234 



The Canadian HoTticiiltnrist. 



not larger than the currant. The 

 fruit of these vary, but on some they 

 equal or exceed the size of the Cherry 

 Currant, and are produced abundant- 

 ly. This fruit is sweet and pleasant, 

 less acid than the Blueberry or 

 Huckleberry, and is an acceptable 

 garden substitute therefor. It is, 

 however, much more sought after by 

 birds than either the Currant or the 

 Huckleberry — in fact, they are dis- 

 posed to take it all, considerably in 

 advance of ripeness, and I fear this 

 will prove a serious difficulty in the 

 way of its successful culture. Still, 

 it might pay to cover the bushes with 

 cheap netting. Almost everybody 

 likes the fruit, the native variety 

 going here by the name of " sugar 

 plum." 



Mr. H. Vandeman, chief of the 

 U.S. Department of Horticulture, 

 says : — 



" I have been experimenting with 

 the dwarf varieties of Amelanchier 

 for about fifteen years, and I have 

 several varieties growing upon my 

 place in Kansas which are abundant 

 bearers, extremely hardy, and have 

 never been troubled with any fungus. 

 Have sold four to five hundred quarts 

 of the fruit in a season, generally at 

 good prices. The varieties differ 

 greatly. I have one from the moun- 

 tains of Pennsylvania which is of 

 unusually fine flavor, and very pro- 

 mising." 



They are propagated by layers, 

 cuttings, or by grafting upon the 

 Hawthorn or the Quince. 



of the same shape but much larger than 

 the common huckleberry ; flavor sweet, 

 or of a very mild subacid. It is becom- 

 ing very popular, transplants easily and 

 is quite hardy and stands the summer 

 sun exceedingly well. Planted once, 

 they continue for one's lifetime as they 

 propagate from suckers that spring up 

 from the base of the bushes. Although 

 the Juneberry does not rank equal with 

 some of our best small fruits, still it is 

 certainly well worth a place in the 

 family home garden, and the variety 

 " Success " is the best vet introduced." 



Pot-gpown Strawberry Plants. 



67. What is the best time to plant pot- 

 grov/n strawberry plants? — T. G. Gaston, 

 Hamilton. 



Reply by T. C. Robinson, Oicen Sound. 



The best time to plant potted straw'- 

 berry plants is just as soon as they are 

 obtainable. Runners start from vigor- 

 ous old plants early in June. If these 

 are " layered " on the surface of rich 

 soil in small pots they will usually form 

 well-rooted young plants in the pots 

 early in July. Planted in July they 

 will yield next season more than half 

 as much fruit as a plantation, equally 

 treated and of equal size, started in the 

 previous April, although, if well treated, 

 they will do a great deal better than 

 many a " full grown " plantation of 

 equal extent which may not have been 

 hoed just as promptly or may not have 

 been manured as plentifully as desir- 

 able. 



66. Mr. p. Allan, of London, writes ask- 

 ing about the variety being introduced under 

 the name of "The Success." We cannot 

 reply better than by quoting from a letter from 

 Mr. J. G. Lovett, Little Silver, N.J., the 

 introducer, who is probably the only one who 

 has tested it. 



" SiR^ — As to the Success Juneberry 

 we would say that we consider it by far 

 the best variety of the Juneberry that 

 has yet been introduced. It is of a 

 much finer flavor than other sorts ; the 

 fruit is of a dark purple when fully ripe; 



The Dying- Oak. 



68. I TAKE the liberty of writing you to see 

 if you or any of your readers can give me some 

 information on a subject that interests me. I 

 have a few large old oak trees on my place. 

 They look healthy except a few limbs at the 

 top. Every year a few more die off leaving 

 the tops dry and ugly. The lower limbs of 

 the trees keep healthy and grow considerably 

 every year. The trees are so large and high 

 I can't get anyone to go to the top to cut off 

 the dead wood. 



What is the cause of the death in the trees 

 and what remedy would you suggest ? — W. W. 

 F., London, Ont. 



