THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



REPORT ON PLANTS RECEIVED FROM THE ASSOCIATION. 



FROM JOHN W. CUMMING, MONTREAL. 



I see by the last No of the Canadian Horticulturist, that mem- 

 bers are expected to report on the plants distributed to them, and as 

 I think I have omitted to do so, will no longer delay. 



The Burnet Grape is the first plant I received two years ago, and 

 planted it soon as received, in good soil, Avith old stable manure. In 

 about six weeks after I wrote you for another plant, thinking it was 

 dead ; however, in a few days afterwards it burst through and grew 

 rapidly four or five feet in length during that year. Next year I 

 removed it out to St. Hilaire, and planted it end of April in a sand}^ 

 and clay soil, manured it with bones, urine, &c., and had it carefully 

 attended by an experienced gardener; but I did not think it grew 

 vigorously, and had no fruit on it. I planted several other kinds on 

 the same ground, and one of them (Hartford Prolific) had a bunch of 

 ripe grapes on it the first year after planting. The Burnet seems to 

 me slender in the stem, and not so vigorous a grower as some other 

 varieties. If it does not bear fruit this year I will not think much of it. 



The Ontario Apple received last spring was a splendid young tree, 

 and grew vigorously. It is about eight feet high now above ground, 

 has stood the winter well in an exposed part of the grourid, soil sandy 

 loam, and promises good growth this season. Many of my trees^ 

 (Fameuse) have had the bark split by the sun, but this one has not 

 suffered at all from that. Altogether I am well pleased with the tree, 

 and hope it will flourish in this colder locality. 



I have an orchard of about 600 trees, mostly planted two years ago, 

 principally Fameuse. The soil is a clay marl, and the hdbitans here 

 (St. Hilaire) say that when the tap root gets into the clay in a year or 

 two they will all die. What is your opinion of this ? I can hardly 

 believe it to be true. 



Have any of our readers any experience that will enable them to 

 answer this question? We cannot understand why an apple tree- 

 should be injuriously affected by clay soil. If the ground be wet and 

 cold the tree will not thrive, no matter whether the soil be clay or 

 sandy loam. — Ed. Hort. 



