TORONTO OF OLD. 449 



Bond's farm and lake had their name from Mr. 'William Bond, -who so early aig 1800 had 

 established in York a Nursery Garden, and introdueed there most of the useful fruits. In 1801 

 Mr. Bond was devising to sell his York property, as appears from a quaint advertisement in a 

 Gazette of that year. He therein professes to offer his lot in York as a free gift ; the recipient 

 however being at the same time required to do certain things. " To be given away," he says, 

 " that beautifully situated lot No. one, fronting on Ontario and Pueliess Streets : the buildings 

 thereon are — a small two-and-a-half storey house, with a gallery in front, which commands a 

 view of the lake and the bay : in the cellar a never-failing spring of fine water ; and a stream 

 of fine water running through one corner of the lot ; there is a good kitchen in the rear of the 

 house, and a stable sufficient for two cows and two horses, and the lot is in good fence. The 

 conditions are, with the person or persons who accept of the above present, that he, she or 

 they purchase not less than two thousand apple-trees at three sliillings. New York currency, 

 each ; after which will be added, as a further present, about one hundred apple, thirty peach, 

 and fourteen cherry frees, besides wild plums, wild cherries, English gooseberries, white and 

 red currants, &c. There are forty of the above apple trees, as also the peach and cherry trees, 

 planted regular, as an orchard, much of which ajspoared in blossom last spring, and must be 

 considered very valuable : also as a kitchen garden, will sufficiently recommend itself to those 

 who may please to view it. — The above are well calculated for a professional or independent 

 gentleman ; being somewhat retired — about half-way from the Lake to the late Attorney 

 General's and opposite the town-farm of the Hon. D. W. Smith [afterwards Mr. Allan's 

 property.] Payment wUl be made easy ; a good deed ; and possession given any time from the 

 first of November to the first of May next. For further particulars inquire of the subscriber on 

 the premises. William Bond. York, Sep. 4, 1801." — The price expected was, as will be made 

 out, 750 dollarri. The property was evidently the northern portion of what became afterwards 

 the houie^tead-plot of Mr. Surveyor-General Ridout. It would appear that Mr. Bond's property 

 did not find a purchaser on this occasion. In ISOl he is advertising it again, but novv to be 

 sold by auction, with his light and title to the lot on Yonge Street. In the Gazette of August 4, 

 1804, we read as follows : " To be sold by auction, at Cooj^er's tavern in York, on Monday, the 

 twentieth day of August next, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon (if not previously disposed of 

 by private contract), that highly cultivated lot opposite the Printing Office [Bennett's] contain- 

 ing one acre, together with a nursery thereon of about ten thousand apple, three hundred 

 peach, and twenty pear trees, and an orchard containing forty-one apple trees fit for bearing, 

 twenty-seven of which are full of fruit ; thirty peach and nine cherry trees full of fruit ; besides 

 black and red plums, red and white currants, Englisli gooseberries, lilacs, rose bushes, &c., &c. , 

 also a very rich kitchen garden.— The buildings are a two-and-a-half storey house, a good cellar, 

 stable and smokehouse. On the lot is a never-failing spring of excellent water, and a fine creek 

 running through one corner most part of the year. The above premises might be made very 

 commodious for a gentleman at a small expense ; or for a tanner, brewer, or distiller must be 

 allowed the most convenient place in York. A view of the premises (by any person or persons 

 desirous of purchasing the same) wUl be sufScient recommendation. The nursery is in such a 

 state of forwardness that if sold in from two to three years (at which time the apple trees will 

 be fit to transplant) at the moderate price of one shilling each, would repay a sum double of" 

 that asked for tlie whole, and leave a further gain to the purchasers of the lot, buildings, and 

 flourishing orchard thereon. A good title to the above, and possession given any time after 

 the first of October next. Also at the same time and place the right as per Regist3r, to one 

 hundred acres in front of lot 62, east side Yonge Street, for which a deed can be procured at 

 pleasure, and the remainder of the lot procured for a small sum. It is an excellent soil for 

 orchard, grain and pasture land. There is a field of ten acres in fence besides other clearing. 

 It is a beautiful situation, having part of the Lake commonly called Bond's Lake, within the 

 said lot, which affords a great supply of Fish and Fowl. Terms of payment will be made 

 known on the day of sale. For further particulars enquire of tlie subscriber on the former 

 premises, or the printer hereof. William Bond. York, 27th June, 1804." 



Thirty years later we meet with an advertisement in wliich the price is named at which Lot 

 No. 63 could have been secured. Improvements expected speedily to be made on Yonge Street 

 are therein referred to. In a Gazette of 1834 we have : "A delightful situation on Yonge Street, 

 commonly called Bond's Farm, containing 190 acres, beautifully situated on Bond's Lake upon 

 Yonge Street, distant about 16 mUes from the city of Toronto ; price £350. The jicturesquft- 



