^a, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) Y' m ^ // :/ n o t i.O I.I 11.25 |50 '""== " I4£ IIIIIIP M 2.2 \A. ill 1.6 V] «^ /i ^/. e. ^, ^. /A . riic Sciences Corporation M ^ si 'i"S describes a "Peach" • an Insh Peach " and " an American Peach." It is none rfthes^ Some very old trees in Montreal showing it to be long-lived Tret .s vigorous, hardy and productive, fruit above medium, oblont conic, yellow with pink blush on one side; quality second rTt!' profitable for near market m^y, as it shews Uses ' 4 The two best varieties are. 1. ST. LAWRENCE. 2. ALEXANDER. ST. LAWRE!jTCE is a hardy long lived tree, producing fair crops every year, of finest quality fruit. It does not crop like the Fa- meuse, and so is not so profitable for the Montreal market. On this account it is not being planted so largely. Should it become scarce, it would bring a very high price. ALEXANDER is healthy, hardy and fruitful. Has a fairly long life, one weighty witness to the contrary, notwithstanding. Ships fairly, keeps well for a fall fruit and sells high. The following, named somewhat in order of ripening, are also ivorthy of notice. KESWICK CODLIN : a largish acid, cooking fruit, bearing free and early. It is fairly hardy, and does well near Montreal, but our reports are chiefly from places more or less sheltered. HAWTHORNDEN bears a very early and heavy crop of fine titchen fruit. It is hardy, but dies often of exhaustion, perhaps because the fruit is not thinned when it is young. KING OF THE PIPPINS, reported also from Montreal, yields a large red cooking apple very heavily for many years, and ultimately dies of over bearing. KENTISH FILL BASKET : another reported from Montreal as hardy and productive, fruit of fair quality and of enormous size, used for cooking. The FAMEUSB \b first without a rival. 'These, however, may be mentioned: ter, we might learn much. In the North-West, the winto- ot^ 1872-73 destroyed a large percentage of orchards ; a thorough examination was made by the Minnesota and Wisconsin State Horticultural Societies, and from these, and more detailed reports published in the North-West papers, we gather the follow- ing : Crabs stood, of course, as a rule, first ; and tho order of hardmess among these was: 1, Transcendent; 2, Hyslop- 3 Montreal Beauty, (this possibly may be M. Waxen.) ' ' Soulard was much more injured than these three. 9 Among apples, first wore Tetofskt and Duchess of Oldenburg- these results are confirmed by - eports from Vt. and N. II. aifdN^' Next probably, stood White ...trachax, which was not, ho'vcver, largely grown, an it does not bear carriage Transl!;:;L'rLllr'/''"'r'' '.^'''' ^"" '^^'^ ^^- «- «^ ^^° iransccndent, but of fine quality,) and Wealthy, are the only ones hardy enough to be recommended by the Minn S. H S for a ^ locaht.es Golden Russet, Red Astb.chan, and Ben Dwis were debated upon, but rejected; Pew.ukee al!o sou2 admission, but was not received. ^ For the most favourable localities wo have a second !:«♦ . n Fameuse, AValbridge, St Lwrevpf pin a ''«t: I^^as, Russet, Saxton and Perrv CsS ' ^"""""^' ^^^^^^ To judge from the .Minneapolis 3Ieteorolot must be marketed carefully and%„ic% ' 10 '1 3. QUEEN'S CHOICE : a great fovorite in Stanstead and St. Francis Valley, being more reliable than the above in unfavorable |)laces; — bears young and heavily, sells readily there; and, being firm in texture, ^-eeps and ships better than the above. 4. BED SIBERIAN: the best for jelly and good for canning. 5. MONTEEAL WAXEN : Jas. Dougall, of Windsor, Onl., say^; this tree is propagated in Ontario, under the name of Montreal Beauty; but the two may be easily distinguished as the growth of M. B. is upright, ^yhereas the M. W. is a spreading and almost a straggling tree. Some say this last is a heavier bearer than the M. B. and more profitable. The confusion of names may be the cause of this being placed fifth on this list. 6. HYSLOP keeps better, but does not bear as heavily as Transcendent ; is very astringent, but is well thought of by some for its size and great beauty. Montreal Beauty and Waxen sell in Montreal (when hand-picked not shilelagh-picked,) at from $1.50 to 2.50 per bushel. Of the prices of the other" wo cannot speak positively. The above are all Fall crabs, all sub-acid, and all astringent or "puckery." Siberian crabs can be grown abundantly where other pples fail entirely ; and we believe thei'e exist species of every season and flavor and without astringency. We earnestly hope that exjoeriments will be turned in this direction, for the crabs (unless some day affected by blight as they have been hi the west,) must beconic of the greatest importance to us. We give d digest of the experience of a few in Montreal. This difi'ers entirely from our report on apple.s, as being merely a local - *^, ■ -&.