The Canadian Horticulturist. 45 



Reliable seedsmen are sometimes blamed for selling worthless seeds ; whereas 

 the failure to grow is caused altogether by the indifferent treatment they are sub- 

 jected to after they are purchased in good condition. 



I have often seen failures caused by sowing too deeply in clayey soil. Soon 

 after sowing perhaps a heavy rain would come, and immediately thereafter drying 

 winds would form a hard crust on the surface through which no seeds, with the 

 exception of black oak acorns and hickory nuts, could push their sprouts. 



Seeds sown late in the spring are not nearly so certain of germination as 

 when sown early. 



The best crop of mangels I have ever seen was from seed sown in the fall, 

 yet the practice of sowing mangel seeds in the fall could hardly be recommended, 

 because, should the seeds germinate before the winter sets in, the young plants 

 would almost certainly be killed. 



In order to prevent disappointment and dissatisfaction it is generally 

 advisable to test the quality of seeds before sowing for a crop, and the best way 

 to do it is to fill flower-pots with good, rich, loamy soil, place them in a room of 

 ordinary warmth and sow one hundred seeds of a kind in each pot. If over 

 ninety-five per cent, germinate, you may rest assured the seed merchant had not 

 been trying to cheat you. 



Cataraqui, Out. D. NiCHOL. 



Profitable Methods. — Get the early fruit into neat crates and baskets and 

 turn it into money. In some seasons very poor, gnarly fruit is saleable because 

 fruit is so scarce. The sooner it is in market the more it brings. Handsome and 

 honest packing, pay and be sure your name is on each package. If a surplus of 

 cultivated or wild fruit forbids their sale it is often profitable to gather, dry, can or 

 otherwise preserve them. Quite a business has been built up occasionally in this 

 way from a small beginning. Cheap and effective fruit evaporators can now be 

 bought which can be soon made to pay for themselves. Perhaps one of the 

 boys or girls could make a few dollars in this way and lay the foundation for a 

 successful business career at the same time. — Farm and Home. 



Setting out Orchards. — Many orchards are set out in autumn ; still 

 more in spring, the ground should well be prepared in autumn. If the soil 

 holds water in wet seasons, it must be well underdrained. Subsoiling in most 

 localities is of much value. This work, it is true, may be imperfectly performed 

 after the trees are set and growing ; but the work is more easily done, and in a 

 better manner beforehand. Some persons mistakenly recommend setting trees 

 where nothing else can be raised, as on hillsides or among rocks and stones ; 

 but as a good and well managed orchard is commonly more profitable for the 

 acre it occupies, than almost any other crop, the best ground should be chosen 

 for itj so that good cultivation may be given. It was formely recommended to 

 dig wide holes. This practise answered well enough for a limited number of 

 trees, where the sub-soil was hard and had not been loosened. 



