16 



THE CANADIAN HOBTICUL'JURIST. 



merit to the sale of the older Black Cap 

 Raspberries, but with the Souhegan that 

 objection disappears. 



It is likely that millions of plants will 

 be required to supply the coming de- 

 mand for it. The tests of its superiority 

 are such that it may well be said to be 

 " a new epoch " in small fruit culture. 



The Souhegan Raspberry has again 

 fruited, this exceptionally dry season, 

 and justifies my claim of superiority 

 over all others of its class. It is again 

 the very earliest, coming in just as the 

 late strawberries go out. With good 

 culture it will grow three-quarters of an 

 inch in diameter, often bearing twenty 

 to thirty berries on a cluster and carries 

 well to market. It is of superior quality 

 to eat, making a rich sauce, pie or pud- 

 ding, or a spirited wine in case an excess 

 of crop, or long rain, should soften the 

 berries. 



We saw fruit gathered on Saturday 

 that stood in boxes until Monday, before 

 sending to market, yet in condition to 

 stand at lea8t two days longer. It is a 

 marvel to see the immense number of 

 clusters of fruit that a single cane will 

 yield. 



A great number of fruit growers were 

 slow to admit the merits of the Souhe- 

 gan, who now regret the delay ; but are 

 ready to plant by the hundred or thou- 

 sand now. One planter proposes to set 

 twenty thousand, being convinced of its 

 superior advantages, enduring the hard- 

 est winters, early ripening, quantity, 

 size, quality, firmness, and popular de- 

 mand where known in market. 



The earliest picking for eight years 

 past commenced in June. 



A first-class Certificate of Merit was 

 cheerfully awarded me for a display of 

 the Souhegan Raspberry, by the Fruit 

 Committee of the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society, where it was shown for 

 the first time in 1882. 



There is no higher authority than the 

 approval of the above Society where 

 testimonials for fruit are desired. 



Jacob W. Manning. 

 Reading, Mass. 



CLETHRA ALNIFOLIA. 



This shrub is now attracting attention 

 as a forage for the honey bee. It is prac- 

 tical to plant for this purpose by the 

 acre ; it transplants safely, is propagated 

 very easily by suckers and layers ; will 

 grow on any soil, even if too wet for cul- 

 tivation, and in any situation ; blossoms 

 late and through a long season, from 

 July 1st to Sept. Bees swarm upon it, 

 apparently to the exclusion of other 

 flowers. 



Miss Parsons, of Cape Ann, Mass. 

 (where it grows naturally in the greatest 

 perfection, in the winter of 1876, called 

 the attention of the Editor of the Am- 

 erican Bee Journal of Chicago to it in 

 these words, — " I never knew it to fail 

 from any cause whatever * * * Cold 

 appears never to harai it. The honey is 

 about white, thick and of fine fiavorT 



Its leaves are light green ; flowers are 

 pure white, in spikes three to six inches 

 long. A group of this Clethra in bloom 

 will perfume the air for twenty rods 

 around ; a handful will fill a room with 

 its delightful fragrance. It blooms from 

 July 1st to September; its cultivation is 

 simple, growing to perfection where the 

 lilac will succeed. It never fails to bloom 

 after a hard winter. Its eftect is impres- 

 sive when grown in large masses, as pro- 

 duced by a dozen or more plants set in 

 a group. It has never been so w^ell 

 shown to the public as in Central Park, 

 New York. 



It leaves out late in spring and blooms 

 on plants one to eight feet high, accord- 

 ing to age and vigor of growth. 



A strong plant in vigorous soil would 

 make a hundred plants by suckei-s 

 alone in three years, and the planter 



