230' THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST." 



FRUIT GROWING IN THE COUNTY OF PETERBOROUGH. 

 BY REV. V. CLEMENTI. 



The object the Fruit Growers' Association has in view in visiting 

 various sections of the Province in the course of its periodical peregrin- 

 ations, is, I apprehend, of a two-fold character : 



1st. — To give the localities visited the benefit of such advice as the 

 experience and intelligent research of its more prominent members 

 may enable them to furnish, and 



2nd. — To ascertain by enquiry, and by the inspection of such 

 specimens of fruits as may be submitted for judgment, what kinds are 

 most likely to meet with success in their cultivation in the respective- 

 districts, taking into consideration the nature of the soil and the in- 

 fluences of the climate. 



And as this is the first occasion of our being favored with a visit 

 by the Association, and as the Town of Peterborough is situated at the 

 distance of thirty miles north of the Grand Trunk E. E., and only on 

 a branch of the Midland, and is consequently but rarely visited, save- 

 by those who have business to transact here, or by those in search of 

 beautiful scenery, such as is afforded by our chain of lovely lakes, or 

 by sportsmen in search of game, which may be met with in abundance 

 in our back townships, I venture to occupy your time for a few 

 moments with the briefest possible description of our locality. 



The Town of Peterborough is situated on the west bank of the* 

 river Otonabee, in the north-east angle of the Township of Monaghan, 

 and, with the county, constitutes a portion of the old Newcastle- 

 District. The soil on which the town is built is partly gravel and 

 partly sandy loam, the gravelly portion unfavorable to the production; 

 either of fruits or flowers. 



The Township of Smith, on the west side of the river, is one of the 

 most valuable and flourishing townships of our county, comprising a 

 large percentage of very excellent land, the soil being principally clay 

 loam, with a subsoil of clay. In some sections it is loamy and 

 calcareous, peculiarly well adapted, where the limestone is not too near 

 the surface, to the culture of fruits. 



On the east side of the river is situated the important Township of 

 Otonabee, containing also much good laud^ and a soil similar to that 



