34° The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Blenheim Pippin was always good, and will remain so if it receives any sort of 

 decent encouragement now and then. But then they all want that. Educate 

 growers to devote half the manure and labor on the orchard that they do on any 

 other equal portion of the cultivated farm, and generally tiner samples of fruit, 

 more of it and better prices, with a rapidly rising demand, will be the result. 



Mulch. — At this season of the year, Mr. Editor, F believe it would pay to 

 post a card containing these five letters over the front door of every fruit 

 grower's house. Nature is busy laying down a mulch in her domains, and if we 

 follow her example we do well. Especially is this necessary in newly-planted 

 trees. Yes, mulch with manure now on to the time that frost comes, and when 

 spring opens instead of taking oflF this extra blanket turn it into the soil. 



A. McD. Allan. 



Toronto, Oftt. 



An English Fruit-Grower's Views on Marketing. — As most of the 

 fruit grown is consigned to salesmen, I would try and discover some one who 

 bears the character of honest dealing, and trust him. Do not dodge about from 

 one to another ; this often has led to getting " out of the frying-pan into the 

 fire." If the fruit be honestly packed, giving good measure, customers soon dis- 

 cover this, and' inquire for the goods, with the result that full market-price is 

 obtained with little difficulty. I find it to be a good plan, as a rule, to have 

 a continuous supply of the same kind of fruit. In sending, say, loo 

 bushels of apples of one kind to market, I would not send them all at once, but 

 begin with 15 or 20 bushels, increasing the quantity as the customers seemed 

 to appreciate them. On the other hand, do not send a small quantity of a large 

 number of sorts, which is very bewildering to the salesman, who finds such con- 

 signments a great nuisance Let all fruit be in a marketable condition when 

 sent, or it will probably be left for days or weeks before finding a purchaser, 

 and then only at a low price, alike unsatisfactory to the salesman and the grower. 

 The great advantage of the fruit from abroad is this, " that when placed on the 

 market it is fit for immediate use," which seems to suit the circumstances of 

 most buyers, who .say, " we do not want fruit to keep, we want it to sell."' ij^Ve 

 must, therefore, try and supply not only the article, but supply it also in the con- 

 dition in which they require it — G. Hammond, before the British Fruit-(irowers' 

 Association. 



Crocuses in Sod. — Crocuses grow readily in ordinary sod. The bulbs 

 should be 2 or 3 inches beneath the surface. The flowers are scarcely out of 

 the way by the time the grass needs cutting, assuming that the sod is one that is 

 kept closely mown. A favorite place for growing crocuses in grass is under the 

 shade of deciduous trees, where the grass does not make a strong growth. 

 Another good place for them is about the base of evergreen trees, and under 

 the branches of flowering shrubs. — Am. Gardening. 



