not 

 converted into plant food until after the demand of the fruit. 



The plants grow early in the season, and nitrate of soda being a leaf and 

 stem former, while the phosphate of lime is a seed former, they are assimilated 

 by the plant, and at once taken up and appropriated, furnishing the food neces- 

 sary for the growth of the plant, and the food development of the fruit. As an 

 available source of nitrogen, containing i6 per cent., and also 35 per cent, of 

 soda, which is a substitute for potash for agricultural as well as for industrial 

 purposes, the market does not furnish a bettef' article or one that is more imme- 

 diately active, and with the phosphate of lime it makes a complete manure. — 

 New York Tribune. 



