^alei)dar for Tui^e. 



J. S. HARRIS, LA CRESCENT. 



In all horticultural departments, June is a month of abundant 

 work, and upon how faithfully and well it is done depends much of 

 the satisfaction and rewards that are to follow. With it begins the 

 harvest of strawberries, which at this date. May 29th, very generally 

 promises to be a good one. If not already done, straw or other ma- 

 terial that is free from seeds of weeds shoxild be carefully placed 

 between the rows for the purpose of keeping the ground from be- 

 coming dry and to prevent the fruit from getting sanded or dirty 

 when rains occur. For hotne use and hoine inarket, they should not 

 be picked before they are ripe enough for serving on the table; for 

 shipping long distance, they will carry better if picked a few hours 

 before dead ripe but not when half green, as many pick them. Half 

 green berries will color up in transportation but will never gain the 

 rich aroma and flavor that is so much esteemed by consumers. For 

 the best results, green and half-ripe berries should never be mixed 

 in with fully ripe ones, and different varieties should never be 

 mixed in the same package. In all cases the package should be 

 well filled and the berries all perfect in shape and as near as possi- 

 ble uniform in size. The grade of a box of berries is never esti- 

 mated by the size and appearance of a few berries on the top, but hy 

 the size and quality of the poorest berries in the packages. Clean, 

 new, well filled boxes only should be sent to market, and they 

 should always reach the consumer in the original package. Avoid 

 as you would a common thief the dealer who repacks them and 

 loosens them up to gain a few quarts; he injures your reputation 

 and swindles his customers. 



It is now time to cease the cultivation of the raspberries and 

 mulch the ground about them. The best material for mulching is 

 freshly mown clover. 



Currants ought to be heavily mulched, first removing all suckers 

 that will not be needed for future renewal of fruiting stems, as it 

 saves much time in hoeing and keeps the ground cool and moist. 



Pinch in the new canes of blackcap raspberries as soon as they 

 reach a height of two to two and a half feet to cause them to throw 

 out branches and become more stockj'. The red varieties should 

 not be pinched or cut back, but not more than four to six canes 



