THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



33 



evening, after a brief speech of eulogy by 

 Mr. Gibson, i-ebearsing Mr. Lyon's ex- 

 ceedingly great services to tbe society. 

 It was to Mr. Lyon a complete surprise, 

 and he was so deeply moved that re- 

 sponse was impo.ssible and he quickly 

 resumed his seat, asking to be excused 

 from remarks. 



ELLIOT'S EARLY PEAR. 



Sir, — Referring to your noteson early- 

 pears in the December Number, I wish 

 to say a good word for Elliot's Early. 

 It is a native of Windsor, Ont. I pro- 

 cured my tree (Dwarf) from Mr. 

 Dongall. It is a delicious [)ear, medium, 

 but uneven, in size, a profuse bearer, 

 and handsome in appearance. 



They commenced to I'ipen with me 

 last summer on 2'2nd July, and, the 

 young ])eople having discovered their 

 merit, wei-e nearly all gone by the 1st 

 of August. They ripen on the tree a 

 half-dozen or dozen at a time, and no 

 sign of rotting at the core. The tree is 

 not so hardy as the Flemish Beauty, 

 but stands the winter here fairly, which, 

 by reason of our elevation, is excep- 

 tionally severe. Grapes last year were 

 almost a failure — s])ring frosts. 



J. P. W., Stratford. 



CONDENSED FRUIT REPORTS. 



Chinese P.ieony. — The Chinese Pseony 

 received in 1883 did remarkably well, 

 blooming the first and each successive 

 year in spite of the injury done them 

 by dividing tlie roots every spring, for 

 proi)agating purposes. They are easily 

 cultivated, requiring no protection 

 whatever, and pi'oduce the finest flowers 

 (though not the largest), when planted 

 in soil only moderately rich. Those 

 who grow only the comuion Pa?ony can 

 form no idea ot the beauty of the Chinese 

 varieties. J. H. Wismer, Port Elgin. 



The Prentiss Grape, received in 

 1884, made a growth of about ten inches 

 while other varieties alongside, with 



less care, made five to eight feet. The 

 first winter it froze, but spi'outed the 

 following spring from the roots and 

 again made the same sickly growth, was 

 again injured by frost, and now I con- 

 sider it an utter failure, of no earthly 

 use in this northern country. In this 

 connection I may say that my grounds 

 are fully exposed, and the climate here 

 being a most vigorous one, n thing of a 

 tender nature can be grown. 



.J. H. Wismer. 



Small Fruits. — The Fay's Prolific 

 Cun-ant promises well ; and so does the 

 Marll)oro' Kaspberry. The canes of the 

 latter are large and stronjij. The fruit 

 is large and very fine. 



Strawberries did well. I find it a 

 real success to clean and put the straw- 

 berry bed in a good condition soon 

 after the fruit is oflf. I cut off all the 

 leaves and runners, and work over the 

 ground with a hoe. This appears to 

 induce fruitfulness. 



Would Mr. Beall or Mr. Croil tell us 

 the kind of soil, the variety of straw- 

 berry and the mode of culture which 

 resulted in so large a crop on Mr.Beall's 

 place 1 Samuel Fe.a.r, Brussels. 



notes to new beginners. 



BY PETKR PRIXIXG KXIFK. 



The first step necessary to successful 

 fruit growing, after selecting the loca- 

 tion, is to ])repare the 

 soil. 

 If not naturally dry enough it should 

 be underdrained, and enriched, and 

 cleared of all foul weeds — especially for 

 small fruits. Quack grass, Canada 

 thistles, and fruit will not flourish to- 

 gether, particularly the fruit, the (piack 

 and thistles may. I have spent more 

 money in trying to clear these weeds 

 from ben-ies after they were planted 

 than the fruit was worth and then had 

 to plough them up. This was when I 

 went on a new place and wanted to get 



