3^6 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



nearly one thousand feet above Lake Ontario, a few miles south and west of 

 Peterborough, I saw some gorgeous plums, some very excellent pears, and an 

 apple orchard that a Grimsby fruit grower would envy. I will just say in con- 

 cluding this letter, that I discovered, as I believe, the native home of the Saun- 

 ders plum. The spot is a few miles from the town of Cobourg ; I saw the plum 

 growing in this vicinity and got its history. But I will speak of that in a future 

 letter. 



Mitchell, Ont. T. H. Race. 



STRAWBERRIES AND GRAPES IN NORTH SIMCOE. 



OT having contributed anything to your columns for a long 

 time, I now send you a few particulars of the past season's 

 results. Notwithstanding the terrible drought of last spring, 

 strawberries did fairly well. My best berry this year was 

 Manchester. I find it a large berry, bearing immense clus- 

 ters, and holding out well through the season. Crescent 

 came about next in productiveness. May King is a fine 

 flavored berry, attractive looking, and does well in a shady place, but does not 

 hold out well, is soon over. In grapes, I grow Warden, Lindley and Massasoit ; 

 all did well, with a good sale, but prices were low. I think this would be a good 

 grape growing section. Mine were very much admired, both for size and flavor. 

 One gentleman told me of a relative of his growing 40 acres of grapes near Lake 

 Erie, but declared that my grapes were much larger than those. 



My Russian Yellow Transparent apple, received from the Association a few 

 years ago, had about seven apples on this year. I was under the impression it 

 was a summer apple, but at this date (November 9th) is quite hard and sound. 

 Perhaps I got the wrong apple. Hoping the circulation of the Horticulturist 

 will continue to increase, as it deserves it, 



I remain. Sir, yours truly, 

 Penetanguishene. G. J. R. 



Note by Editor. — Our friend, G. J. R., must have received some other 

 Russian apple by mistake, in place of the Yellow Transparent. 



Value of Muck. — Every owner of a swamp should realize the fact that a 

 ton of the air-dried muck may be worth from three to five dollars for its fertili- 

 zing value, as estimated for its nitrogen alone and as compared with the same 

 element in artificial fertilizers. Those who have used it as a litter in stables 

 have found each ton of it to double the value of the manure. Thus, it becomes 

 to the owner worth precisely as much as the manure. — Southern Floral 

 Magazine. 



