THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



65 



with the greatest confidence. Then 

 .igain, the fruit in its improved forms 

 Ls one that everybody likes, from the 

 smallest child to the gray-haired grand- 

 father. It is so readily made up by the 

 family into savory dishes that every 

 housewife wants a supply, be it ever so 

 small. Almost any family can grow 

 them that has only a few square rods of 

 soil. Our conditions over this county 

 are remarkably favorable, and the pro- 

 duce, where the vines are properly cared 

 for, is very great. A good apple region 

 is a good grape region, yet grapes will 

 sometimes do well in regions where 

 apples will not. There are but few 

 difficulties in growing grapes, but few 

 rots or mildews but what are easily 

 controlled. And then the best of all 

 is, we have the power to protect the 

 plant and the crop from the severities 

 of our winter seasons, and so ensuring 

 our crop of fruit. This is done by lay- 

 ing down on the ground before severe 

 frost sets in, and although people are 

 sometimes afraid of this trouble, yet it 

 is very easily done. This season's crop 

 has been very large and remarkably 

 fine; almost all kinds doing well all 

 over the county. The most popular 

 variety here is still the old substantial 

 Concord, that has done more good ser- 

 vice for us in this country than any 

 other sort. This season we fruited 

 Worden's Seedling and Moore's Early, 

 though not much difference in them, 

 yet they are both very desirable sorts, 

 and should be largely planted for their 

 earliness, being about ten or fifteen 

 days before Concord this year. On 

 account of our cold and backward sea- 

 son all sorts were very late in ripening, 

 being nearly two weeks later than usual, 

 but still in due time they ripened up 

 very nice. Lady is a beautiful grape, 

 •nd Jessica is also promising, but in 

 ir opinion the Brighton is worthy of 

 ^ cry extended culture as a popular 

 amateur fruit. The vine is hardy and 



very prolific, and the fruit is possessed 

 of so many fine qualities that it is. diffi- 

 cult to surpass it. There are so many 

 excellent kinds, all possessing one or 

 more good points, that it is hard to say 

 just which is the best. Any of them 

 are good, if properly attended to, and 

 will amply repay the labor and pains 

 spent upon them. The crop being so 

 large this year our markets were" filled 

 to a surfeit, and the prices in conse- 

 quence went very low, but still on 

 account of the quantity the results to 

 the growers were very satisfactory, and 

 paid as well as any other fruit. 



RASPBERRIES. 



We are yet scarcely sensible of the 

 extent to which the culture of this fine 

 fruit may be carried. The fiine new 

 sorts, almost every year brought out, 

 serve very much to strengthen the in- 

 dustry, until it is no uncommon thing 

 to see acres of them in continuous cul- 

 ture. The ease with which the young 

 plants can be procured, the rapidity of 

 their growth, the ease of cultivation, 

 the quantity and beauty of the fruit, 

 and its ready reception in almost any 

 market, all tend to make the raspberry 

 an increasingly popular favorite amongst 

 all classes. Much of our county is by 

 nature well formed for extensive and 

 successful growth of this fruit. Many 

 acres have been grown in an unculti- 

 vated state, the fruit from which was 

 very beneficial to the early settlers, and 

 the remembrances of these gatherings 

 is yet pleasing. But as the advancing 

 farmer approaches these ''patches," they 

 immediately disappear, and the place 

 thereof is taken to grow other crops for 

 other uses. So we have to rely upon 

 the new plantations of improved kinds 

 for our daily supply. These are planted 

 out in the spring of the year in rows 

 six feet apart, and the plants three feet 

 in the rows, and cultivated as for corn, 

 and tlu^ crop, when in good bearing, 

 will run about 2,000 to 3,000 quarts 



