132 THE CANADIAN HOKTICULTUllIST. 



sugar of lead and the usual remedies were tried with little benefit, 

 until I happened to take some cream of tartar at the same time that 

 I was taking quinine for the dumb ague, and to my great surjjrise 

 and relief in two or three days my eyes were well again. Tt was, I 

 think, the combination of the two medicines that accomplished the 

 happy result ; and since that time if I ever find the eye complaint 

 returning a dose or two of cream of tartar is sufficient to set all right 

 again. Now, as all grapes contain cream of tartar, may they not 

 be exceedingly beneficial to constitutions requiring that particular 

 element; and if so, it would appear that it might be better and a great 

 deal cheaper than paying doctors' bills, to spend our contributions to 

 the income of those professions in purchasing ample supplies of health- 

 promoting fruits. 



A NEW SEEDLING PLUM. 



Through the kindness of Judge Macpherson, of Owen Sound, we 

 have received a sample of a seedling plum which is nearly as large as 

 a Lombard and resembling it in color, but which ripens early. The 

 Judge says that the fruit ripens much earlier than any of the plums 

 in this part of the country known to him. He has now about thirty 

 bearing trees of this variety, all raised from sprouts from the parent 

 tree, which grew from seed in his garden some twenty years ago. Tt 

 is a thrifty growing variety and a good bearer, and he is of the opinion 

 that it would prove a valuable fruit if disseminated. 



Judging from the sample received, which arrived in excellent 

 condition, we would expect it to carry well, the flesh being firm and 

 adhering closely to the stone. 



A SINGULAR FREAK OF NATURE. 



We received a sample of fruit from Mr, E, Morris, of the Fonthill 

 Nurseries, which grew on an Early Harvest apple tree. It has the 

 form and general appearance of a pear, being most symmetrically 

 pyriform, but having the odor, texture and flavor of an apple. It is 

 gratifying to learn that strange things happen in this way in other 

 places than in the neighborhood of Mr. Charles Arnold, who has 

 hitherto seemed to have enjoyed a monopoly of these wonderful 

 occurrences. 



