198 



CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



thus become a great botanic garden, 

 in which plants indigenous to our Pro- 

 vince could readily be examined. 



Here we see the " Lover's Walk," 

 " Way to Cascades," etc. Would not a 

 path skirting the bank that bounds the 

 park be well named the " Botanist's 

 Ramble 1" Here as he threaded his 

 way for more than two miles, a magni 

 ticent panorama of plant life would pass 

 before him, and many species be seen, 

 which are comparatively rare away 

 from this phenomenal botanical hunt- 

 ing-ground. Aside from the study of 

 botany geological features of the river 

 are at hand for examination. 



Thus we have, if our Canadian 

 studentsof science appreciate it, through 

 the wnsdom of our government, an El 

 Dorado for the practical study of two 

 of the most interesting, attractive and 

 instructive departments in natural 

 science. In the past, many avoided 

 going to the Falls on account of exor- 

 bitant charges and the unprincipled 

 conduct of hackmen. A day or two 

 secured the extreme limits of a visit, 

 except to those whose purse was of a 

 more or less inexhaustible nature. 



Hotels, too, charged excessively, and it 

 did seem as if the tourist, who sought 

 this attractive haunt, must be prepared 

 to spend carelessly. 



That state of affairs has passed 

 away. The opening of Victoria Park 

 as a free resort for our people has shut 

 out the aggressive hackmen ; once 

 within its gates you hear no more his 

 vexing importunity ; unmolested you 

 may wander along serpentine paths, 

 undisturbed sit at ease on .seats 

 arranged at points, from which inspiring 

 view-s of the great cataract, leaping into 

 the abyss before you, can be seen. At 

 such hotels as the Wesley Park House, 

 commanding a magnificent view of the 

 Falls, for very moderate rates you can 

 secure pleasant roomsanda well furnish- 

 ed table. Thus the barrier of exorbitant 

 charges is swept away, and the time 

 has come when those who can thorough- 

 ly appreciate the works of nature and 

 read from its fragmentary leaves the 

 story of the earth, have placed within 

 their reach the possibility of spend- 

 ing a vacation where rest, pleasure 

 and instruction may be readily 

 found. 



HORTICULTURAL. 



Russian Apples. 

 Those who have formed their esti- 

 mates of the dessert quality of Russian 

 apples upon their knowledge of Astra- 

 chan, Oldenburg and Alexander, ought 

 to be told that their judgment is no 

 fairer than it would be to judge Ameri- 

 can apples by the Ben Davis, the 

 Mann, the Willow Twig, or a large list 

 of inferior sorts that are yet largely 

 grown. I do not hesitate to say that, 

 among the 300 or more Russian varie- 

 ties of apples already in this country, 

 there are fully as many kinds which 

 possess fine dessert quality as can be 

 selected from a miscellaneous list of 



the same number of American sorts. 

 Already m,any have had the oppor- 

 tunity to realize this in Russian apples 

 of the Yellow Transparent class. But 

 a large number of the later Russian, 

 like St Peter, Golden White, Autumn 

 Streaked, Heidorn and Popaff, are still 

 finer in quality, and the same may be 

 said of the winter sorts, like Longtield, 

 Borsdorf, Bogdanoff, and others. 

 They are also handsome apples, and 

 the trees are healthy and productive. 

 So far, however, very late keepers are 

 scarce among them. — [T. H. Hoskins, 

 M. D. — Neicport, Vt.; in Our Country 

 Home.'] 



