I873-] FRUIT -CULTURE IN THE NORTH. 87 



It is very interesting to see what use some persons will make of very common 

 things, and Ferns are capable of being turned to many useful and interesting 

 jjurposes. Some few years ago, on my visiting a gentleman's dairy, this train of 

 thought was forcibly presented to my mind on seeing a very noble plant of 

 the common Scolopendrium occupying a very prominent position in that 

 dairy. The dairy-room, where the milk was all displayed in pure white pans 

 upon shelves of blue slate, is 16 by 20 feet, having a floor of red paving- 

 tiles, all kept scrupulously clean. In the middle of this dairy was a small 

 round table and pedestal of pure white marble, upon which was placed 

 an ornamented pot, and growing in it was one of the largest and best plants we 

 have ever seen of the common Scolopendrium vidgare, and well it looked in the 

 midst of such a clean and well-ordered dairy. There were well on for five dozen 

 fronds in this plant ; the greater part of them were over 18 inches long, and as 

 they fell gracefidly over towards the white marble, concealing the pot, they 

 presented an eflfect which was at once novel and very pleasing. 



G. Dawson. 



FRUIT - CULTURE Ilf THE NORTH. 



It is the opinion of many who live beyond the Grampians, that nothing but the 

 most hardy of the vegetable kingdom will grow or prosper in this northern 

 clime. But to those who thus think, I will endeavour, with your .kind permission, 

 to show otherwise. As a young gardener, of but a very few years' experience, 

 my practical knowledge cannot be much, neither are my literary attainments 

 such as would warrant me to aspire to the dignity of becoming a contributor to 

 your valuable magazine. Still 1 will try, as briefly as I can, to show how suc- 

 cessfully some of the finest fruits are grown in this county (Caithness). ' 



Of the Strawberry there are, e.g.. Garibaldi, Dr Hogg, Elton, British Queen, 

 and the Keen Seedling, all of which are grown with the most successful results. 

 The Elton especially requires a little more than a mere passing remark, as it 

 grows to such an enormous size. Having been struck with the prodigious size 

 of them here this year, I was led by curiosity to weigh some of them : if I 

 were to chronicle the results here, I fear I would be accused of drawing the 

 "long bow; " and yet I am perfectly satisfied that, without being considered 

 boastful, they were equal in quality and size to any that have been reared in the 

 sunny South. Examples might be enumerated, but this will suffice for my 

 present purpose. 



Of other fruits there is the Gooseberry, which, of course, does well in almost all 

 places ; but I might mention that while I hear many complaining of a species 

 of fungus destroying their crops, it is generally unknown here, and where it 

 has appeared it has been of such a mild type that it never affects the fruit. 



As a parenthetical remark, I might here say that the Apjile crop this year was 

 more or less affected by a species of fungus. A number of black dots appeared 

 on the skin of the Apple, which is supposed to have been caused by the bite of 

 an insect when the fruit was setting. But to turn again to the Gooseberry, I 

 was going to say that the Sulphur and Hedgehog, as dessert varieties, and the 

 large and small jam Gooseberry, as preserving varieties, are amongst those that 

 suit best in this county. 



The Black Currant grows uncommonly well here on bushes, but bears better 

 and a finer flavoured berry when grown against walls ; and I yet hope to be able 

 to tell you how Lee's Prolific Black Ciurant suits this semi-polar region. 



