76 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July 



ficent blessings in the form of evener distribution of moisture 

 and evener radiation of heat, there is little reason to doubt that 

 with this almost complete covering of verdure acting as a modi- 

 fier of extremes in a measure — in the same manner as large bodies 

 of water — there would prevail more equable climatic conditions 

 and a more favourable era to the longevity of classes of trees 

 and fruits more or less susceptible to climatic extremes. So climate 

 may be considered the regulator and restrictor of varieties and in 

 all horticultural operations whether our energies and faculties are 

 applied to the production of, or the trial of a new fruit, it is of 

 prime importance to know something of its probable inherent 

 qualities, acquired from climatic situation, and perpetuated by 

 heredity. Turning to another phase of the question, we should 

 not forget that with perhaps slightly changed climatic condi- 

 tions, brought about by the operations of the agriculturalist, 

 come greatly altered soil conditions, the extent of whose influence 

 upon plant growth we are apt to under estimate. Woody 

 growth produced by virgin soils is very different in its capacity 

 to withstand cold, to that produced by soils first depleted of their 

 natural store of plant food by cultivation and then enriched by 

 artificial fertilizers ; and so it happens that we find many of the 

 fruits successfully cultivated by our forefathers, do not succeed in 

 the same localities at the present time. It would be interesting in 

 this connection, and in view of the fact that we are indebted to 

 England for so many horticultural treasures, to trace the influence 

 of the Roman, Saxon and Norman conquests upon English horti- 

 culture and the important mission filled by the Roman monks in 

 the same connection, but I must without further preamble come 

 nearer home and consider the condition and status of Canadian 

 fruit growing. 



SOURCES OF CANADIAN FRUITS. 

 Whence came our fruits ? 



They came, undoubtedly, with our first colonists ; whether 

 the peasant of Normandy, the Puritan, the Scotchman, the 



