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THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



form an opinion upon the merits of a 

 fruit from seeing a sample in this way. 

 It may have merits that do not strike one 

 on so short an acquaintance. What we 

 want now is a goosebery that is larger 

 than the Downing, richer in quality, 

 and free from mildew in general cul- 

 tivation. 



THE "OTTAWA" GOOSEBERRY. 



We are indebted to Mr. P. E. Bucke, 

 of Ottawa, for the opportunity of seeing 

 and tasting this new seedling goose- 

 berry, raised by him. The branches 

 were well laden with fruit, though some 

 of the berries had dropped off during 

 their transit by mail. The fruit is of a 

 light green color, oval in form, not 

 varying much in size, which is not much 

 more than that of the Smith's Improved. 

 The fruit was nearly ripe, sweet and 

 pleasant. 



Mr. Bucke has given the history of 

 its origin in the report of the Fruit 

 Growers' Association of Ontario for 

 1885 as follows : — 



" To show what may be done by any 

 individual having a little patience, I 

 will relate a little of my own ex- 

 perience. Some years ago I planted a 

 Whitesmith and a Houghton so close 

 together that the branches interlocked. 

 I gathered some of the finest berries 

 from the Honghton, and having rubbed 

 them in dry sand to separate the seed, 

 sowed them in a bottomless box in the 

 garden. I was rewarded next spring by 

 a nice little crop of seedlings. I pulled 

 up any that did not come up to my idea 

 of leaf or growth, reserving about one 

 dozen plants ; when these came into 

 bearing T destroyed all but one ; this is 

 a fine bearer, and has a large berry. 

 Last year I set out a number of layers 

 from the parent, and think I have a 

 good thing in gooseberries. The fruit 

 is larger than Downing's or Smith's, of 

 an oval shape and quite smooth ; it has 



never ripened yet; having only one 

 bush the berries have been all pulled 

 for canning. I call it the " Ottawa," 

 and if on further trial it sustains its 

 reputation, I will send it round to my 

 friends for trial." 



TESTIMONIAL TO THE ORIGINATOR 

 OF THE CONCORD GRAPE. 



By the kindness of the venerable 

 President of the American Pomological 

 Society, the Hon. M. P. Wilder, we 

 have received a copy of the Massachu- 

 setts Ploughman, of the 17th July, 

 giving a full account of a gathering of 

 the leading horticulturists of Boston 

 and vicinity, held on the 26th of June 

 last, for the purpose of expressing their 

 appreciation of the labors of Mr. E. W. 

 Bull, of Concord, Mass., in the cause 

 of grape culture, and especially as the 

 originator of the now widely cultivated 

 Concord grape. 



President Wilder presided on this 

 delightful occasion, and inaugurated the 

 proceedings with the following intro- 

 ductory address : — 



'' Gentlemen, — I have the honor of 

 occupying this chair by the courtesy of 

 my friend Mr. Hovey, by whose invi- 

 tation we are here assembled. 



" I am most happy to be here, and \ 

 the more so because we are here to do | 

 justice to an old friend and associate 

 who has done much to promote the 

 happiness of our people by the culti- 

 vation of the vine, and which we desire 

 to recognize on this occasion by some 

 substantial token, too long delayed, of 

 our appreciation of his meritorious ser- 

 vices in the production of the renowned 

 Concoid grape. 



" To say that the Concord grape 

 surpasses hundreds of other varieties 

 which have been originated since it 

 made its appearance, would perhaps be 

 considered extravagant ; but it may be 

 said that no other grape during its thirty 



