150 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Pruning Raspberries. 



720. Sir, — Is it advisable to cut out the old wood in red raspberry bushes in Sep- 

 tember ? T. H. A. 



Yes, this work may be done any time after fruiting season, for the old canes 

 have then finished their Hfe work and will gradually die in any case. They had 

 better be removed in September, and the young canes thinned out. 



Ashes and Lime. 



721. Sir, — Is wood ashes, or lime, a good fertilizer for berry bushes? If not, what 

 is good? T. H. A. 



Wood ashes is one of the best of fertilizers for a fruit plantation, especially 

 on light soils. Potash is one of the chief elements entering into the constitution 

 of both plants and fruits. Lime is frequently valuable, because it sets free other 

 elements, but is not in itself of much value. 



Spraying. 



722. Sir, — If grapes need spraying after the grapes are formed, what would you 

 use ? When should plum trees be sprayed, and with what ? What would you use for 

 mildew on grapes or gooseberries ? T. H. A. 



See the Spraying Calendar in March number. 



The Wilson. 



723. Sir, — Would you recommend the Wilson strawberry ? If not, what is better? 



T. H. A. 



Yes ; where the foliage is not subject to rust, it still stands among the most 

 productive and profitable of strawberries. 



If we were to choose four others, they would be Williams, Bubach, Have- 

 land and Saunders. 



Pruning Grapes. 



724. Sir, — How late in winter may grape vines be pruned ? T. H. A. 



Grape vines may be pruned any time from the fall of the leaf in autumn, 

 until the buds begin pushing in spring. It is usually thought best to complete 

 the pruning not later than April ist, to avoid too great loss of moisture through 

 the wounds. Whether this really affects the productiveness, is a question for 

 our stations to solve. 



