BRITISH NORTH AMERICA 



BRITISH NORTH AMERICA 567 



is no doubt that a few years hence the number of 

 bearing trees will be much increased. The census 

 figures are as follows: 



The nursery business is popular in the province. 

 Considering the size of the horticultural areas, the num- 

 ber of nursery firms doing business is large. Under the 

 name of "northern-grown stock" the sale has been 

 pushed. All nursery produce is carefully inspected by 

 government officials, and all imported stock must be 

 inspected before planting may be made. 



iSIany varieties have originated in Quebec. The most 

 of these are of minor importance, but the Montreal 

 melon and the Fameuse apple have done more to adver- 

 tise horticulture in Quebec than all other causes com- 

 bined. The Montreal muskmelon is a melon of great 

 size, often weighing nineteen and a half pounds. There 

 are many cases on record in which they became much 

 heavier, but these exceptionally large ones are not 

 sought after. It has been stated that early French 

 Jesuits brought melon seed to Quebec and that the 

 present Montreal melon evolved from this source, but 

 there is no such record. If this over happened, the 

 event was deemed of so little importance as to be un- 

 worthy of record. There can be no doubt, however, that 

 the Indians were cultivating the melon in (Quebec when 

 first explored by the French in 164.5 to 1649. Father 

 Breesani (S.F.) mentions a plant he had seen in the 

 country of the Ilurons, now Simcoe County, which he 

 says was similar to the melon of India (Mres.se Rela- 

 tion, Martin's translation, p. 68). The .Journal of a "per- 

 son of merit," name not given, ll)G3, who w;is .sent out 

 expresslj' to report on the resources of Canada, and 



who spent one year in the colony, has this to say on 

 the matter in question: "Thence we proceeded up the 

 river to Montreal. Its latitude is that of Bordeaux, its 

 climate most agreeable, its .soil excellent; a gardener 

 here has but to cast his melon seeds into a little patch 

 of loosened earth among the stones and they do not fail 

 to thrive without further care on the part of the man" 

 (Relations 1663, quib, ed. p. 28, 2 col.; Chiv. cd., Vol.48, 

 p. 169). He adds, "Squashes are raised there with still 

 less labor, but differ much from ours [in France] for 

 some have the flavor of apples and pears when cooked." 

 The Montreal melon has not been an equal success in 

 other sections. The peculiar soil -formation and cli- 

 matic conditions on the island of Montreal combine to 

 give the fruit a flavor which is not equaled elsewhere. 

 At the beginning of the melon season moderate-sized 

 specimens bring on the Montreal market .$18 per dozen 

 and retail at .$2.2.5 each. The Fameuse apple is now 

 commonlv spoken of as the national apple of Quebec. 

 No definite records exist concerning the exact origin of 

 the Fameuse. There can be no doubt, however, that 

 the Fameuse is a seedling arising from seed brought 

 from France by early French priests. The Fameuse 

 in Quebec is a very striking apple; in form, color and 

 flavor it is par excellence. No province to the west cad 

 compete with Quebec's Fameuse. Specimens are pro- 

 duced here as nearly ideal as may be found, as com- 

 parative exhibitions have shown. Fameuse apples 

 from this province are easy winners. 



The local government grants .$12,600 as an aid to 

 horticulture. From this sum $7 a month is allowed all 

 students from Quebec attending the regular agricul- 

 tural courses at the colleges; .$1,500 is granted to three 

 pomological societies. Aid is also given to horticultural 

 ex-tension work, such as demonstration trains, demon- 

 stration orchards and various lorms of institute work. 

 Horticulture is taught in three colleges, Macdonald Col- 

 lege, Oka, and St. Anne de la Pocatiere, which deserve 

 special mention. Macdonald College is unique in 

 agricultural development along educational lines. It 

 sprang into being fully equipped and ready for effi- 

 cient service at once. This was made possible by the 

 munificence of Sir WilUam Macdonald, a public-spirited 

 capitalist of Montreal. It was Macdonald who financed 

 the undertaking; but it was James W. Robertson, a 

 man of great vision, who, by means of lectures, litera- 

 ture and personal persuasion, aroused widespread 

 interest in agriculture; and who, by his work and ideaU 

 was able to attract the attention of Sir William and to 

 gain his financial support. The college property com- 

 prises 561 acres, and boasts the largest horticultural 

 department in similar institutions in America. The 

 courses run over four years, leading to the degree of 

 B. S. A. The agricultural school conducted by the 

 Trappist fathers is of great interest to visitors. These 

 Trappist monks, by their industry and skill in agricul- 

 ture, have changed the face of the countryside in the 

 region of the Lake of the Two Mountains since 1880. 

 The scientific and practical training at the college is 

 given by twelve to fifteen fathers and lay teachers. 

 The average number of pupils at present is about one 

 hundred, who come largely from the province of Que- 

 bec. Students who have pa.ssed all examinations suc- 

 cessfully obtain the degree of B. S. A. from Laval L'ni- 

 versity. The agricultural school of St. .\nne de la 

 Pocatiere teaches horticulture ;is well as allied agricul- 

 tural subjects. A limited niunber of .students are in 

 attendance, who secure diplomas upon completing the 

 courses. E. M. Stuaight. 



Ontario. 



The horticulture of Ontario is undergoing very rapid 

 evolution. The province is so situated geographically 

 and topographically as to enjoy a climate much milder 

 than that of most parts of Canada. Within the prov- 



