3° 2 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



are bent to the ground at right angles to the trench, and weighted down. In 

 this condition the orchard more resembles a brush heap than a plantation of 

 live plum trees, but the trees are safely protected from the cold by the snow 

 which accumulates upon them. As a result he gathers an enormous crop 

 annually. 



Description — -Size, below medium ; form, roundish oval : skin, purplish 

 black with a thin blue blush ; flesh, greenish yellow, juicy, with a pleasant but 

 not rich flavor ; season, early autumn. 



The variety originated on the highlands of the Aroostook River in the 

 State of Maine, and is the favorite plum grown by the plum raisers of the Aroo- 

 stook Valley. 



EXPERIENCES IN THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



{V ^' ,wt ' '^ j AM very much pleased with the Horticulturist so far. Our 

 strawberries did well this year, and off a little less than one-fifth 

 of an acre we took 2,4000 quart boxes, and 40 boxes of goose- 

 berriesoff 1 2 middle sized bushes. No sign of mould on thegoose- 



M berries. The Cuthbert raspberry does well with us, and also the 



Golden Queen raspberry, and Mammoth Cluster Black Cap. I 

 like the idea I saw in the Horticulturist, of nipping the black raspberry canes 

 when one foot high. I wish I had known this sooner, and I would have done 

 the same with ours. I nipped ours when 3 feet high, and since the side shoots 

 have grown they have reached the height of nearly 5 feet. I am afraid the 

 fierce winter winds will break the canes off at the ground. 



The Concord and Brighton grapes do well here. We also like the Cherry 

 currant as a canning fruit, but it is not prolific enough to pay for a market fruit, 

 and the black currant never did well here, on our farm at any rate. 



Our young apples, pear, cherry, and plum trees, are growing finely this 

 season. We planted them four years ago last spring, and we consider spring the 

 best time for such work. All our trees grew. We are just two miles from a 

 good home market, and we have very little competition so far ; everybody 

 seems to want our berries, they are always so clean and fresh. 



We have a colony of bees; and keep from 75 to 80 hens, which have the 

 run of the orchard, they don't eat many berries, their object being to clean out 

 all the insects they can find. You can read this lengthy epistle when you cannot 

 find anything else to do. 



You will, " if all goes right," find enclosed one dollar for the Horticultur- 

 ist. Wishing you success, " I remain as ever," 



Elmira, Ont. Ellen Fear. 



