134 Small J^ruits for JFhmily ITse. 



Smiill Fruits, 



Small fruits are grown on a large scale in the outskirts of London. At the fruit 

 farm of Mr. F. Dancer, one of the most successful growers in the neighborhood of 

 London, I had an excellent chance to study their methods. With raspberries, black- 

 berries, currants and strawberries, our method of cultivating and yield would e<:|ual 

 that of the best English growers. But with gooseberries the English are so much 

 larger and so much more prolific, that 1 would not even think of drawing a compari- 

 son. I saw growing at Mr. F.'s farm, fifteen acres of gooseberries, without appa- 

 rently a diseased leaf or berry. The heavy spring rains and late frosts destroyed the 

 crop of apples and pears in England, so that 1 had no opportunity of seeing orchards 

 in full bearing, and had to be content with drawing conclusions from the growth and 

 foliage of the trees. But in Belgium and France, I examined many noted collec- 

 tions of these fruits, and I returned home with the firm and proud belief that with 

 apples, pears and peaches we can beat the world, in size, quality and production. 



I 



Small Frnits for Family Use. 



BY HENRY T. HARRIS. 



N a short time those who desire to put out new beds of small fruits must begin to 

 make the necessary preparations. 



We do not propose to give, in this article, any instruction as to the mode of plant- 

 ing, but will reserve that matter for the next number of The Horticulturist. 



We wish to speak of those varieties of fruits which have been found, under all cir- 

 cumstances, to do well ; at least south of Ohio, and in the West. 



One great error which many persons fall into, is that of planting too many kinds. 

 Another is, in buying a few plants of every new variety which is placed before the 

 public with high-sounding names and many "certificates " of excellence. 



The safer and wisest course to pursue is, to ascertain the names of two or three 

 sorts, which experience has taught you to be good, and plant no other, unless you are 

 an amateur cultivator, and desire to try experiments. 



Straivhe.rries . 



I begin with the " same old story," and name first the immortal Wilson's Albany, 

 because you simply cannot do without it. Large, beautiful in color and shape, a 

 great bearer in all kinds of soil, and good enough for any palate, we would part with 

 any other half dozen kinds rather than this. True, there are many others of finer 

 flavor, but all things considered, we name the Wilson's Albany king of the strawberry 

 realm. 



Scarcely inferior to this, is the wonderful Gree7i Prolific. My bed of twenty by 

 thirty feet yielded, the second season, over thirty measured gallons. And such ber- 

 ries ! 



Then I name Downer'' s Prolific, a native of Kentucky, which gives a large general 

 crop, earlier than any other known sort. A little too acid, some say, but crushed 

 sugar in abundance, scattered through them a few hours before use, makes that point 

 all right. 



