112 THE CANADIAN HORTICULTUHlST. 



reach his distant home. These poor creatures enjoy but few comforts, 

 and many of them seem to be less intelli^'ent than the negroes. 



We met with many kind friends during our stay here; found the 

 southern people extremely hospitable, and we left Atlanta, taking with 

 us very pleasant recollections of our visit. 



An afternoon train brought us, about dusk, to another thriving city< 

 Macon, where we took a sleeper on a night train for Brunswick, in the 

 southern extremity of Georgia. Daylight disclosed great changes in 

 the character of the vegetation, which now began to assume a tropical 

 aspect as we approached the land of flowers. 



ENQUIRIES ABOUT GOOSEBERRIES. 



An esteemed member of the Association inquires, " Which goose- 

 berry do you consider the best to plant for market purposes, Smith's 

 Seedling or Downing's;" also, "do you know anything of a gooseberry 

 called American Amber, and if so, what are its characteristics and value 

 as compared with the above ?" " Is it desirable to plant any of the 

 English kinds for market, and if so which ?" 



In replying to the first enquiry, we can only say that we have not 

 sufficiently tested the Smith's Seedling, or as it is usually known among 

 horticulturists, " Smith's Improved," to speak positively of its merits as a 

 market berry. The Downing we have cultivated for some fifteen years, 

 and have tested it thoroughly, and can confidently recommend it as a 

 very valuable variety, and profitable for market. With our present 

 knowledge of the two sorts we would plant the Downing for profit. 



We are not able to throw any light on the American Amber 

 Gooseberry. It is not mentioned in any of the catalogues of leading 

 American nurserymen in our possession, nor have we noticed any 

 description of it in any of the American horticultural publications. 



The English varieties of gooseberry are subject to mildew in our 

 climate. In some seasons the fruit is completely coated with a tough 

 fungoid growth, and the leaves are destroyed. Some mitigation of this 

 evil is thought to be obtained by planting in very rich and strong soil, by 

 keeping the ground well mulched and plentifully supplied with salt, and 

 thinning out the branches, so as to admit of free circulation of air. But 

 with all this, there is too much uncertainty about escaping the mildew to 

 make the planting of English sorts for market a promising investment. 



