The Canadian Horticulturist. 185 



English Children should be taught at school, according to the Gardener's 

 Chronicle, that it is a patriotic virtue to buy and eat home-grown apples, instead 

 of those imported from Canada and the United States ! Surely this could not 

 be generally approved of as a plan for the advancement of English fruit interests. 

 The final appeal is always that of real merit, and other things being equal, the 

 best apples will be in most demand. 



The editor of that journal cites the Baldwin and King as samples of our 

 apples, and says that it is their color, not their quality, that sells them. This is 

 true perhaps of the former, but in our opinion it is a happy union of both in the 

 case of the King that makes it advance every year a little beyond its price the 

 year preceding. 



Harris' Step Ladder. — It will be remembered that Mr. Thomas Harris, 

 of Meaford, has invented a very strong and serviceable ladder to be used in 

 gathering fruit, grafting, and other garden work. A cut of it appeared in our 

 journal about a year ago. He writes : "I have lately invented two other hor- 

 ticultural tools, chiefly designed to be used in connection with my patent ladder. 

 When they are ready I will advise you concerning them. I have several letters 

 speaking highly of my ladder. I can make them perfectly safe in various 

 lengths up to fifteen feet. I think they will be particularly useful in top-grafting, 

 because they are so firm that one can work from the top step as safely and com- 

 fortably as if on the ground ; the basket holder can be used for the tool-basket, 

 for knife, hammer, scions, etc., you can hang your saw on one hook and a 

 basket on the other, and stock your coat and hat on the top. It only needs a 

 looking-glass to make it a complete wardrobe." 



