33^ The Canadian Horticulturist. 



ORIGINATING BETTP:R FRUITS. 



N the night of October 1 2 our first hard frost occurred, and killed the 

 leaves of dahlias, zinnias, maize, grape vines, etc. 



It is generally considered necessary to take down and protect grape 

 vines in the fall, but in this district last winter very many remained 

 on the trellises or other supports, and yet bore fruit abundantly. 



Will the Central Experimental Station at Ottawa give us an oppor- 

 tunity to try the Chinese herbaceous vine, which every summer runs 

 up from the root like a clematis, and bears fruit ? Though not best for wine, it 

 might be useful for other purposes. 



It is also to be hoped that the same station will find or breed better garden 

 gooseberries than those we now have, that all seem descended from the swamp 

 berry which, though smooth, has few other good qualities, being poor in flavor 

 and low growing, with a sprawling habit, and a tendency to layer or root in all 

 directions. Our other sort should make a far better parent, being upright and 

 tall, sometimes seven or eight feet, little liable to injury from snow, renews itself 

 indefinitely, is so good for preserving as to be called in U. S. the jam-berry, is 

 of finer or higher flavor, and often of good size. Some are very prickly or spiny, 

 but others almost or quite smooth. Seedlings from the best do not bear fruit of 

 equal quality. 



The same is true of our native crabs or haws. I sowed seed of a very beau- 

 tiful golden-yellow one, and all the young plants bore red fruit. 



It is generally believed that grafted apples cannot be grown from seed, but 

 I have in bearing two St. Lawrence seedling trees perfectly true. 



Apropos of apples, some standard sorts are hardly worth keeping on the list, 

 and many seedhngs are well worthy of propagation and general introduction. 

 While most revert more or less to the crab, in every district there are seedlings 

 middling or good in quality, and a few really valuable, and means should be 

 taken to save and multiply such. Unfortunately their owners are seldom com- 

 petent to judge or select, being inclined to put appearance before reality, and 

 are naturally disposed to think their own geese swans. 



Tew will incur the trouble or expense of having seedling apples, etc., tested 

 by qualified men, and valuable trees are allowed to die or be destroyed, when 

 they should be a public benefit. But for the possible expense, the most feasible 

 plan might be to appoint some intelligent orchardist in each township, whose 

 duty it would be to find and try all likely seedlings, and a reward should be 

 given for each considered actually valuable according to a given scale of points. 



Orillia, Oct., 18^0. J. Cuppage. 



It takes a pretty smart phrenologist to tell what is in a barrel of apples by 

 examining its head. 



