SOMETHING ABOUT SMALL FRUITS. 



1 



Growing Gooseberries 



R. 1!. WliVTlC, OTTAWA, ONT. 



^ HK chief difificultics in growing goose- 

 berries are the hot weatlier and the 

 Jiabihty to mildew. The gooseberry suc- 

 ceeds in Britain, and we should compare 

 our conditions with those found there to 

 see in what way we may overcome otn- 

 difficulties. One of the first conditions in 

 Britain is the rich soil. We here are apt 

 to forget that farm soil in England has been 

 cultivated and fertilized for 200, 300 or 400 

 years. Gooseberries must be well fed. I 

 am inclined to believe in the theory that jio 

 insect or disease ever attacked a healthy, 

 well-fed tree. 



Another consideration is the moist cli- 

 mate. They never know in Britain what 

 it is to have long spells of dr}- weather like 

 we have, and the climate is n:ore moist. 

 Other conditions are a more equal tempera- 

 ture and the saltiness of the atmosphere. 



With regard to temperature, it is difficult 

 for us to get the moderate temperature that 

 growers have in the Old Country. Some 

 obtain it very satisfactorily by planting the 

 bushes between trees, but certainly we can 

 get fine gocjseberries by so doing, and they 

 should be in partial shade. The trouble 

 which comes from excessive temperature is 

 that the berries which are exposed to the 

 sun are actually cooked. I have seen ber- 

 ries with a side scalded yellow by the sun. 

 and then drop off. 



It is rather a surprise to those who im- 

 port plants from the Old Country to see the 

 dififerent styles they grow them in to what 

 we do. The stems of some plants I had 

 were about half an inch in diameter, about 

 10 inches long, and had roots about four 

 inches across at the bottom. The advant- 

 age in that style of growth is, that you en- 

 sure the free circulation of air under your 

 plant, and that, I think, is one of the great 

 considerations in preventing mildew. I 



have grown some of my plants in the Am- 

 erican style, and, as a rule, those I start my- 

 self I grow in that style ; but those from the 

 Old Country are on the long straight stem 

 style. 



A Yellow Blackcap 



PR01-. ir. I.. IIUTT, O. A. C, GUELPH. 



Is there a " Yellow Blackcap Raspberry " on 

 the market ? I have a Yellow Blackcap rasp- 

 berry that grew up among my Blackcap rasp- 

 berries. It bears a large crop of fruit, similar 

 to Gregg in size, bu.t of a beautiful yellow color 

 and of an extra fine quality. The canes are 

 very strong growers and of a peculiar yellowish 

 color. It stood the severe cold of last winter, 

 uninjured, and was unprotected. — (Chester 

 Wiederick, Nanticoke, Ont. 



I do not know of any Yellow Blackcap 

 which has been propagated for sale, al- 

 though we had one here a few years ago 

 which originated with Air. A. E. Sherring- 

 ton, of Walkerton. We grew it under the 

 name of Mulatto, but after growing it a 

 few years, discarded it on account of its poor 

 quality. If yours is as promising as you 

 describe it to be, we would like to get a few 

 plants to give it a thorough trial, and would, 

 of course, keep the plants under restriction 

 if you so desire. 



I am doubtful, however, if a Yellow 

 'Blackcap will ever be popular in the mar- 

 ket. Yellow strawberries, yellow toma- 

 toes, yellow raspberries, and most freaks of 

 that kind are not in general favor in the 

 market, although, no doubt, some are well 

 worth\- of propagation for home use. 



To Grow Grapes of fine sample and good 

 quality the first and most important point 's 

 short pruning to prevent overcrowding. 

 The next is to apply sulphur about the last 

 week in June or first in July to prevent mil- 

 dew, and the next is to allow them to fully 

 ripen before picking. If grape growers 

 would comply with these conditions the 

 market for grapes would require one-half 

 more than it does and at higher prices.— 

 (Al. Pettit. Winona, Ont. 



