The Canadian Horticulturist. 333 



labor, and even if a solution for spraying could be prepared, it would be difficult 

 to apply it to the stems in June, on account of the foliage. The currant stems 

 need frequent renewal, anyway, and, when grown in bush form with six or eight 

 stems from the root, it is not wholly an evil that the older stems have to fre- 

 quently be cut out, for thus new and vigorous ones are encouraged. Probably 

 there is no plan better than the old one, after all, for destroying the currant 

 borer, viz., cutting out and burning all old or stunted stalks, whether plainly 

 affected or not, and thus keeping up an abundance of young and vigorous shoots. 



An Old Sod for Fruit. 



67t2. Sir, — I have a piece of land 150x150 ; it is in grass — has not been worked for 

 years — soil, a stiff clay. Two or three pear trees on it bear well. What fruit I get from 

 it must be gathered by last of second or third week in September. I want to get the 

 land into shape at once, and put in principally pear and plum trees. Would it be too much 

 to ask you for a line saying how I should treat the land, how many and what varieties of 

 fruit I should plant ? Would sand mixed with the soil improve it ? 



J. Greene, Hamilton, Ont. 



Such land as this should be well worked up before planting, and, if at all 

 wet, thoroughly drained. If ploughed this fall, and left exposed to the frost of 

 winter, it will no doubt work down into fine tilth next spring, and may possibly be 

 planted with fruit trees : but unless in proper condition then, it would be best 

 to work it up for a year to beans, or by summer fallowing, and then plant it. 

 The application of a thick coating of loam on the surface would very much 

 improve the texture and quality of the soil ; and even a few loads of sharp sand 

 ploughed in it would help it much, mechanically. Plums, pears, grapes and 

 gooseberries would thrive well on such soil. 



Grape Vine Pruning. 



673* Sir, — On page 265, in speaking of the Wilder Grape, you say " it should be 

 trained on the Renewal System," etc. Please tell me where I can get instructions on this 

 system. 



Q. MoRETTi, Montreal. 



This has been several times described in this journal, and will be given 

 again in pruning season if called for. It provides for two arms, on the lower 

 wire from which upright stems are grown, about twelve inches apart. These 

 are cut back, alternately, every other year to the main arms, and thus the 

 young fruiting vines are always near the root and full of vigor. See " Fuller's 

 Grape Culturist,,' or " Bailey's American Grape Training." 



