178 THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



plant, as a redundancy of either has a tendency to delay the ripening 

 ef the fruit, which it is necessary to mature as soon as possible, so as 

 to escape the early frosts, which are injurious to most of our cultivated 

 varieties. One of the most successful growers in this section it is 

 understood took twelve first prizes and two second out of a possible 

 fourteen, at the Montreal exhibition last September. The same gen- 

 tleman has visited exhibitions in Toronto with nearly as great success. 

 This demonstrates that the vicinity of Ottawa is quite equal if not 

 superior to any other part of the Dominion, either east or west, for 

 the growth of this delicious fruit. It is believed that the best locali- 

 ties for the vine have not yep been brought into cultivation ; the rocky 

 foothills and upper southern slopes of the Chelsea mountains, near 

 Ottawa, contain many hundreds of acres which though unfitted for 

 cereal crops, owing to the rocky nature of the soil, might by careful 

 selection and terracing, be found most suitable for vineyards. 



It is understood that several gentlemen have purchased and plant- 

 ed,] or are about to plant extensive vineyards close to the city ; but 

 there is no reason why any good situation convenient to a railway 

 should not be quite as favorable for market purposes. 



One thing is very evident, that the rapid extension of the vine will 

 lead to the production of wines here, as has been the case about To- 

 ronto, Hamilton, and other western cities. This however is not looked 

 upon as an unmixed evil, as it is generally conceded that the popula- 

 tion of vine-growing countries are amongst the soberest of nations. 

 Within the past few weeks a cablegram has been received from France, 

 stating that a meeting has been held at Bordeaux, at which the Mayor 

 was present, for the purpose of forming a syndicate, with the view of 

 transferring to Canada some of the wine establishments so largely 

 carried on in that country — the ravages of the Phyloxera being so 

 serious that the cultivation of the vine is becoming year by year more 

 difficult. It appears that this insect does not attack the roots of the 

 native American grape ; and some experiments have been made by 

 importing the Canadian wild fruit seeds, and grafting the seedlings 

 raised from them with the wine-producing plants ; but although the 

 grape is one of the easiest woods to giaft below the soil, it does not 

 readily unite when the operation is performed above ground ; the 

 consequence is, the scion takes root, and being a stronger grower 

 than the native, the ends sought to be obtained are found abortive ; 



