THK CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



123 



will keep well, 'out as for quality it is 

 worthless. It might be better in On- 

 tario than in Nova Scotia, just as most 

 kinds are. However it was as an ex- 

 port apple that the Nonpariel was com- 

 mended, Mr. Brown continues, and that 

 is all right ; one will hardly find a dozen 

 really good judges of quality among 

 one's own friends in the best fruit 

 countries, how can we expect to find 

 them among millions. 



CACTUS FRUIT. 

 We have received from J. P. Cock- 

 burn, of Gravenlinrst, a sample of fruit 

 which he described in his letter as a 

 new fruit of Muskoka production, that 

 had been just one year in coming to its 

 present ripe condition. He says, "I 

 have not tested any but presume they 

 are good to eat, at least it has the frag- 

 rance of a ripe pineapple. Is it com- 

 mon ] I have never seen it before. The 

 flowers dry on the end of the fruit and 

 remain there until it is ripe." 



We replied that we had never seen 

 the fruit before, but presumed it to be 

 the fruit of some species of cactus, and 

 requested him to tell us what si)ecies it 

 was. In answer he sent to us another 

 sample of the fruit with the flower ad- 

 liering and the whole yet growing from 

 a piece of the parent cactus plant. In 

 his letter accompanying the second spe- 

 cimen he says, " I do not know the spe- 

 <'ific name, it is generally known, I 

 l)elieve, as the Sword Cactus ; but I am 

 of the opinion that this is not the cor- 

 rect name. I am told that they are very 

 -ood to eat and considered a great boon 

 to the weary traveller in some parts of 

 .Mexico and southern Texas." 



The piece of the plant to which the 

 fruit was adhering greatly resembles 

 one of the Ei)iphylluuis. The fruit is 

 ibout an inch long, somewhat fig-shaped, 

 tf a deep red color, which color con- 

 tinues through the pul[), the fragrance 

 souiewhat like that of the pine apple, 



and the taste like a podophyllum, May 

 Apple. 



THE ANNUAL MEETING 



Of the Association of Nurserymen, 

 Florists and Seedsmen is to be held in 

 the buildings of the Department of Agri- 

 culture at Washington, District of Col- 

 umbia, U.S.A. on the 16th of June next, 

 continuing three days. Any informa- 

 tion concerning programme of proceed- 

 ings, hotel and railroad arrangements 

 can be obtained by writing to the Sec- 

 retary, D. Wilmot Scott, Galena, Illi- 

 nois, XJ- S. A. 



THE MASSACHUSETTS HORTICUL- 

 TURAL SOCIETY 



Is offering special prizes for Hybrid 

 Perpetual Roses at the coming Rose 

 Show, June 22 and 23rd., 1866. A 

 prize of $30 is offered for the best 24 

 Roses, named ; $25 for the best 18 ; and 

 $15 for the best 12, all named. 



QUESTION DRAWER. 



MEMBERSHIP IN' FRUIT GROWERS' 

 ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 

 Dear Sir, — I am well pleased with 

 the Canadian Horticulturist. Could 

 you let me know the conditions of 

 membership in the Fruit Growers* 

 Association of Ontario, also the rights 

 and privileges of a member. An 

 answer in the Horticulturist or other- 

 wise will oblige, 



Yours truly, 



J. K. Darling. 



Reply. — Every subscriber to the 

 Canadian Horticulturist becomes en- 

 titled to membership in the Fruit 

 Growers' Association, the rights and 

 privileges of which are : Ist. To re- 

 ceive a copy of the Annual Report. 

 2nd. To receive such article from the 



