8 THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



I sent samples of it to the convention of the American Pomological 

 Society, at Baltimore, last year, but the l^ox and fruit got smashed on 

 the way. Samples sent to the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario 

 took the first prize for the best seedling, and was called by the President 

 "a truly magnificent plum." 



Seedling Pears. — The greater part of the pears in the first 

 lot were struck with blight before they commenced bearing ; and the 

 apples were not planted out. 



A friend and neighbor, the late Judge Elliot, raised from the seed 

 of the Madeline Pear a very fine early pear, which I introduced to 

 notice as "Elliot's Early." It is of excellent quality, about double the 

 size of and ripening a week earlier than the Doyenne d'Ete, the earliest 

 pear we had previously. The tree is the strongest grower we have, 

 and very hardy. 



Seedling Lilacs. — In ornamental trees and shrubs I have not done 

 much, except in roses and lilacs. Having imported all the best 

 varieties of lilacs from Europe, which were planted in a nursery row, 

 where they stood some years, several seedlings grew up beside them. 

 One, when it flowered, was by far the best dark-purple that I had seen. 

 The petals of each flower were reflexed, and the spike so long that it 

 had some resemblance to an ostrich feather. I called it the " Prince 

 of Wales," owing to its resemblance to his crest. Its beauty induced 

 me to sow the seeds from the best varieties, from which several 

 thousand have flowered, all good, and of every shade of color. From 

 these I selected several very superior, which I named after the royal 

 family of England. The second fine one that flowered was a superb 

 white, the flower and truss more than double the size of the old white. 

 This I called "Princess Alexandra." "Queen Victoria" is a very dark 

 blueish purple, tipped with almost white. " Albert the Good" is by 

 far the finest very dark red purple yet raised. " Azure," now called " 

 "Marchioness of Lome," is a beautiful pale clear blue; another, a very 

 dark double purple, while others nearly equally good have not been as 

 yet named or propagated. 



Seedling Koses. — In roses my success has been good, more es- 

 pecially in moss roses, some of which are the most brilliant I have yet 

 seen — bright velvety scarlet, shaded with dark velvet ; some growing 

 very tall, double, and perfect rose color. But it looks egotistical ta 

 write so much about the little I have done. My only excuse, and the 



