196 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



The chief complaint with the twelve quart basket has been the jamming of 

 the fruit, which results from the piling of the full baskets upon one another on 

 board the trains ; but this has been obviated by a new cover, shown in Fig. 44, 

 which is quickly attached, costs little more than the simple leno, and is a per- 

 fect protection to the fruit within. We say this after having given it a season's 

 trial. The same cover has also been provided for the various sized grape baskets, 

 and it makes the neatest and tidiest package imaginable. 



Fig, 43.— 12 Quart Basket. Fig. 44. — Grape Basket. 



A sensible warning to shippers is contained in a circular just to hand from a 

 prominent commission house. It is " Avoid shipping on holidays." The reason 

 is that they are poor market days, and, as a rule, arrivals on such days have to 

 be cleared out to pedlars at ridiculously low prices. Many growers make a 

 mistake in this very particular, thinking that holidays must be the best of all 

 days for the sale of fruit ; therefore this warning comes quite opportune. 



Cultivate More Dahlias. — While reading recent articles on the dahlia, 

 the thought occurred to me why do sensible people neglect this, one of the most 

 popular flowers ? There are very few people who do not cultivate more or less 

 flowers ; but the majority, if they grow any dahlias at all, have the common red 

 and- white ones, which the lover of this beautiful flower would not give garden 

 space. The dahlia, like all other choice flowers, needs generous care and treat- 

 ment, but even when neglected it often becomes the queen of the garden. It is 

 no more trouble to raise choice flowers than common ones, and the same soil 

 will answer for both. My dahlia collection now comprises 45 distinct varieties, 

 and my garden room is very limited, but the space I devote to dahlias is the 

 choicest in the garden. Among my choicest varieties are the following : Prof 

 Fawcett, Goldfinch, Mrs. Stancourt, Oriole, Jewel of Austerlitz, Floral Park, 

 Jewel, Sapho, Startler, Magnet, Snowdrift, White Dove, Guiding Star, Leila, Lady 

 Arlington, Lucy Fawcet, Electric, Margaret Bruant, Fanny Purchase, and others. 

 Many hundred distinct varieties exist, and are catalogued every year, but those 

 who are unacquainted with the different habits and colorings of this flower can- 

 not fail to be more than pleased by planting the above-named varieties. — H. C 

 TowNSEND in Popular Gardening. 



