450 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



somewhat resembles Bartlett in shape with 

 smooth skin, pale yellow with a deep shadings 

 of brownish carmine. The basin is shallow 

 and regular, the eye nearly closed, sepals 

 long and reflexed, apex rather abrupt with 

 slight cavity, stem short, core closed and 

 small. Seeds small, flesh pale whitish yel- 



low, fine grained and tender. Its quality is 

 very good, resembling the Bartlett, but the 

 flavor is more sprightly and free from all 

 muskiness. It is in season in August in 

 New ^'ork. The tree is a vigorous, upright 

 grower, wood dark, resembling Clapp's 

 Favorite. 



BLACKBERRY CULTURE. 



fOR blackberries I prefer clay soil, as it 

 holds the moisture much better than 

 black loam. After putting my ground 

 in good condition for planting I take a single 

 shovel plow and run furrows eight feet 

 apart. Then I took good thrifty plants and 

 plant in the furrows four feet apart in the 

 row. When through planting I cultivate 

 between the rows to fill up the furrows. The 

 first season I raise potatoes between the 

 rows set. I hoe and cultivate blackberry 

 plants every season and do not mulch with 

 hay or straw. 1 prefer keeping the ground 

 clean and a dust mulch. Plow two or three 

 times a week with cultivator. 



My experience has been mostly with the 

 Snyder. I think they are most prolific in 

 bearing and surer of a crop than Ancient 

 Briton or Stone's Hardy. With me the 

 canes do not grow large or stiff, which 

 makes them easier to lay down in the fall. 

 In this respect I prefer the Synder, and 

 they are not much harder to handle than 

 raspberries except for the thorns. In put- 



ting them down 1 use the same method 

 as in raspberries. 



I do not pinch or trim the vines off in 

 spring, but I ^o through and trim off the 

 new wood that comes out in the way of 

 picking the fruit. Early in the spring I cut 

 off the toss of canes that are to bear fruit, 

 leaving canes three and one-half to four feet 

 high. Pruned in this way, they send out 

 branches producing a heavy crop of fruit. 

 The last two years I have received $2.00 

 per case for 24 quarts each throughout the 

 season, making $200 per acre some seasons. 

 Some of my neighbors have tried raising 

 blackberries on marsh lands, but it has not 

 proved a success. One great objection is 

 that the stalks grow too large and are then 

 too brittle to lay down. I do not wire them 

 upon a trellis, as the vines hold the fruit up 

 good in clay ground. Those vines that are 

 eighteen inches to two feet above ground 

 and where the fruit is shaded, I find bear 

 the largest and sweetest hQ.rr'xts.-— Report 

 Minn. Horticultural Society. 



Grape Wine. — No. i : To i qf. grape 

 juice, add 3 qts. water, 2)/^ lbs. brown 

 sugar, stir until the sugar is all dissolved, 

 and store in an open vessel for three weeks, 

 covered with mosquito netting or cheese- 

 cloth, to protect against insects. Putin jugs 

 and keep closely covered until March or 

 April, then rack off, bottle and seal. 



No. 2: To each gallon of juice, add i lb. 

 white sugar, let stand 3 days, skim, strain 

 and measure, and to each gallon add an- 

 other pound of sugar, let stand three days, 

 measure, and again add a pound of sugar. 

 Bottle and seal. This recipe makes a very 

 rich, sweet wine. 