^ 11 * S., Standard or tree on pear roots; D, Dwarf or trees on quince roots; h., hardy; p. productive; q, quality. PEARS. — FIVE BEST KINDS. FLEMISH BEAUTY : S. : decidedly first, h, p., large, good q., reliable, autumn. BELLE LUCRATIVE: S. or perhaps D., h., medium size, best q., autumn. GLOUT MORCEAU: D. & S., rather large, h., fair q., mid- winter. LAWRENCE: S. & D., med. size, h., highest q., early winter. WHITE DOYENl^E: S. & D., rather large, h., highest q., autumn. These last four are not in order of preference. The following also deserve special mention : BARTLET : S. & D., fine q., but tree generally not as h. as some others. BON CHRETIEN: S. & D,, fine h., large, medium q., perhaps not what it used to be, autumn. ONONDAGA : very h., large, good q., though somewhat vari- able, autumn. ST. GHISLAIN : S. (fep., hardier than Flemisn Beauty, but not equfvi in q. ; the fruit is finest on quince stock, but the tree lives longer as a standard. LOUISE BONNE DE. JERSEY: D., very p., but accounts diflFer as to h., autumn. NAPOLEON : D., h. p., good q., medium size, well spoken of, autumn. GANSEL'S BERGAMOT : S. & D., rather large, fine q., mod- erately p., autumn. HOWEL : medium or largish, good q., autumn. OSWEGO BEURRE : S., very h., rather small, medium q., autumn. CRBAN'S SUMMER : a little beauty of good q., pretty h., only moderately p. ROSTIEZER : pretty h., small, best q., early. BUERRE DIEL : h., large, fine q., p., autumn. Some would place this oa first list of five best kinds. 12 KINGSESSING : rather large, good q., some old trees reported in good health, autumn. CL APP'S FAVOKITE : a seedling from Flemish Beauty and Bartlet, said by many to promise to be a hardy tree- Dearborn's Seedling; Doyenne d'Ete, Tyson, Ananas d'Ete have also, in some cases, done well. ' For the detailed experience of one who has tested 300 varieties of pears in Montreal, we would refer to report Ont. F. G. Associa- tion, 1871, or to " Canada Farmer," July and August, 1871. To make out a list of fioe best varieties was impossible The following list of 12, however, contains those most thought of The 5 best kinds for profit, we are unable to name. Such a list would include Lombard and Corse's Admiral, but great difference of opinion would exist as to the others ; some preferring lar^re handsome plums, like Bradshaw & Pond's Seedling; others, smaller and inferior kinds which are hardier and surer 'bearers • the latest varieties, as a rule, command the highest prices. ' The 12 kinds which have done best are : fUiNU fc, bJiUDLING : -iellow, voiy lai'se, free as hardy as any 01 Its CiclSS* WASHINGTON (Bolmer's): yellow, large, very fine q. very p. every 3rd year, or now and then according to fiivorableness of position. IMPERIAL GAGE : greenish yellow, rather larcre hi-hest a BLEEKER'S GAGE: yellow, medium, fine q., co^sidel:;!; tr^ p. by some. "^ BRADSHAW: reddish purple, very large, ^ood cj COE'SG0LDE.^DROP: large yellow, fine q., moderately p , being late, brings high prices, and is stated positively to ripen every year. ^ PRINCE'S YELLOW GAGE ; medium yellow, very good o GEEENGAGE; of the highest q., bnt h. and p. in i/L;,,„t. only. •> ^ NOT A BENE (Corse's): purple, IJ inches in diameter, juicy rich and sweet, the finest flavoured of Corse's Seedlings veryp but does not bear carriage as well as the two foUowin"- : ' I 13 DICTATOR (Corse's) : brownish purp'e, nearly as la^-^e and shape of yellow egg, fine q., firm teslure, bears carria^ wel' profitable. ADMIEAL (Corse's) : dead b^ue, ova', pearly as la-go as Dictator, sofier texture, and not as good flavor, bu^moro productive. If any one knows of trees of the last three kinds, in bearing, they would do well to let it be known, as the old trees have lately been cut down, and the Montreal nurserymen are in doubts as to where scions can be had. The following kinds have also done well : Damson (profitable in Huntingdon Co), Reine Claude de Bavay (ripens every year), Yellow