434 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST, 



be content with dahlias, sweet peas and 

 sunflowers. In August we have had rain, 

 very high wind, and even frost. Our pear 

 trees are doing very well, and I have suc- 

 ceeded in wintering out doors two peach 

 trees. With proper protection I expect to 

 succeed in having fruit. This part of the 

 Province is particularly adapted to the cul- 

 ture of cherry and plum trees ; they re- 

 quire care, attention, washing and heavy 

 manuring. Every autumn we put a few 



rough boards to prevent the freezing of the 

 roots. The trees are latted at the begin- 

 ning of October to prevent the bark being 

 eaten by moles, etc. The laths are removed 

 about the middle of May. The crop of ap- 

 ples is very large, but the apples are stained, 

 due to the extreme rain. 



Cats are kept to eat moles, rats, mice, 

 etc., and birds never disturbed, as they eat 

 so many worms. The currants have been 

 neglected, as we cannot find pickers. 



GOOD PRICES FOR EARLY APPLES IN WOLVERHAMPTON 



PEARS FIFTEEN CENTS A POUND — PEACHES SIX CENTS 

 EACH — ASTRACHANS EIGHT CENTS A POUND 



A LETTER FROM A. M D. ALLAN, F. R. H. S. 



THE first apples I noticed in the market 

 of this season was Astrachans from 

 Spain, which sold retail at eight cents per 

 pound. They are fair in size but lack the 

 color of ours, are coarser of texture and not 

 so juicy and sprightly. 



The Keswick Codlin is used for stewing 

 when half grown and many even eat it out 

 (if hand when no larger than a walnut. 

 The fruiterers all had it for sale at four 

 cents per pound, the first week of this 

 month. 



August 8th, I observed quantities of 

 Yellow Egg Plum in the market at four cents 

 per pound, and was curious to know what on 

 earth anyone could use it for when perfectly 

 hard and green and before attaining full 

 growth. It is pickled, and also made into 

 jam for pies ; put up in pots it is kept some- 

 times for winter use. Osband s Summer 

 Pear from Jersey reached market on thegth, 

 and brings twelve cents per pound, very 

 small, and where soft is mealy and flavorless. 

 Small Green Tyson, also from Jersey, brings 

 twelve cents per pound, and like others 

 lacks that fruity flavor we are used to. 



Green Gage Plum is good size and we re- 

 cognize the qnality, but it lacks juice. It 

 comes from France and brings twelve cents. 



On the 1 2th, Barletts, from Jersey, light 

 green, medium in size, dry and flavorless, 

 bring fifteen cents per pound. Jargonelle 

 (English), about size of quarter grown 

 Vicar, slightly russet, green, knotty, twelve 

 cents per pound. 



The Jersey Pears are packed in boxes 

 with brown paper between layers, not 

 wrapped, but samples are of even size 

 throughout and all clean. Plums are also 

 packed in a similar manner in small boxes 

 usually abont twenty pounds each. 



On the i8th, some English Astracans 

 appeared, but the samples are smaller than 

 the Spanish and insipid in flavor. 



Peaches from hothouses are very fine in 

 appearance, but this luxury costs the con- 

 sumer six cents each. The skin is much 

 thicker than ours, flesh firm, but lacks the 

 juice. Apricots bring eight cents each, and 

 specimens are grand, large and high in color. 

 I thought it a pity to taste these, as the 

 sight of a box containing a single layer, 



