SMAU, FRUITS FOR MANITOBA. 29 



CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES. These will grow and 

 fruit abundantly in almost any soil or situation, but no culti- 

 vated plant responds more, promptly and g-enerously to man- 

 uring- and careful attention. One of the easiest methods I 

 have found, however, is to keep the plants well mulched with 

 the sweepings of the chip yard, moving- the mulch every now 

 and again to destroy noxious weeds, and seeing- well to the 

 pruning- out of old bearing- branches. The red and white 

 kinds of currants so far give the best satisfaction here, the 

 best being- Red Dutch, Victoria, Long Bunch Holland, 

 Cherry, Stewart's Seedling- and White Grape. The difficulty 

 with the "Slack kinds is their unevenness of ripening-, almost 

 as bad as the wild black. The latter is a fine flavored berry, 

 and bears very well, and is as large as any under cultivation. 

 Of the cultivated kinds the best are English Black, Lee's Pro- 

 lific, Black Champion and Black Naples. In Gooseberries, 

 Houghten Seedling-, Downing- and Smith's Improved, may be 

 recommended for general planting-. Some of the larg-er Eng-- 

 lish kinds may be tried, but most of them are very liable to 

 mildew. This, however, may be checked, if not entirely 

 kept down by liberal sprinklings of ^2 oz. Liver of Sulphur 

 dissolved in one gallon of water, during- the growing- season, 

 getting- the solution well on the under side of the leaves, and 

 for this purpose a good syringe is the best. 



RASPBERRIES. Remarks made about the native straw- 

 berry apply with equal force to the raspberry. No better 

 flavored berry grows, but the softness of the fruit spoils its 

 market value. Under cultivation this is partially remedied, 

 and if the hoe could be kept continually at work thinning- out 

 the suckers, I don't know but our native raspberry might be 

 made to supply all market requirements. In small gardens 

 the suckering kinds of raspberries require a good deal of care 

 to keep in order. If planted in rows four or five feet apart 

 and vigorously checking- sucker encroachments, no more 

 profitable berry can be planted. Some of the best cultivated 

 kinds, however, need to be covered with soil in the winter 

 and uncovered as soon as danger of frost is over, The Turner 