Egg, McLaughlin, Jefferson, Blue Gage, Sjiith's Orleans, Purple Favorite. The above kinds have lived 12 or 15 years, usually not much longer, and have produced good crops more or less frequently according to variety and favorableness of position. This shows that we have not the species adapted to our climate. The Minn. State Hor. Soc, finding none of the above kinds hardy enough to be recommended for general cultivation, published a list of the best native seedlings. These have since been examined by a committee, and the best (Harrison's Peach and others), thougl'i not as yet endorsed by the Society, are nevertheless spoken of very favorably by them. An examination of our own native seedlings should at once be commenced, and also it might be well to try these hardy North Westers of the Prunus Chickasa, thought so favorably of by the M. S. H. Soc. There is, however, a less hardy class of Chickasaws of more southern origin, which is likely to be grown for this market, including the Wild Goose, Winnebago and Miner (or Hinckley). The latter is so late that its ripening may be questionable (though the later the better for market, if it does ripen) ; young trees both of this and Winnebago proved no hardier at Abbots- ford during last winter than Lombard. This class of plum is noted for its fruitfulness and length of life, but we do not feel that this 18 exactly the line in which experiment should be made BLUE ORLEANS, PRUNE AU, and YELLOW ORLEANS. Thousands of these trees, especially the first, grown from suckers and planted in the sod, are doing well on North Shore of the St. Lawrence just below Quebec, and on the Isle of Orleans. ■Mm u TThey soil in Montreal at from $H to 814 per barrel, and, hitherto, have not been stung by the Curculio. Unfortunately the " Black Knot " began to appear many years ago upon the wild cherry trees along the fences, and from these it has spread, and is rapidly destroying the plum orchards. The danger is not understood, and the people would be loath to apply the remedy, viz., cutting off all parts diseased, but, if not attended to, this whole business Eiust, before many years, entirely fail. The common kind under the names of Early Richmond, Ken- tish, Common Red, &c., is the only kind grown to any extent, and that with much success coupled with some failures. English MoRELLO and May Duke also doing well in a number of instances. At Rougemont, Black Eagle has been grown for many years, is as hardy as Kentish, but not a good bearer. The Minn. S. H. Soc. endorses one new German variety, Hartz Mountain, and rscommcnds another, Leib, for trial. Many years ago a black, sweet cherry with a delicious flavor grew largely about Montreal; any one who knows of a tree should report at once to propagators, and help to fill up a blank in our fruit list, — a sweet cherry adapted to our severe climate. In recommending the best kinds of Grapes we must premise that no kind should be grown in this province without three things : I. Thorough underr^rainage. II. Protection by fences or Ledges. III. Winter covering. Some of our more careful cultivators train according to the " renewal system " and the very late varieties require this. These four kinds we recommend for general cultivation : HARTFORD PROLIFIC: This is a hardy grape producing more fruit with less care than any other. We have seen it drop badly from the bunch, but on making special enquiries, we found this to be the exception and not the rule. Connoisseurs find the pulp somewhat acid, yet it is valued for home use, and on account of its earliness and productiveness it brings the highest price per lb. and per vine. 15 ADIEONDAC : This grape is positively without pulp. In flavor It approaches that of the finer foreign sorts. It is sure to ripen always, but does not bear so heavily as the above The Tine 18 not vigorous, and has m two instances been found to winter- kill under the same covering which protected others. It has been kept all winter. CREYELLTNG: This is a hardy and vigorous grower, and produces good crops of a line but peculiar flavored fruit The bunch IS loose and straggling, and is therefore not very market- able. It ripens ten days later than Adirondac, and is not injured ■by frosts. "^ DELAWARE: This is reported as a general favorite, as it adds hardiness and productiveness to its delicate sweet-scented flavor. It should be planted in warm