278 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



-^ j^elo Of Ia)ittle }Kr}o(jor) T^p^its. ^ 



VERY week we receive quite a number of samples of new 

 varieties of fruit from various parts of Ontario, many of 

 which appear to us to have great merit. 



While we have no interest whatever in the advantage 

 which may accrue to any nursery or individual, through the 

 publication of the merits of any of these new varieties, 

 yet it is the duty of our Association, and one of its important 

 objects, to encourage, by all proper means, the production of new and improved 

 varieties of fruit, suitable for our Canadian climate. Indeed, it is from these 

 that we are to expect those fruits, which will be most profitable for our commer- 

 cial fruit growers. The cultivated fruits, which originate in any country, are 

 usually better adapted to succeed in that country than foreign varieties. This is 

 plainly demonstrated in the case of the foreign grapes, most of which are subject 

 to mildew with us, while our natives of the Labrusca type are so little affected. The 

 same is also true of our gooseberries ; those of American origin, such as Smith, 

 Downing, Triumph, Pearl, Ruby, Sutherland's Seedling, and others to which ref- 

 erence is made in these pages, being so entirely free from that terrible disease. 



During the last month a number of new varieties of gooseberries have been 

 sent in to us for our opinion, and certainly many of them possess a very high de- 

 gree of merit, introducing a new era of profitable gooseberry culture into Ontario. 

 Certainly this fruit has, to a large extent, been neglected by our market garden- 

 ers, and the price, which this fruit brings, plainly indicates that, with proper var- 

 ieties, there would be plenty of money in the business. 



A sample of the Pearl gooseberry, to which reference was made last season, 

 lies before us on the table, and certainly bears out all that we have stated concerning 

 its productiveness, and yet, notwithstanding the enormous load of fruit which it 

 bears, the berries are of a good size and excellent quality. 



We have also before us a sample of the Ruby, a berry much of the same size 

 as the Pearl, but of better quality. This, however, does not appear to be so pro- 

 ductive as the latter. 



The Pearl is being tested in our own grounds at Maplehurst, and another 

 year we shall have more to say concerning it. 



Below will be found notes of letters from some of the parties sending us samples 

 of fruits, together with a few remarks concerning them. It must, however, be 

 borne in mind that anything which we may say under this head is based upon 

 the appearance of the sample sent us and, therefore, must not be given too much 

 weight. 



