The Canadian Horticulturist. 169 



with powdered hellebore. This substance destroys the worms completely, and 

 is not poisonous to human beings. For the curculio and the codlin moth, the 

 best treatment is to spray the trees just after the blossoms fall in the spring, and 

 two or three times subsequently during the growing season. In this way these 

 pests can be kept in control. Some growers still practice jarring the insects off 

 the trees upon sheets spread upon the ground to receive them. — American 

 Agriculturist. 



Early Vegetables. — If one has any means for forwarding his vegetable 

 plants, he can do much to hasten his crops. Not many farm-gardeners make 

 use of hot-beds or cold-frames, yet these, by starting their plants in window 

 boxes, can gain some weeks in earliness over those who sow their seeds in the 

 open air. Vegetable seeds are hardy and tender. Those of the hardy class 

 may be sown this month, while the tender kinds cannot be safely sown until the 

 time to plant Indian corn. The vegetables belonging to the hardy class, usually 

 cultivated in family gardens, are : beet, carrot, cabbage, lettuce, onions, parsnip, 

 parsley, peas, radish, turnip and spinach. The seeds of any of these may be 

 sown in the open garden as soon as the soil is dry enough to be worked. Of 

 course, some of these, especially cabbage and lettuce, are had much earlier by 

 raising the plants under glass and setting out the young plants at the time that 

 seeds are sown in the open ground. By the use of window boxes, one can 

 raise all the plants usually needed in the family garden. Such plants may be 

 purchased, but raising them is cheaper. One who takes pride in his garden will 

 avail himself of whatever means that will allow him to be a little ahead of his 

 neighbors. — American Agriculturist for April. 



The Gooseberpy. — There are few, if any, varieties of fruit that are more 

 readily propagated than this, and when in addition it is considered that it is easy 

 to cultivate, fruits early, and if given anything like good treatment can be kept 

 bearing fruit for a number of years without replanting, it is evident that in a 

 majority of cases this variety of fruit does not receive the attention that it should. 

 In a majority of cases the plants are set in out of-the-way corners of the garden, 

 and are allowed to grow with little or no cultivation or pruning. In consequence 

 the results are rarely satisfactory. So with all small fruits. The most conven- 

 ient way of planting is in rows sufificiently apart to admit of giving the necessary 

 cultivation with the horse cultivator, then sufficient cultivation to keep the 

 weeds down and the soil in a good tilth at least during the early part of the 

 season. With gooseberries more than with any other class of small fruit, good 

 pruning is necessary. Allowing too close a growth favors mildew. The weaker 

 canes should be cut out in sufficient quantity to admit the air and sunlight 

 through the bushes, leaving only a reasonable amount of thrifty young canes to 

 bear fruit. If this is done a good crop is almost certain annually, as no class 

 of fruit is as certain of bearing if good treatment is given. 