positions. No grape later than this should be recommended for general culture. The following also deserve attention: CONCORD : This is a hardy and vigorous grower and abun- tiant bearer, feome report that it ripens thoroughly every year • on the other hand, others, both from light and heavy soils, but especially from the latter, report that the berry colors, but does not ripen or sweeten. It should be planted only where it is found to ripen well, or against walls, or in other specially shel- verecl spots. EUMELAN : This is a medium sized dark purple grape of fine quality. It seems good every way except in the size of the fcerry. It is reported on only by a few, and as having fruited but two years. REBECCA is a high flavored yellowish-green grape of medium size. It IS productive, and is doing well in the hands of a few careful cultivators. It is said, both in Montreal and at Philips- burg, to ripen just after Hartford Prolific. The description of the grape is exact, but in U. S. said to ripen with Isabella. It is also said there to be a good keeper MASSASOIT (ROGERS NO. 3), a rather large amber grape ripening not long after Adirondac, is reported favorably from •Ottawa and Philipsburg. SALEM (ROGERS NO. 22), a large amber grape of fine lahty, ripening just before Concord, is reported favoraHU^ from several places. '^ qualit 16 ROGERS NO. 33 : a grape of the Black Hamburg type, ripen- ing with Adirondac. It is hardly known, bat is doing remarkably well at Philipsburg. ISABELLA : This very late variety is reported by several as ripening every year against a wall, though they believe it would not th oughly ripen on the trellis. In two or three instances, how- ever, said to ripen even on trellis. BLACK CLUSTER and CHASSELAS DE FONTAINE- BLEAU are both reported from Montreal as having thoroughly ripened year after year for many years, and, though troubled with thrip, free from that mildew which so often attacks these foreign varieties. The former is easily known by its small bunch of closely set medium sized berries. The latter has bunch and berry larger than Sweetwater, and was imported direct from France. We believe this to be true to name, but prefer not to positively state such to be the case. These very late ripening varieties are not mentioned with a view of recommending them for cultivation, but merely to show what care has effectf 1 in spite of the shortness of our season. The following kinds, named somewhat in order of ripening, have also been reported as giving greater or less satisfaction : Cboton, Israella, Walter, Martha, Allen's Hybrid, Senasqua, Northern Muscadine, Lindley (Rogers No. 9)^ Agawam (Rogers No. 15), Wilder (Rogers No. 4), Clinton, Diana Hamburgh, Union Village, Diana. For the detailed experience of one of our oldest grape growers, see Canadian Illustrated News, March 27th, 1875. Cherry, Red Dutch, Victoria, White Grape, Black Naples, all do well in P. Q. as elsewhere. Cherry brings the highest price per. gal, and under cultivation, perhaps, per bush. The great enemy of the English varieties is mildew. Near the city of Montreal, and especially on the East Side, both on heavy clay and on gravel by no means clayey, there are many spots free from this trouble. Wo have seen Whitesmith, 30 years planted. 17 -which have never mildewed, (at least they certainly have not <3uring last 22 years, and present occupant understands they did not during the 8 years previous), these are still yielding good crops, lower branches lying upon the gravelly ground. Green Ocean was also doing well hero. On heavy clay we find Crown Bobs and Whitesmiths, both yielding fine crops, on bushes both trimmed and untrimraed ; — but after the worm has eaten the leaves, the fruit often mildews. This is one of the most profitable of fruits, bringing 60c. per gal., and easily picked. Of the American Seedlings, HOUGHTON flourishes everywhere, and bears enormous crops of a fine flavored, but small berry, proof against mildew (there are instances known of its having mildewed, but these are indeed rare). One cultivator, at Ottawa, planting 4 ft. apart, each way, (or 2500 to the acre) and selling at 60c. per gal., realized at rate of $1000 per acre. In Montreal, this small berry is not very saleable, but it should be grown every where for home use, and probably for local markets. DOWNING, another American Seedling, is larger than Hough- ton, and mildew proof; but its cultivation at Ottawa is being given up because less productive. RED.