108 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



of bloom. An open situation is neces- 

 sary, not shaded by trees. The tall 

 varieties suits admirably in shrubbery 

 borders. They also form most brilliant 

 appearance when planted in masses, or 

 in centres of large beds. About the 

 latter end of May, as soon as all danger 

 of frost is over, the plants may be 

 planted out in the open border, holes 

 are made, two feet apart, according to 

 the height of the variety. The tubers 

 or plants are carefully placed in, and 

 some fine soil put in around, shaking 

 the plant slightly so as to admit the 

 soil freely around the tubers. As the 

 plants advance in height, they should 

 be tied to stakes with bass matting 

 strings, and any superfluous shoots 

 removed. When the buds have formed, 

 liquid manure made of one part of cow 

 dung, hen dung and horse dung, may 

 be given with great advantage, once or 

 twice a week. In taking up the tubers 

 in the fall it is necessary that as soon 

 as the stems are injured by frost, they 

 should be cut down to within six inches 

 of the ground, and the tubers taken up 

 with a potato fork, labeled with the 

 name of the variety, and turned stem 

 downwards for a few days to permit 

 the moisture to drain off, when dry 

 they may be placed in hay, straw or 

 dry sand, the crown being left un- 

 covered in a cool place, which is secure 

 from frost and from dampness. There 

 they may remain with no other atten- 

 tion and care than examining them 

 from time to time, and remove any 

 that is rotten, as well as cutting off parts 

 which are beginning to decay. 



Thos. E. Davies. 

 Ottawa, Ont. 



THE EARLY VICTOR GRAPE. 

 A correspondent residing at Clar- 

 enceville. Province of Quebec, writes 

 that '• Early Victor is likely to be an 

 acquisition with us. I will have it in 

 bearing this season." 



FACTS AND GUESSES ABOUT NEW 

 STRAWBERRIES. 



BY T. C. ROBINSON, OWEN SOUND. 



Some people are down on anything 

 but facts about fruit, because so many 

 new and highly praised varieties have 

 proved unworthy of cultivation, and 

 anything approaching a guess is suffi- 

 cient to draw forth their indignation 

 or contempt. Yet we want to have 

 some idea of the value of new sorts, 

 and what are we to do about it at first, 

 unless we compare one fact with another 

 given by those who have had a little 

 experience, and draw inferences and 

 conclusions 1 Perhaps tliis is not guess- 

 ing : so much the better then. Now 

 I will tell what I know and what I 

 infer about some new sorts, and I hope 

 other readers of the H orticulturUt will 

 do the same; for it is a matter of ex- 

 ceeding interest to me (and no doubt 

 to others) to know as soon as possible 

 what kinds will do best throughout the 

 province. 



Several new kinds make their ap- 

 pearance every year, but of the different 

 rivals, usually two or three stand out, 

 close together in importance, beyond 

 the crowd. Two or three years ago 

 the Sharpless and Crescent were the 

 favored ones, with Marvin, Miner's 

 Prolific, Forest Rose and a host of 

 nonentities in the rear. Now we look 

 eagerly to Bid well, Manchester, and 

 James Vick for success, with a vague 

 im[)ression that among the Big Bobs, 

 Jersey Queens, Old Iron-clads, 'and 

 Pipers, that figure on the lists, there 

 may yet spring forward something as 

 good as these, ov better. Beside these 

 we find the old historic name of 

 " Daniel Boone " casting its shadows 

 before, and in prospect to share the 

 honors, Mrs. Garfield ; and yet others 

 in the realms of rumor, so that the man 

 who loves to test new varieties can 



