The Canadian Horticulturist. 253 



Saunders Plum. 



Dear Sib, — I notice an article in the Horticulturist, June number page 214, regarding 

 Saunders Plum, which differs very much with my experience with it, also with my neigh- 

 bors, where quite expensively grown. As grown in this district it is of first quality, very 

 attractive, large yellow plum ; good grower, healthy foliage ; ripens last of July or first of 

 August. Was exhibited first time at Fruit Growers' Association meeting held in St. 

 Catherines, in 1883, and pronounced excellent quality, worthy of extensive trial. That 

 fruit was grown on the original tree, grown by John Arris, Belleville. 



W. H. Dempsey. 



Saunders Plum. 



Sir, — I notice in the June numlier of the Horticulturist on qnestion No. 846 at the 

 request of Mr. J. T. Stewart as to the hardiness of the principal varieties of plums and am 

 surprised at the answer given by Mr. Gordon which may mislead many who intend setting 

 out plum orchards. 



I will give a list divided into three classes : hardy, medium and tender according 

 to my judgment and from personal observations, principally while trees are young 

 Some of these varieties, although tender in the nursery row, may overcome this with age : 



Hardy. — Brant of Naples, Gueii, Duanes Purple, Lombard, Shippers Pride, Spauld- 

 Ing, Saunders, Red Egg, Peach, McLaughlin, Monarch, Field, Yellow Egg, and Bradshaw. 

 The latter, although not as hardy as Lombard should class with the hardy sorts. 



Medium. — French, Italian, and German Prunes, Gen'l Hand, Smith's Orleans, Grand 

 Duke, Jefferson, Imperial Gage, Moore's Arctic, Pond's Seedling, Shropshire Damson, 

 Abundance, Willard, Satsuma, Ogon, Chabot, Red June, Wickson. 



Tender. — Ck)e's Golden Drop, Victoria, Reine, Claude, Kelsey, 



£. Morris, FonthiU. 



Notes from Simcoe Experiment Station. 



The Smith's Giant Black Cap raspberry has proved entirely hardy here. It was ex- 

 posed to a temperature of 26 degrees below zero without any protection whatever, and the 

 canes are alive to the very tips. If the fruit turns out to be of good quality, it will be an 

 acquisition for this section. It is fruiting heavily this season and we will soon know 

 something of its quality. 



The Baba and Bessemianka Pears are seemingly quite at home and find here a con- 

 genial climate. I believe they ^*ill be like the Duchess apple in that respect. They are 

 very thrifty so far, seem not to be affected in the least by extreme cold, and the foliage is 

 of that dark green color and luxuriant growth so characteristic to hardy varieties. 



VViTH respect to your querj' last year, Mr. Editor, " Does a profusion of bloom draw 

 heavily on the Nngor of the tree even though it produces no fruit ? " I would say I believe 

 it does. My Flemish Beauty pear trees were last year a perfect mass of bloom. The frost 

 came just as the fruit was setting and almost totally destroyed it. Only a few specimens 

 on each tree survived. This year only a few blossoms appeared on those trees, although 

 they were in a very healthy condition. Did the failure of the fruit cause a larger growth 

 of wood, and consequent failure to form fruit buds ? Or, was this year's failure owing to 

 the great quantity of bloom last year drawing heavily upon the fruiting capabilities of the 

 trees ? I am inclined to believe the latter. 



G. C. Caston. 



Soda Not a Substitute for Potash. 



Sib, — In the clipping marked " Small Fruits," page 200 of the June issue of the HoH- 

 TicuLTiTRiST ; speaking of the value of Nitrate of Soda as a fertilizer, it is there stated, 

 *• As an available source of nitrogen, containing 16 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 net furnish a better article or one that is more immediately active, and with 

 the phosphate of lime it makes a complete manure." 



