46 THE CANADIAN IIORTICULTUItlST. 



THE VAN WYCK SWEET CRAB. 



The best of all crabs is Van Wj^ck Sweet Crab. It is a seedin;:; that 

 originated fi-oni some old ci-ab trees growing upon the estate of Van Wvck, 

 which had dropi)Bd their fruit ; the seeds of some germinated, and young 

 trees were carefnlly transplanted and cultivated. Among the number was 

 one which was very much admired for its beauty, size, and the sweetness 

 of its flavor. It was as handsome as a finely colored pear, with a delicate 

 bloom ui)on it which resembled a plum. It had the appeai-ance of a crab, 

 and yet it was sweet as honey. Its general appearance and characteristics 

 .gave rise to a discussion among pomologists as to whether it was a crab or 

 an apple. In fact, the idea generally prevailed that the crab, being in the 

 first instance a hybrid from the apple, had gone back to its origin. Among 

 the number who claimed it as a crab, was Mr. Fuller, and Mr. Chas. 

 Downing, both deciding it to be a crab. But Van VVyck's crab-apple would 

 be just the same fruit if the word crab was omitted and it was called an 

 japple. It lacks the acid flavor whicii we have always considered essential 

 to the crab, although it retains the long slender stem. — American Cultivator. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



MONEY WELL SPENT. 



Noting your kindly reminder in the Horticulturist, I hasten to 

 comply, and therefore enclose you the usual fee of one dollar, which to me 

 I can truly say is one of the pleasures of the season, and further, is an 

 investment the interest upon which is beyond computation, when taking 

 into consideration the important work in which the Association is engaged. 

 With ragard to the plants already received, being comparatively a new 

 member I have very little to report. The Burnet grape with me appears 

 to be very close jointed, and consequently a slow grower. It did not fruit 

 the past season. The Ontario apple is doing .well, having made a fine 

 growth the past season, as did also the raspberry plant received last spring. 

 I wish the Fruit Growers' Association continued and increased success. 



Geo. a. Austin, iSimcoe. 



THE SORGUM QUSTION AGAIN, 



I am satisfied that sorgum- culture if properly managed will pay. I 

 made fifteen gallons of first class syrup. There is a ready sale at 80 cents 

 per gallon. I planted on the 23rd of May, and it was ready for the mill 

 the 20th September ; stalks from nine to eleven feet high. The ripest seed 

 made the best syrup, but not so much in quantity. Now the next thing is 

 to find out how to make the sugar. The longer it stood in the stalk the 

 better the syrup. The only question is how to make sugar. When the 

 plant attained about two feet in height it was attacked with a green plant 

 louse that stayed in the centre until the seed stalk pushed them out. Now 

 I hope to hear from some of the members more experienced in sorgum 

 culture, and especially in the manufacture of the sugar. 



Jonas NefF) Port Coliorne. 



