A NORTHERN APPLE ORCHARD. 



207 



C. Koiisa is also a small tree, indigenous to Japan and 

 bearing! an edible fruit. Its greatest merits, however, 

 consists in its ornamental qualities. It bears a large, 

 showy white flower in June, and cannot fail to be ap- 

 preciated here for the park and lawn. 



The genus vaccinium is represented in the north by 

 several species, among which the following yield edible 

 berries, which are used for food : Vaccinium Vitis-Id.ea, 

 L. ({7. Jcsixuse, Miq., the Small Cranberry); Jap., 

 Koke-riioino. V. OxYcoccus, L. [Oxycocais pahistiis, Per- 

 soon ; O. vulgciris, Pursh.); Jap., Tsurn-Koke-monio 

 (the Cranberry) ; this species is occasionally, though 

 rarely, planted in the northern bogs. V. hirtum, Thunb. 

 (Fl Smallii, Gray); Jap., Usti-ichigo, Usu-no-ki, Siinoki. 

 V. ULIGINOSUM, L.; Jap., Kiiromajne-no-ki (the Bog 

 Bilberry). V. pr^staus, Lam. ; , Iiva-lsutsuji. V. 

 OVALIFOLIOM, S|jiith ; Jap., Kttro-usugo. 



One other berry should be mentioned, and I am done, 

 viz: El.«agnus umbellata, Thunb. {E. parvifolia. 

 Wall ; E. parvifolia, Royle ; E. rfflexn, Decaisne and 

 Morr.) ; Jap., Aki-giimi (Fig. 2).* This species is, I be- 

 lieve, practically unknown in this country. It is a large 

 bush which is indigenous over a considerable portion of 

 Japan, and is often cultivated for its berries. A twig of 



these is illustrated in Fig. 2. They ripen in the latter 

 part of October or in the beginning of November, when 

 they can be found on the fruit stands in most parts of 

 the country for a few weeks. The bush is exceedingly 

 prolific, the last year's twigs being almost completely 

 covered with berries. As will be seen in the illustration, 

 the berries are small, not larger than currants, and they 

 often shrink or wither a little after being cut off. In 

 color they are reddish-brown, with many small, gray 

 specks. The skin is a little tough, and encloses a juicy 

 pulp, which surrounds a single, flattened soft seed, not 

 unlike a tomato seed in shape and size. They are always 

 marketed on the branches, these being cut off much to 

 the injury of the bush, and carried to town in large bun- 

 dles. They are relished by all, but especially by the 

 children, who run about with branches in their hands, 

 and munch the berries while at play. To judge from 

 their consistency, these berries should make good jelly 

 and jam. C. C. Georgeson. 



Kansas Agricultural College. 



* The "goumi," introduced into the United States under the name 

 of Elceagnus pungens is E. lonzipes, ovata. Several other species 

 of the genus are cultivated here, either for fruit or ornament. — Ed. 



A NORTHERN APPLE ORCHARD. 



wanderings in QUEBEC. 



UMMER waned. Autumn, with its 

 brilliant tints of early October, 

 found my wife and I in the Prov- 

 ince of Quebec, wandering by 

 steamer or rail or carriage through 

 the quaint, delightful valley of the 

 St. Lawrence. 



It seemed a land of quiet contentment, the French 

 Canadians sitting at their doors through the sunny mid- 

 day hours, in no heavier employment than smoking a 

 pipe of peace— ebony or bronze "lilies" that ''toil 

 not." But by the presence of the old-fashioned 

 wheel we discovered that their wives do "spin." Up a 

 winding river we went at last, glowing with autumn 

 foliage, and past trees heavy with ripening nuts. But 

 it was apples we wanted — that is a sight of an orchard 

 we were told was to be found here that would repay us 

 for our travel. Everybody was ready to show us the 

 way ; all the rural population turned out to smile on us 

 as we landed one bright morning on the wharf, near 

 where we hoped to find the fruit farm we sought, and 

 after a few minutes' walk we at length found ourselves 

 on a rough and stony road, in a curious old French vil- 

 lage of small cottages that skirted the banks of the river, 

 where the overhanging trees threw shadows into the 

 waters. At the gate that led to our destination, a flat 

 boat, named "Psyche," and a pair of idle oars, were 

 very suggestive and excited the curiosity of " Pomme " 

 (that's my wife). But the turnstile was before us, and 



we slowly walked up the long lane leading to ihe old 

 stone house that seemed to stand sentry in front of this 

 ideal orchard. But the house was deserted and silent ; 

 some fine Dorking fowls were plainly monarchs of all 

 they surveyed and roamed unmolested over the fancy 

 beds, and through the avenue of trees that skirted the 

 well-kept lawn. There was a distant tapping, as if some 

 wood-peckers were at work, and as far away as the eye 

 could see, amid the density of green and crimson was a 

 row of endless barrels, and a youth with a hammer driv- 

 ing in the last nails. A.s we walked on to where ladders 

 were standing and figures could be seen up in the crim- 

 son and green trees, we found ourselves confronted by a 

 pair of soft, grey eyes, under a hat that reminded us of 

 Dr. Holmes' story of the boy who told another that two 

 of the most respectable deacons of the town were having 

 a horse-race, and when questioned " Where ?" facetious- 

 ly remarked, "Round the brim of your hat." Under 

 the wide straw hat of our orchard deity was the face of 

 a young girl, whom I instantly and mentally named 

 " September, " so rich was she in all that was beautiful 

 of health and bloom. 



Pomme had stopped to question a five-year-old fairy, 

 who, with brown, wide open eyes and soft brown hair, 

 stood eating a Flemish Beauty pear near by. The rus- 

 set of her cheeks and the soft, plump brown hands well 

 suited the fruit her sharp, white teeth were biting, and 

 I thought she well suited the name of the russetty fruit. 

 But "September" did not for one moment relax her 

 energy in sorting the fruit that was brought to her in 



