I/O The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Mr. T. H, Race, of Mitchell, in the County of Perth, writes : "Judging- 

 from the present show of blossom buds, the promise was never better in 

 this section for an abundant crop of apples, plums, pears and cherries- 

 Small fruits do not promise so well, with the exception perhaps of currants 

 and gooseberries. Straw oerries were badly killed in the vine during the 

 winter ; there was no covering of snow to protect them, and the continued 

 open weather with alternate frosts and thawings played havoc with them. 

 The Gregg and Cuthbert raspberries have also suffered badly from the sud- 

 den climatic changes, and will not yield an average crop." 



Mr. N.J.Clinton, of Windsor, in the County of Essex, writes : " Pears 

 show favorably for a good average crop, although not quite up to last year. 

 The old French trees have shown few blossoms ; this seems to be their off 

 year." 



Mr. Fred. Mitchell, of Innerkip, in the County of Oxford, writes : 

 " By present appearances, strawberries will not be more than half a crop. 

 During the past winter so little snow fell that exposure weakened all and 

 even altogether destroyed many fields. Cherries are not grown on account 

 of the black knot. Pears are loaded with blossoms." 



Mr. Simon Roy, of Berlin, in the County of Waterloo, writes: "The 

 crop of apples, pears and plums in this county will probably be abundant* 

 provided that no such calamity as that experienced on the 28th of May of 

 last season occurs. The present season is about fourteen days later than 

 last year, consequently we may escape. As an almost anticipated conse- 

 quence on the almost total destruction of both apples and plums last year, 

 we may be almost exempt from those insect pests which are almost uncon- 

 trollable, by leaving no chance for their perpetuation. During my experi- 

 ence of some forty years, more or less, in Canada, connected with horticul- 

 tural matters, I have invariably found that in seasons of early fine weather, 

 very indifferent fruit crops were produced. I have noticed particularly the 

 abundance of blossom buds on the various varieties of pear trees, which are 

 really wonderful, and if one pear is produced in twenty blossoms, the crop 

 will be large enough. Cherry trees are largely destroyed with the black 

 knot in this county, but what few trees are left seem to be well loaded with 

 bloom. The past open winter has been disastrous to the strawberry planta- 

 tions, and, from what I can learn, the crop of fruit will be only about one 

 third. The alternate freezing and thawing of the winter has made sad 

 havoc to plantations not protected by straw. Raspberries in exposed situa- 

 tions have been injured. Many of the popular Cuthbert canes are killed to 

 the ground. The newer varieties such as Golden Queen and Marlboro' 

 appear safe." 



Mr. George Bunbury, of Oakville, in the county of Halton, writes: " Pears 

 in this section are crammed with blossoms. Cherry trees are also well filled. 

 Strawberry plantations are fair to good in some places. Raspberries promise 



