MAY. 



151 



I am so well aware that varying soils and climates influence the 

 habits of plants, and makes it necessary to modify and adapt the 

 system of management to the peculiar circumstances of the place, and 

 that a system that may be successfully pursued in one garden is not of 

 necessity the best for another, that I do not advise an unconsidered 

 adoption of the plan I find to answer so well ; but I hope at any rate 

 my remarks will suggest an inquiry as to the general propriety of the 

 common practice. It is worth while to consider whether it is right 

 and reasonable to induce, by high cultivation, the abundant develop- 

 ment of canes during the summer, half of which are removed by the 

 winter pruning. Has not this the effect of disturbing the balance of 

 power between roots and branches, and of impairing the fruitfulness of 

 the canes allowed to remain ? Is not this habit of excessive pruning 

 the cause of the gross, succulent shoots which are too often seen in 

 Raspberry quarters ? and does it not lead to the expense and trouble 

 of staking and otherwise securing the canes ? 



The soil in which the Raspberry succeeds under the treatment I 

 have indicated as so successful, is a modified clay, considerably enriched 

 on the surface. The ground is lightly forked over in the spring, but 

 care is taken not to injure the roots. 



In saying that I do not prune, I must be understood to mean, 

 according to the approved practice. I do not, except in particular 

 cases, remove any canes. It is always necessary to take off the 

 attenuated points of the canes, which are seldom well ripened. 



Behoir, April 25. W. I. 



ALPINE STRAWBERRIES. 



Nothing attracted my attention more, during a visit I paid to Paris, 

 than the great quantities of these offered for sale in the markets. 

 Passing through the Marche St. Honore, I noticed hundreds of baskets 

 of them ; and indeed at all the fruit shops, and at the windows 

 of the principal cafes and restaurants, quantities of them were to 

 be seen. The price in the market, where I occasionally inquired, was 

 only a few pence, more or less, according to their size and freshness, 

 the basket containing a quart or more ; some of them were remark- 

 ably fine. Anxious to learn the best method of cultivating this Straw- 

 berry, so desirable from its continued productiveness, I made inquiry 

 of several cultivators, in whose gardens I saw it bearing abundantly, 

 and picked many superior specimens of the fruit. It is, I found, easily 

 increased by runners, when once there is a stock to commence with, 

 which may be obtained from seed. 



I shall only now notice their cultivation by means of runners. 

 September is considered the best month to plant out new beds. As the 

 plants are not of so vigorous a habit as the large varieties, perhaps 

 earlier planting might not be attended with unfavourable results. The 

 ground being prepared, the best and strongest runners should be 

 selected and planted out in rows, about six inches apart, the rows being 

 about one foot from each other. A cool and half shady situation, or a 



