THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



what tliey liave already. Among these fruits are some of the seedling' 

 grap(!S of Wni; H. Mills and Wm. Haskins, Hamilton, the strawberries- 

 of Ciias. Arnold, Paris, the s'trawberries and grapes of Chas. Biggar, 

 Druraraondvillc, and the grapes, currants, gooseberries, &c., of P. 0. 

 Derapsey, Albury, and Wm. Saunders, London. 



Last summer I had the pleasure of visiting the grounds of Mr. 

 vSaunders while his currants and gooseberries were ripe, and comparing 

 them with some of the leading popular varieties, and I am sure if they 

 do as well in other places as they do there some of them if they become 

 known will take the place of varieties now- in cultivation. He had 

 two varieties of black currants growing by the side of Black Naples 

 and Lee's Prolific, which as I saw them I should prefer to those 

 varieties. One was a larger berry and fully as productive, the other 

 equal in size and productiveness and much sweeter and better flavored. 

 1 also saw several seedling gooseberries, crosses between the Houghton 

 and English varieties — some of which have been brought to the 

 notice of the Association before — growing and ripening along side of 

 Honghton's Seedling, Downing and others, which in size and product- 

 iveness would excel any of the old varieties, and they were apparently 

 as free from mildew ; also a very fine red seedling currant. 



Now what I want to suggest, is that some means be devised to 

 test the qualities of these fruits and bring them before the public, 

 particularly those whose originators are too much occupied with other 

 things, or are too modest to push them into notice. Could not the 

 Fruit Growers' Association, now that it has experimental groutads at 

 its command, take hold of these and test their merits, and if worthy toy 

 be sent out propagate them and allow the originators a royalty on all 

 that were disseminated ? It has been said that any man who makes 

 two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before is a public 

 benefactor, and why should not a man who makes two grapes or straw- 

 berries or any other kind of fruit grow where only one did before be 

 considered as such and rewarded accordingly ? The Association has 

 in years gone l>y offered money prizes for new fruits which were equal 

 or superior to standard varieties, but I would suggest that in addition' 

 to this an honary medal or testimonial of some kind should be given 

 by the Association to any one who originates a new fruit of superior' 

 quality. I throw out these suggestions, hoping the Association or- its - 

 Directors will take some action on them at their next meeting 



