The Canadian Horticulturist. 97 



by most, if not all, agricultural writers. But I know whereof I speak, having 

 made a specialty of growing tomatoes in large quantities for market during the 

 past thirty-four years. Every year I have had a good crop, and most seasons 

 the crop has been very abundant. The finest flavored and best ripened fruit is 

 found beneath the foliage, where it is shaded trom the scorching sun. This 

 applies only to early fruit ; late fruit, that must be ripened in cold fall weather, 

 or not at all, would be benefited by the heat of the sun. 



In the preceding chapters I have been particular to give minute directions 

 for raising and forcing plants so as to get very early fruit for the market, as it 

 is from the very early crop that the largest profits are to be obtained. Yet 

 plants grown as above are expensive, on account of the large amount of glass and 

 fuel required. It also takes skilled care and a large amount of room to grow 

 such plants. Therefore they cannot be grown for less than twenty-five dollars 

 per hundred. The writer has often refused three dollars per dozen for those 

 extra early large plants, knowing that they were worth more to plant out for 

 early fruit. Such plants are safe for yielding five pounds of early fruit the last of 

 June and first half of July. This extra early fruit will always sell for ten cents 

 per pound, and in some markets, double that amount ; and the plants will 

 ripen as much fruit afterward as the main crop plants. I am thus particular, in 

 order to show the new beginner the value of these extra early plants. 



Sf. J/cirys, Ont. S. H. MITCHELL. 



CURRANTS AS A GARDEN CROP. 



Currants do best on a rich, clay soil with good drainage. They will do 

 very well in a rich, moist loam, and even in sandy land large crops may be 

 raised if it is rich and the bushes are kept well mulched with straw or strawy 

 litter. The lighter the soil the more important it is not to have a southern 

 exposure for currants. When currant bushes get so thick as to need pruning, 

 the older shoots should be cut out, but this must be done with moderation, as 

 the older shoots are, up to a certain point, the most productive. \\'hen they 

 begin to appear weak they should be removed, and a good dressing of manure 

 given. The bushes should be kept thoroughly free from weeds and grass at all 

 times. 



The cuttings should be made 10 inches long, strong, close-budded shoots 

 of the same season's growth and set slightly slanting in a trench, so that 2 or 3 

 inches only of the top of the cutting is left exposed when the earth is replaced. 

 The earth should be very firmly trod to these cuttings, especially at the bottom. 

 In heavy land or any likely to heave by frost, the row of cuttings should be 

 either well mulched, or the earth should be drawn up to them in a ridge so as 

 to entirely cover them, to prevent being thrown out by the action of the frost. 

 They should be set as early in the fall as possible, after most of the leaves have 

 fallen. — Farm and Home. 



