214 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



The Willard Plum. 



845. Sib, — What is the general opinion of plum growers of the value of the 

 Willard ? J. D. Stewart. 



Reply by Mr. J. K. Gordon, Whitby. 

 The Willard is a yellow freestone plum of medium size and quality ; the 

 earliest in ripening of all the Japan varieties which I think constitutes its chief 

 value for market ; but as it is also a very early bloomer, I am afraid that our 

 May frosts will render it unproductive here, and I would not, therefore, advise 

 that it should be largely planted in Ontario County. 



Principal Varieties of Hardy Plums. 



)li46. Sir, — Can you give a list of the principal varieties of plums of the same hardi 

 ness as Lombard i as Bradshaw ? J. D. Stewart. 



Reply by Mr. Gordon. 



The Lombard is not so hardy as the Bradshaw, and I class with the Lom- 

 bard the following varieties as possessing the same degree of tenderness, viz. : 

 The Willard and Abundance, Grand Duke, Orange, Diamond, Goderich, 

 OuUin's Golden Gage and Reine Claude de Bavay. While I would rank the 

 Bradshaw with the following hardier varieties, that is to say : Yellow Egg 

 Imperial Gage, Smith's Orleans, French and Italian Prunes, Washington, 

 Duanes Purple, etc. 



The Saunders Plum. 



SAV. Sir,— What is thought of the Saunders plum in Ontario? With me it is a 

 poor affair, at least on young trees, being small and of only medium quality. 



J. D. Stewart. 



The Saunders is not generally known] or grown in this county (Ontario). 

 From my experience I describe it as a healthy, hardy, underized tree, with 

 slender, pendant branches, and a prolific bearer of handsome yellow fruit, 

 medium to small in size, and medium to poor in quality ; season quite early, 

 which, with its fine color, may cause it to sell well, in case its small size and 

 poor quality prove to be no objection. 



Propagating" the Gladiolus. 



848. Sir, — In propagating the Gladiolus — I. W^ould you rely upon the small root 

 offsets for satisfaction, or would you prefer the seeds ? 



II. What type would you be most likely to obtain from the offsets, and from the 

 seeds? 



III. Which would be nearest to the parent ? and if differentiated, in what direction, 

 for better or for worse ? 



