THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



155 



able. But I feel I have outstripped luy 

 limits and shall succeed only in weary- 

 ing you. Yours truly, 



B. GOTT. 



Arkoua Nurseries, Ajiril 10, 1SS5. 



PETER PRUNING KNIFE PRUNED. 



Mr. Editor, — In reply to part of 

 an article published in the May num- 

 ber of the Hurticulturist, headed : 

 " Mistakes of Fruit Growers, by Peter 

 Pruning Knife," namely, mistake No. 

 3, I wish to say I am agent for a 

 nursery, and in all the sales of fruit 

 trees that I have made I always 

 recommend trees that are likely to 

 stand the test of our severe winters;' 

 in fact trees that I have proof have 

 grown in the coldest localities of the 

 United States. Very true I have a 

 beautiful colored plate, at the same 

 time I do not recommend the names on 

 the plate without I am certain tliey 

 will stand the cold climate or the soil. 

 For instance, hard-pan soils will not 

 grow fruit ti'ees ; loamy soil will if it 

 is not too light ; in fact ti-ees will grow 

 in very light soil if they are well 

 watched. I have fruit trees growing 

 in limestone gravel and doing well. 

 Whyl Because I feed and water them 

 when required. Why cannot others 

 do the same'? The fault is often with 

 the buyer. For instance, I offer a man 

 a list of hardy trees ; the price is too 

 high. Buyer says can't you let me 

 have trees for less money ] Agent 

 sells a cheap tree. The result is they 

 will not overcome the cold winters 

 without injury more or less. Who is 

 to blame, the agent or the buyer 1 

 Some purchasers will have a first-class 

 article, cost what it will, because they 

 want a tree tliat v/ill carry itself 

 through our trying winters without 

 risk. 



The article I refer to in the Horti- 

 culturint says one-half or more of the 



trees that have lieen thus recommended 

 and planted in the Northern parts of 

 this country have proved worse than 

 useless. Why are they useless ? Be- 

 cause it is the purchaser's fault who 

 will not be advised and pay for a first- 

 class article ; the consequence is the 

 trees fail and the agent and mirsery 

 have to suffer. 



The article I have refei'ence to has 

 pinched my corns. The wiiter of 

 Peter Pruning Knife should think 

 before coming down on fruit tree 

 agents. Some people do not think for 

 one moment that it costs time and 

 money searching and testing the differ- 

 ent varieties adapted for the diiierent 

 climates. 



Ml". Editor, as I am a subscriber to 

 your valuable Caua'Jian Uorticnltariat 

 I hope you will give the above article 

 space in its columns. 



J AS. DouGAL, Sex. 

 Barrie, May 5tli, 1885. 



Note by the Editor.— Our corres- 

 pondent seems to have failed to notice 

 that " Peter Pruning Knife " speaks of 

 the mistake made in ordering trees 

 from agents about lohom the buyer 

 knows nothing. Everj' buyer should 

 satisfy himself that the jiersou to whom 

 he gives his order is in fact an agent of 

 the nursery he pretends to represent- 

 If he cannot show very I'ecent letters 

 from his employers he is not worthy of 

 belief. In selecting varieties he need 

 not be guided merely by the agent. 

 The catalogues of our Canadian nur- 

 series will give very full information as 

 to the adaptation of varieties to the 

 climate, and if he represents a Cana- 

 dian nurseiy he will be able to infornn 

 the purchaser by showing him tho 

 catalogue. 



