The Canadian Horticulturist. 363 



ford were recommended to planters. These have been on trial at Ottawa for a 

 year, and came through last winter without injury. As attention has been directed 

 already to the small fruits likely to be useful in Canada, further mention to vari*. 

 eties of probable value to the South is omitted. 



John Craig. 

 Experimental Farm, Ottawa. 



Fruit as Food. — Mr. L. Pasche, of Bryson, Que., sends us the following 

 on this subject, from CasselPs Magazine : Now, I will tell you what I claim for 

 fruit as food ; that is, for fruit as a complement of one's daily diet. First, that 

 it is exceedingly palatable ; secondly, that it causes, owing to this very palatable- 

 ness, an increased flow of saliva ; thirdly, that it thus assists us in digesting 

 other, both bread and meat ; fourthly, that fruit is itself easily assimilated by 

 the system ; fifthly, that it keeps the system free and in good working condition ; 

 sixthly, that from its acids, salts and essential oils the blood is purified and 

 disease germs destroyed ; and, seventhly, that from its saccharine matter the 

 body is nourished and the animal heat kept up. It would seem like a paradox 

 to say that fruit both warms and cools the body, but such is the case, in summer 

 its acids temper and equalize the heat, in winter its sugars warm. Sugar and 

 acid, in fact, are so equally balanced in this food, formed in the great laboratory 

 of nature, that neither preponderates unduly or to the detriment of the other. 

 We may take the testimony of birds as to the healthfulness of fruit. And who 

 so bright, cheerful and happy as they ? The blackbird knows well what to treat 

 himself to in the sweet summer time, and flutes all day in the groves and the 

 greater part of the night as well ; yet in winter, cowering for shelter under the 

 dwarf pine trees, he does not let down his heart. On the contrary, he is con- 

 tent if he can scrape up a few grub worms from among the withered leaves and 

 obtain a hip or a haw to assist in digesting that worm. The Arabs form a good 

 example of a nation that to a large extent lives on fruit. We are apt to claim 

 courage as characteristic only of the British soldier. This is simply our 

 insular ignorance and arrogance. Who can be more brave than the Arab, or 

 who possess more eclat or dash ? 



Growing Celery, — There has been many ways suggested for blanching. 

 It is said that in the old world, where first-class celery is desired, instead of 

 burying up the plant in the earth, they simply tie up the leaves, and then wrap 

 them in coarse brown paper. It is said that much better celery can be obtained 

 this way than by any other method of blanching. — Meehans' Monthly for 

 November, 



Some time before winter sets in, dig up and pot for winter forcing some of 



the early flowering shrubs. The golden bell, deutzia, spirjea, yellow jessamine, 



Persian lilac and Japan snowball, are among those that force well. The earlier 



1 " are dug up after September, the better rooted they become by the time 



orcing is commenced. 



