The prize for the best six varieties was awarded to Geo. Leslie, Toronto, who exhibited Beurre Clairgeau, Louise Bonne, Sheldon, Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, and Duchesse d’Angouleme.
In Plums there was a very good display of varieties, but not the profusion of exhibits we have sometimes had. The collection of twenty varieties exhibited by Gilchrist Bros., of Guelph, to which the first prize was awarded, will give a very good idea of the sorts that can be successfully grown and that are held in estimation among us. The collection embraced the Peach Plum, large, light red, juicy, “very good;” McLaughlin, large, yellow marbled with red, “best;” Duane’s Purple, large, reddish purple, “good;” Yellow Egg, very large, yellow, a cooking plum; Quackenboss, large, purple, “good;” Bradshaw, large, reddish purple, “very good;” Prince Englebert, large, deep purple, “very good;” Victoria, large, yellow shaded with purple, “good;” Lombard, medium size, violet red, “good;” Glass Seedling, large, deep purple, “good;” Columbia, very large, brownish purple, “good;” Prince of Wales, large, reddish purple, “good;” Marten’s, large, yellow dotted with red in the sun, “very good;” Red Gage, small, brownish red, “best;” Early Orleans, medium size, dark red, “good;” Green Gage, small, yellowish green, “best;” Reine Claude de Bavay, large, greenish yellow, “best;” Pond’s Seedling, very large, bright red on a yellow ground, “good;” Saint Catharine, medium size, pale yellow, “very good;” Coe’s Golden Drop, large, light yellow, “very good.”
There was also a very good display of grapes, unexpectedly good, remembering the unusual trials through which our grapes passed during the last season. The prize for the best twelve varieties, and the prize for the best six, grown in the open air, were awarded to S. Woodley, of Hamilton. His collection of twelve varieties comprised the Delaware, small in berry and bunch, light red, sweet and sprightly; Wilder, large, black, sweet, and rich; Agawam, large, dark red, vinous, and a little musky; Martha, medium, greenish yellow, much like a Concord in flavor; Iona, also medium, light red, vinous, and excellent; Rebecca, medium, light greenish yellow, sweet and pleasant; Rogers’ No. 44, large, black, sweet; Barry, large, black, juicy, and sweet; Senasqua, full medium size, black; Concord, large, black, sweet, musky; Creveling, medium, black, very agreeable flavor; Perkins, medium, copper color, foxy.
The display of peaches was smaller than usual, the fruit having ripened up so early that little was to be found at the date of the exhibition wherewith to make a display, and any enumeration of the varieties that were exhibited would fail to convey any adequate idea of the kinds that are grown in our peach growing districts.
We close this already too lengthy article in the hope that it may prove valuable as a guide to many of our readers who are planting orchards of fruit trees, or seeking to make additions to those they already possess; and with the suggestion that this annual fruit exhibit affords an excellent opportunity for becoming acquainted with at least the external appearance of many of our most valuable fruits.
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EXPERIENCE IN WINTERING GERANIUMS.
BY W. ROY, OWEN SOUND.
An anxious amateur wishes to know how to winter Geraniums. I had a very fine bed four years ago, and when frost set in was loth to lose them. I dug them up, cut them down, shook the earth from the roots and hung them up in the cellar all winter, and not one grew the following spring. I tried the same method next fall, but did not cut them down until spring, the same results followed, not one grew. Last fall I dug my bed up with as much earth as possible, put them in boxes, gave them winter quarters in the cellar, gave them a little water now and then. When planting time came round I cut them down to about five inches, every one grew and made a splendid show all summer, and at this moment (Oct. 12) are brilliant. I brought them up and nursed them two or three weeks before planting out; but the better plan for amateurs is to take cuttings at the end of September, plant them in equal parts of turf, mould, and sand, nurse carefully through the winter, and they will have much better plants for bedding out in June.
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