— RED ANTWERP is the general stand-by, though some prefer FRANCONIA, FASTOLLF, or KNEVET'S GIANT. CLARK, is well spoken of by a few ; we know the canes to be perfectly hardy in dry gravelly soils, but, otherwise, will give no warrant ; it suckers rather freely, but yields good crops of a large and delicate flavored fruit, WHITE.— BRINKLE'S ORANGE : A 1, for flavor and a heavy cropper under good cultivation. Its canes are quite hardy in dry gravelly soils, not over rich. Special inquiries of ours found it hardy even on rich clay, and we are at a loss to account for its tenderness south of us. However, in some rich soils, some gardeners prefer to bend it down to bo covered with snow. WHITE ANTWERP above. 18 is not as general a favorite as the GOLDEN THORNLESS has the growth, hardiness, texture of berry and productiveness of the black cap family. It is not reported on, but is doing well here, and, though of only second quality, is valued for cooking, on account of its being such a heavy cropper. BLACK. — The black-caps are not as largely grown as they should be, being thoroughly adapted to our climate, and enormous- ly productive. The fruit is larger, more juicy and pulpy, and less seedy than the wild, though not richer in flavor. DOOLITTLE (American black-cap) is perfectly hardy, has fine wild flavor, and, like all these black-caps, a profuse bearer. MAMMOTH CLUSTER is not quite so hardy, but hardy enough to bear heavily every year. In very rich soils it might prove tender. Ripens one week later than Doolittle, and continues to ripen for some time. DAVIDSON'S THORNLESS is a very early and SENECA a very late black-cap. These two last have not come in on our reports, but a few plants here have proved hardy and productive ; and in Minnesota they have both proved hardier than Mammoth Cluster. KITTATINNY, DORCHESTER, and LAWTON, have been killed almost to the ground the last five years, even when covered by a snow-drift. EARLY WILSON, reported from Ottawa t.nd elsewhere as much hardier. With us, it proved somewhat hardier, yet we do not feel that we can recommend it. Still, if well pinched down, and kept under the snow, enough might be left alive to bear a moderate crop of this large and luscious fruit. CLARET and CRYSTAL WHITE have proved worthless. SABLE QUEEN, (large and late), seems, with us at least, as hardy as early Wilson. HANCE, less so 'iM 19 WESTERN TRIUMPH. This we saw last year in the grounds- of A. M. Purdy, Palmyra, N.Y. It was very productive, size of Kittatinny, but a week earlier ; quality seemed very fine, but the berry was too ripe to fully judge. This we did hope to be able to recommend for trial, but information received from Minnesota prevents cur doing so. It might do fairly on poor soils. Thus we cannot recommend any kind even for trial. WILSON'S ALBANY : " The " berry for market on account of its productiveness and firmness of flesh ; one opinion to the con- trary—one who has five acres at Quebec, on bituminous shale, prefers JUCUNDA and BURR'S NEW PINE. For home use, WILSON and TRIOMPHE DE GRAND are generally preferred. Of others, TROLLOPE'S VICTORIA, AGRI- CULTURIST, BLACK PRINCE and perhaps LENNING'S WHITE, seem most thought of; the two latter, only on account of their delicious flavor. The work connected with this report has been such as welittlo expected, and such as we will not venture again to undertake. We have labored for the strictest accuracy. The answers to our circulars were in many cases sadly faulty ;, and continued correspondence was needed to get the exact infor- mation required, except in Montreal, where we received our information by word of mouth. Every section has its own seedlingp. The fruit list of every country is in part made up of its seedlings j a thorough examina- tion into the merits of these would be of the greatest importance, and would, doubtless, fill up many a blank in our fruit lists. Such work can only be thoroughly done by County or Local Associations such as our own. All our good seedlings would then become candidates for honors, and we would feel the need of a Provincial Fruit Growers' Association (such as our sister Provinces of Ont. and N. S. have) to pronounce judgment and to recommend for general cultivation. so To begin Huch work as this is hard ; to continue it, comparatively