84 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



A few years since there were a long contest as to who or what 

 district had a just claim to the merit of introducing this valuable 

 acquisition to the fruit garden, and it is yet a query whether the 

 present name, or names, it bears is correct ; as it is not important 

 to the consumer, I will not dispute it here, but there are persons who 

 feel great interest in acquiring the history of all fruits, etc., imme- 

 diately under their own care, and by those it may be mooted at some 

 future time, my object at present being that of merely giving my 

 practice on the cultivation of this desirable fruit, to commence which 

 I will begin with taking suckers from the old plants to form new 

 plantations. In the first place, it is necessary the stock from which 

 suckers are to be taken should be of healthy and vigorous growth, 

 for if they have been long standing in the same situation, a decline 

 in vigour is likely to take place, and, as the young stuff naturally 

 imbibes the defect, care should be taken to avoid falling in error, 

 which may be followed by disappointment. Suckers may be planted 

 from October to about the middle of February, provided, it be done 

 when the ground is not frozen, take them from the old plants by a 

 slight pull, they do not require much exertion ; the ground intended 

 for their reception should be dug rather deep, be well mauured, and 

 ready to receive the plants. Strong suckers taken with a ball of 

 earth to them may be planted three in a heap, each heap four feet 

 apart in the rows ; and if more than one row is planted, the opposite 

 should be at six feet distance. The openings between the rows 

 will not be lost ; crops of various kinds can be produced in the spaces 

 in the spring and summer months. 



The best mode of pruning to insure a good supply of canes for 

 the following season, which is a consideration well worth notice, is 

 to prune strong canes to three feet, a second two feet, and a third 

 within two or three inches of the surface of the soil ; by such manage- 

 ment a nice little crop may be taken the first year, and plenty of 

 strong canes left for a main crop. As soon as the canes begin to 

 shoot in the spring, they should be carefully thinned, for if an over- 

 stock is allowed to continue they will draw too much nourishment 

 from the old canes, and thus weaken and reduce the quality of the 

 fruit ; about the middle of May this must be seen to, four or five 

 being left to each stool, will be all sufficient. Mulch is of great 

 service during the fruiting lime, and a liberal supply should always 

 be given, the effect will soon be obvious by the superior healthy 

 appearauce of the foliage. As soon as the fruit is gathered the old 

 bearing rod may be cut away, and the young canes be brought a 

 little closer together. 



As soon as the leaves have fallen pruning may begin, leaving 

 about four canes of different heights, say about four feet for the 

 highest, nine incises lower for the second, and follow this principle 

 out with the remainder. A top-dressing should now be given, and 

 the canes be neatly tied, leaving them moderately open, so that the 

 sun may act alike on each. A. few may be planted against a south 

 wall for an early crop, where they will come very fine. 





