90 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



smallest of the i^rovinces of Canada, has an area of two thousand 

 one hundred and thirty-three square miles, is one hundred and fifty 

 miles long and varies from nine to thirty miles in width, and has 

 a population of one hundred and ten thousand. This island has 

 a fertile soil ; the climate is cool and bracing in summer, but 

 rather severe in winter. Many varieties of apples, plums, and 

 cherries succeed well there, and gooseberries, currants, and other 

 small fruits are produced in abundance ; but the winter season is 

 too severe to admit of growing the more tender fruits success- 

 fully. The cultivation of flowers is very general, especially in 

 the cities and towns, in which many avenues of stately trees are 

 found, most of which are European. So also are the shrubs 

 which decorate the grounds about rural and city homes. The 

 number of varieties of trees groAvn are few, and in shrubs one 

 notices the absence of many beautiful forms which are grown 

 very successfully in other provinces, and which will, no doubt, 

 when introduced, do well here. Horticulture is encouraged by 

 the holding of exhibitions of fruits and flowers in the capital at 

 Charlottetown and elsewhere, which are assisted by grants from 

 the provincial treasury. There is a fine park in Charlottetown, 

 comprising about one hundred and fifty acres, with beautiful 

 drives through the wooded areas and along the seashore, — a 

 cool and delightful place of resort for the citizens throughout the 

 summer mouths. 



Across the Northumberland Straits from Charlottetown, some 

 thirty miles distant, lies the Province of Nova Scotia, with its 

 twenty thousand five hundred and fifty square miles of area and 

 a population of four hundred and fifty-one thousand. The 

 climate of the eastern part of this province is mild and A^^ell 

 adapted for the groAving of many varieties of fruit of high 

 quality and in great perfection. The Annapolis A^alley, so well 

 knoAvn as the scene of LougfelloAv's beautiful and tragic poem, 

 is specially adapted by climate and situation for fruit growing, 

 and is rapidly being converted into a vast orchard Avhere the 

 choicest sorts of apples, j)ears, plums, and cherries grow in the 

 greatest abundance. In this valley there is a special school of 

 horticulture, receiving a liberal provincial grant, Avhere practical 

 training is given to students in the propagation and growth of 

 fruits, ornamental shrubs, trees, and flowers. To drive among 

 the beautiful scenes in that charming A'alley, A\^hen the trees are 



