64 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



that it dwindled down, while the Williams continued for a long season. Last 

 year we continued to gather the Williams for over four weeks. We had no 

 trouble with the white tips. By leaving the berries a day or two longer on the 

 vines, they ripen up to the very tips. We always receive a cent or a cent and a 

 half more in the market for the Williams than for any other variety. If I were 

 to name three kinds for the home market, I would mention the Williams, 

 Bubach, and Warfield. 



Mr. W. H. Lee, Niagara — My experience has been such that if I had to 

 grow the Wilson and Crescent and allow some one else to grow the Williams, I 

 would quit strawberry growing right away. In the Toronto market I can get 

 two and three cents more a basket for them than for the others. You will make 

 a mistake if you do not give the Williams strawberry prominence. I have no 

 personal interest whatever, but I have tested it both here and in the Niagara 

 district. It may not stand drouth with the Bubach, but it is a much better 

 paying berry ; indeed, I get two baskets from it for one from any other variety. 



THE CROPS OF LAST SEASON. 



OT having written for some time I send a few notes respecting last 

 season's crops. Strawberries were an extra good crop with me this 

 year, but prices ruled lower than last year. Blat:k currants also a 

 good fair crop. Grapes were almost a failure, owing to the wet cold 

 weather in the spring, which retarded the early growth. Apples a 

 very heavy crop on some trees. In this neighborhood generally, 

 apples were an immense crop. I see in the November Horticulturist an 

 Orillia grower has grown tomatoes weighing i lb. 3*4 oz., and another a specimen 

 weighing i lb. 2 oz. I can beat the record in Orillia. I grew a tomato this sum- 

 mer, of the same variety, Ponderosa, weighing a little over 1 Uj lbs., and I took 

 the first prize at the Tiny and lay Agricultural Show at Midland with six speci- 

 mens, weighing altogether 8 lbs. 9^ ozs., averaging for the six within a fraction 

 of 1 lb. 7 oz. I do not like the quality of the Ponderosa, they are very soft, and 

 rot easily. Their chief recommendation is their size. They also grow smooth, 

 not much wasted in wrinkles. Now a few words about rhubarb. On page 219, 

 Vol. 13, is mentioned a variety known as Stoat's Monarch, of very large size 

 grown at Brampton. I sent to the writer of the paragraph, Mr. Morton, and 

 procured three roots, which have done well. It is a variety worth trying, very 

 much larger than the average kinds, and cooks better, though green in color. I 

 prefer it, for stewing, to the old kinds. I had several stalks two inches in diameter, 

 and one, two and a quarter inches. It has been one thing against rhubarb that as 

 the season advances the stalks get tough and inferior in quality. I have adopted 

 a way of overcoming this trouble. When the first rush of the season is over I 

 mow the stalks close to the ground with a sickle and in a few weeks I have a 

 supply of fresh young stalks equal in quality to the earliest in the spring, as it 

 grows again immediately. This may be done two or three times in the season. 

 Penetangitishene. G. J. Randall. 



