162 THE CANADIAN HOETtCULTURIST. 



that time taken up the idea that the growing of fruit would he profit- 

 ahle if good kinds were procured. This gave the agents an opportunity 

 for selling anything for which a grand name could be furnished — a 

 thing that they were not slow to observe and profit by. Anytliing 

 asked for would at once be placed on the order book, vv'hether they 

 had it in stock or not. Then they invariably had some novelty to 

 exhibit, that " surpasses anything heretofore offered." One agent took 

 orders for what lie termed the Mammoth California Pear, at $2.00 per 

 tree, but when the trees he furnished us came into bearing they 

 proved to be the Duchesse d'Angouleme, worth about 50 cts. Many 

 other instances of fraud perpetrated by these agents might be recalled, 

 but the above will serve as a fair sample. 



Although all tree agents are not alike unreliable, still, as a rule, 

 would it not be much better for us to stop dealing with agents alto- 

 gether ? When we require anything in the nursery line, let us place 

 our orders direct with some well-known and reliable nurseryman, so 

 that we may be assured that we get just what we order, and nothing 

 else. This would ultimately do away with agents entirely, conse- 

 quently the nurserymen, by saving their salary or commissioUj would 

 be enabled to furnish stock at cheaper rates. 



ORNAMENTAL TEEES. 



At a meeting of the New York Eural Club, Mr. Josiah Hoopes, 

 president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, read a lengthy 

 and excellent paper on ornamental tree planting, from which the 

 following brief extracts are taken. The Editor of the Canadian 

 Horticulturist commends them most earnestly to the careful perusal 

 of every gentleman who plants ornamental trees. It will be necessary 

 to modify these very valuable suggestions sometimes so that they will 

 harmonise with the climate at the place where the planting is to be 

 done. In that part of Ontario lying between the great lakes, Erie and 

 Ontario, and along the shore of Lake Erie up to the line of the Great 

 Western Eailway, within the limits of successful peach culture, the 

 trees and shrubs mentioned by Mr. Hoopes will be generally found to 

 thrive well, but to the northward, in limits where the peach will not 

 thrive, we can hardly expect the Aucuba or the Japanese Euonymus 

 will flourish ; nor can the Magnolias be relied upon. Some of the 



