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There are many other Trry good new pears 

 which I have not sufficiently proved to recom- 

 inend, but all the older varieties not included 

 in these lists are comparatively inferior. 



LIST or BABDY SORTS BELIEVED TO BB BDITABLB 

 FOR KABTKHN CANiU>A. 



Supreme de Quimpor, Urbaniste, 

 kostiezier, i3eurr6 d'Anjou, 



Ananaa d'Et£, 



Abbott, 



Belle Lucrative, 



Albertine, 



Flemish Beauty, 



Kingsessing, 



Graslin, 



Vczouzicr, 



Onondaga, 



■*t 



Williams Early, 



Lawrence, 



Olout Horceau, 



Leon lo Clerc of Laval, 



Forelle, 



Jones Seedling, 



Prevost. 



White Doyenne, 



Fondante de Cornice, 



LETTER FIFTH. 



ON THE PLUM. 



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Owing to the attacks of the curculio the cul- 

 tivation of the plum has been in a great measure 

 discontinued in many parts of the country ; 

 but as that pest appears to bo gradually dis- 

 appearing in many places where its ravages were 

 severely felt ; and as it has never extended in 

 any serious degree to many parts of the coun- 

 try, we may expect that more attention will 

 be given to this delicious fruit. I may add 

 that by proper attention, even where the curcu- 

 lio is worst, abundance of plums can be got, not 

 only with jut trouble and expense, but with a 

 profit, apart from the value of the fruit. 



The plum does not succeed well in a light 

 sandy soil, nor is a heavy cold clay suitable for 

 it. A good loamy or clayey-loam soil, that will 

 retain sufficient moisture to keep the tree in vigor- 

 ous growth, will be found the best. In light, diy 

 soils, or in hard clays, the plum is liable to a 

 leaf-blight, the leaves becoming spotted, and fall- 

 ing off in July and August, leaving the fruit im- 

 mature, sour, and worthless. But even in un- 

 suitable soils many of the strong-growing vari- 

 eties will do well, it being the weak, slow-grow- 

 ing varieties that are most affected, and also 

 easiest injured by the severity of our winters. — 

 As the plum is to be found in almost every part 

 of the country, intending planters can easdy as- 

 certain if it thrives, and is free from the curculio 

 in their locality, and guide themselves according- 

 ly, better than by any general rules that can 

 here be given. 



The progress of civilization and wealth has 

 given a general knowledge of the best way of 

 preserving and canning (ruit ; while the cheap- 

 ness of sugar has enabled almost every one to 

 preserve fruit in a way utterly unknown to 

 the great mass of our ancestors. This has 

 wrought a revolution in the varieties of plums 



wanted ; there being comparatively little demana 

 for the smaller and inferior kinds of plums, such as 

 damsons, &c., used for making jams ; while 

 every one wishes the large handsome plums for 

 preserving and canning. 



The American Horticultural writers, such as 

 Downing, Thomas, Barry, Ac, besides having 

 written, some time ago, when our knowledge was 

 not so good regarding the best fruits as now, — 

 had to write for a wide range of country, em- 

 bracing almost all varieties of climate. They were, 

 therefore, unable tO depend wholly on their own 

 knowledge and experience, but had to consult 

 correspondents in various parts of the country 

 as to the varieties n suitable for their locali- 

 ties ; many of whom, probably, were incompe- 

 tent to give the proper information. 



Writing for Canada, which embraces, com- 

 paratively, a small range of climate, I am saved 

 from depending on the knowledge of others, 

 being satisfied that healthy, strong-growing, 

 hardy varieties, which best stand the climate here, 

 where the thermometer sometimes falls to 25 

 degrees below zero and under, will be found the 

 most suitable for culture everywhere. I have, 

 therefore, discarded from my select list a large 

 portion of those recommended in the select lists 

 of these writers, as being with our present 

 knowledge comparatively unworthy of cultiva- 

 tion, and have only recommended those that I 

 know from my own experience to be the best for 

 the climate, and for the requirements of the 

 public. All the slow-growing, weak, or tender 

 varieties, with the exception of the Green Gage, — 

 and even it cannot be recommended for general 

 culture, — I have left out; substituting those 

 above-mentioned that have large and handsome 

 fruit, which, should the grower have any surplus 

 to dispose of, will always bring the highest price. 



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