A SHIPPING TOMATO. 



( Pyrus baccata ) is being quite largely 

 used this winter as stock, on account of its 

 extreme hardiness. Some of the grafting is 

 done on the crown and some on the root, for 

 comparison of results. Where root killing 

 is liable to occur, varieties crown grafted on 

 this stock will probably give the best results, 

 as, when root grafted trees are planted, the 

 the scion often throws out roots and in time 

 the tree becomes on its own roots and is 

 liable to suffer from root killing, if not a 

 very hardy kind. The Paradise stock is 

 also being used to obtain dwarf trees and 

 ascertain how they will succeed at Ottawa. 

 More care should be taken in choosing stock 

 for apple trees in the colder parts of Canada, 

 as if the stock is tender the tree may be root 

 killed. Several kinds of stocks are being 

 used for pears this winter, including Europ- 

 ean Mountain Ash, Hawthorn, and two wild 

 Asiatic pears called Pyrus hetulaefolia and 

 Pyrus sinensis. Pears have not proved 

 successful at Ottawa, as they have either been 

 killed by blight or winter, aud hence every 

 effort is being- made to overcome these diffi- 



culties. The European or Domestica plums 

 have not proved a success when grafted on 

 American plum stock, as the former out- 

 grows the latter. The best results are 

 obtained by grafting the American on the 

 American, and the European or Domestica on 

 Domestic stock. The ordinary stocks used 

 for cherries, such as Mahaleb and Mazzard, 

 did not prove hardy enough at Ottawa, and 

 hence the native Bird or Pin cherry, Prtaius 

 Pennsylvanica, was used for this purpose, 

 with excellent results. The union is good, 

 and being very hardy there is comparatively 

 little danger from root killing. -* 



The season will soon arrive when top graf- 

 ting may be done. Judgment should be used 

 in choosing the varieties to be grafted on the 

 trees. Strong growing varieties should not 

 be top grafted on varieties like Duchess or 

 Wealthy, as the trees will become top heavy 

 and probably break down. The stock should 

 be as vigorous, or nearly so, as the top. 



Central Experimental 

 Farm. 



W. T. M.\coUN, 



Horticulturist. 



A Shippi.ng Tom.\to. — A number of years 

 ago I mentioned in these columns, with 

 words of praise, the Honor Bright tomato, 

 calling especial attention to its wonderful 

 keeping qualities, which seemed to make it 

 particularly suited to long-distance ship- 

 ment ; as, for instance, to England. I also 

 liked it for a canning sort and for very late 

 use. " American Gardening " now says : — 

 " We have been able to discover more good 

 points in it than our previous records showed. 

 ... Its yield of medium-sized perfect fruits 

 compares well with any tomato grown. Its 

 flavor is also acceptable to many people. 

 . . . It takes a tremendous time to ripen, 

 which largely accounts for its marvelous 

 shipping qualities. There is no doubt but 



that the variety can be grown in this coun- 

 try and successfully shipped to Europe, for 

 if picked at the right stage it will ripen on 

 the voyage." As Mr. W. W. Tracy (of the 

 firm of D. M. Ferry & Co.) had pointed out, 

 the coloration begins at the centre instead 

 of at the skin, as is the rule with other va- 

 rieties. Fruits that are yellow on the ex- 

 terior may be cut, and it will be found that 

 the flesh in the centre is beginning to be- 

 come red. The variety can be readily dis- 

 tinguished by the yellowish, rather sickly 

 appearing foliage. The weakness is only 

 apparent, however, and I have had no rea- 

 son to complain much about the Honor 

 Bright showing blight or disease on the 

 fruit. 



