THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



47 



and in all points, except the net veining 

 and color of leaves, it resembles the 

 peach. In appearance the fruit more 

 closely resembles a flattisli, smooth, 

 brick-red tomato, than any of our stone 

 fruits, yet in smell and flavor it ap- 

 {>roaches very near the Nectarine." 



Under date of Oct. 14, the Professor 

 writes to the Prairie Farmer : The time 

 has come when we can form a correct 

 estimate of tlie hardiness of tree, and 

 relative value of fruit of tliis unique 

 Chinese tree. But our experience is 

 yet too limited to guess at its habits of 

 bearing on varied soils, or the status of 

 its fruit for market purposes .... The 

 favorable notes of the writer and others 

 have been written to encourage its trial 

 in a small way, but some of our pro- 

 pagators have quoted from them in such 

 a Wivy as to raise undue expectations 

 r»n the part of planters . . . Witli our 

 brief experience at the West, its claims 

 to public attention are : (I) In tree 

 and fruit it is a queer mingling of the 

 nectarine and a})ricot. and interesting 

 as a neat, round topped tree for the 

 lawn, aside from its value for fruit. 

 (2) It is hardier than the peach, but 

 possibly not quite as hardy as the Rus- 

 sian apricot now claiming public atten- 

 tion. (3) On the northern border of 

 the peach belt it makes the best trees 

 and V>eai's best when top- worked on the 

 Miner plum, (t) The fruit has the 

 size and smoothness of the nectarine, 

 with the appearance and color of an 

 old-fashioned, flattened plum tomato. 

 For dessert use the fruit has a peculiar 

 flavor and aroma when perfectly rii)ened 

 in a dry climate, which many like, but 

 others may dislike. In Eastern France, 

 where it was first introduced, it is liked 

 best for culinary use, and I suspect this 

 will be our experience .... That the 

 Pmnus Simoni will take the place of 

 the peach, nectarine, and best Apri- 

 cots — in sections where the latter suc- 

 ceed perfectly — we need not believe, 



but that it is worthy of trial on the 

 north borders of the peach belt we have 

 best reasons for believing. — Prairie 

 Farmer. 



SNOW-DROP. 

 The first flower of spring is the deli- 

 cate Snow-Drop, white as snow. Its 

 appearance about the first of March is 

 a joyful surprise. The bulbs are quite 

 small ; the leaves and flowers about six 

 inches in height. Plant in the fall, in 

 beds or masses of a dozen or more, about 

 two inches apart, and about the same 

 depth. They are very desirable for 

 growing in pots, etc., in the house in 

 winter. A dozen may be planted in 

 quite a small pot or saucer. A few 

 planted on the lawn produces a fine 

 effect early in the spring, and mowing 

 will not destroy the bulbs, for the leaves 

 will ripen so early that they will be 

 pretty well matured before the grass 

 will need cutting. Perfectly hardy, 

 and bulbs can remain several years 

 without removal. 



The Snow-Flake, {Leucojum,) is 

 sometimes called the Large Snow-Drop, 

 from its resemblence to this delicate 

 flower. It is much larger, and more 

 robust in habit. Flowers white, with 

 bright green spots. Once planted it 

 manages to take caie of itself. This 

 does not flower until later in the season. 

 It flowers well in the house. — Vick's 

 Floral Guide. 



Moore's Early Grape. — We desire to 

 speak a word or so in favor of Moore's 

 Early. A more perfectly healthy vine has 

 never been raised at the Rural Grounds. 

 The Concord bears larger bunches, but 

 the average size of the bunches of Moore's 

 Early is larger than the average size of 

 the Concord's, w hile the size of the berry 

 is decidedly larger. The quality is much 

 the same. Moore's Early ripens at least 

 ten days earlier than the Concord, and 

 the bunches ripen more uniformly. — 

 Rural Neiv Yorker. 



m. 



