[36 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
TREES ON NORTHWEST PLAINS. 
From the transactions of the Royal Society of Canada 
it is learned that experiments were begun in 1888 in test¬ 
ing trees and shrubs suitable for planting on the north¬ 
west plains. In 1889, 12,000 trees and shrubs were sent 
from the central experimental farm at Ottawa to each of 
the branch farms in the West. These consisted of 118 
varieties, of which about 60 per cent, died before the 
following spring, In 1890 another consignment of about 
21,000 each was sent, a considerable number of which 
proved tender. A very large number of native trees has 
been grown at the branch and central farms from seed, 
especially the box elder, white elm, green ash, and bur 
oak. These are succeeding admirably. Several varieties 
of Russian poplars and willows have done well, particu¬ 
larly Populus bereolensis, P. certinensis, and the Voronesh 
willow. As the result of the six years’ experiment there 
are now growing at the branch farm at Indian Head 
120,000 trees and shrubs, and at Brandon, 75,000. 
A statement is given by the author of the distribution 
of trees and tree seed by the central farm in the past four 
years. Close planting of hardy young trees for shelter 
hedges has been found advantageous, forming an excel¬ 
lent protection for the growing of small fruits, vegetables, 
and other tender crops. These hedges have been chiefly 
made by the Russian poplars, box elder, elm, ash, and 
willow, planted in double rows at distances of i by 2 ft. 
to 4 by 4 ft. The Russian poplars have thus far made 
the most rapid growth. A variety of Artemisia (A. abro- 
tanum tobolskianum) is said to be valuable for hedees on 
account of its ready growth from cuttings. The Siberian 
pea tree (Caragana arborescens), which grows readily from 
seed, is also recommended for hedges. The tests which 
have been made on the western experimental farms show 
that there are about 100 varieties of trees and shrubs 
sufficiently hardy to endure the climate of that region, 
and further tests are adding to this number from year to 
year. 
FRUIT CULTURE IN AUSTRALIA. 
John Plummer, Sydney, New South Wales, writes <s 
follows in the Gardener s Magazine: “ The prevalent 
idea that everything at the Antipodes is in a topsy-turvey 
condition is responsible for many popular delusions re¬ 
specting Australia, especially as a fruit-growing country. 
In New South Wales the opportunities at the command 
of an experienced orchardist are practically unlimited. 
Almost any description of fruits grown, both in the 
mother country and continental Europe, can be cultivated 
with ease, if the proper localities for the various kinds be 
chosen. Until within a comparatively recent period it 
was found difficult to export fruit from Australia ; conse¬ 
quently, by reason of its great abundance, the colonial 
markets were easily glutted, and orchardists had little 
encouragement to improve the quality of the fruits raised 
by them. Now there is every probability of a large and 
increasing export trade with the United Kingdom, 
Canada, Japan, China, India, and other countries being 
established, making orcharding an important and remu¬ 
nerative colonial industry, especially when the conditions 
essential to successful shipment are attended to. The 
two leading fruits are oranges and grapes, both of which 
are grown as easily as are apples and gooseberries in 
England. Several millions of oranges, chiefly of the Rio 
kind, annually find their way into the colonial markets. 
All the varieties of Mandarin, or Chinese orange, are 
grown in considerable quantities. Suitable land for 
orangeries costs from Aio to A30 per acre, according to 
locality ; but in a few places the price runs as high as A40 
to A50; the cost of clearing, fencing, ploughing and 
planting being estimated at A2 5 per acre. The trees begin 
to bear the fourth or fifth year, and one of the leading 
orange growers at Gordon, near Sydney, estimated his 
returns during a favorable season at A50 per acre. Sev¬ 
eral of the finer kinds of orange grown on the shores of 
the Mediterranean have yet to be introduced into New 
South Wales. Grapes are grown everywhere, but thrive 
better in the inland districts than along the coast. They 
are mostly of the black kind, the Muscatel kinds being 
extremely abundant. During the season the fruiterers’ 
shops are plentifully stocked with grapes as large and 
luscious as any to be found in Covent Garden, yet costing 
only a few pence per pound. The peach tree generally 
furnishes an exceedingly prolific crop, one of the most 
valuable varieties being the Royal George, which is known 
under other names in different parts of the colony. 
Nectarines are plentiful, as are apricots, quinces and 
similar fruits. In the New England district, forming a 
portion of the high table-land in the northern part of 
New South Wales, apples and pears of most delicious 
flavor are obtained in abundance ; also the largest and 
finest cherries in the world. These latter are most of the 
White Heart kind, and would realize high prices in 
London could -they safely be shipped thither. Melons 
are plentiful and cheap, but nuts, with the exception of 
the almond and the walnut, are not much cultivated. A 
considerable portion of the land now being thrown open 
to selection in the colony is admirably adapted for orchard 
purposes, and can be obtained on extremely easy terms 
from the Crown Lands Department. 
One of the oldest and most remarkable trees in Great 
Britain is to be found in a chestnut at Torworth, the 
residence of the Earl of Dude, near Bristol The tree is, 
in all probability, 1,000 years of age at the least. The 
trunk measures fifty feet in circumference, although it is 
only ten feet in height up to the point where it branches 
off into three large trunks, one of which measures nearly 
thirty feet in girth. The second remarkable tree is to be 
seen nearer London, being a thorn in Clissold Park, Stoke 
Newington. This is also of great age, and it has long 
been railed in for safety. When in bloom it presents a 
magnificent sight, and is accounted one of the oldest, 
largest, and handsomest thorns in the United Kingdom. 
