131: 



THE CANADIAN nORTlCL'LTUUIST, 



mer, and the earth should not be drawn 

 to the plants nor from them. If weeds 

 be allowed among the j)lants, or if nin- 

 ners remain until a foot or more in 

 length the best residts can not be ob- 

 tained. 



Early in the fall, when rain is more 

 frequent, and the surface of the soil is 

 cool and moist, all deep cultivation 

 should be discontinued so as to give the 

 roots a chance to occupy the soil near 

 the suiface. These surface roots are 

 very important and should not be in- 

 jured. They prevent the plant from 

 being thrown out by freezing and thaw- 

 ing, and have much to do in the pro- 

 duction of fruit. If they be injured in 

 any way the plant will at once com- 

 mence to make repaii-s, and the work 

 of storing up food for the next crop will 

 be suspended for a time. 



A t the beginning of winter the bed — 

 including the path — must be covered 

 with straw or any light litter that will 

 shade the gi'ound. About two inches 

 will be suthcieut. As soon as growth 

 comnnmces remove this from directly 

 over the plants, leaving it between. 

 Give no cultivation in the spring. 

 "When the fruit is gathered cut off the 

 leaves, stir up the mulch, and burn over 

 the bed on a dry day. In a few days 

 the plants will start again when you 

 will have a new bed as it was at the 

 end of the first summer, and it will 

 need the same care. 



By this method every want of the 

 strawberry is supplied. 



M. Crawford, 

 Cuyahoga Falls, 0. 



BIGXONIA RADICANS. 



To THE Editor of the Canadian Horticulturist. 



Dear Sir, — The Bignonia is quite 

 liardy in this locality. A rapid gi'ower. 

 The foliage very beautiful. A profuse 

 bloomer, and it is very easily pro- 

 pagated. Mrs. H. C. Gwyn. 

 Dundas. 



THE BLACK CURRANT. 

 A SUGGESTION. 



(For the Canadian Horticulturist. J 



There are many who think that black 

 currants do not pay. True they do not 

 pay some, because they are grown on 

 dry sandy land. Now the black cur- 

 rant wants a good rich loam to do well 

 and pay the cultivator. It is time and 

 money wasted to try to grow them suc- 

 cessfully on dry sandy soil. The black 

 currant is a gross feeder, and should be 

 liberally sup[)lied with all kinds of 

 manure, and the stronger the better. 

 It is well known that the finest fruit is 

 2)roduced on the wood of last j'ear's 

 growth, and I suggest that we should 

 plant closer — plant at thi'ee feet apart 

 every way in lines at right angles to 

 each other. An acre will then take 

 say 4,840 jjlants. Now cut down 

 yearly to three or four or more buds 

 every alternate tree, as shown in this 

 diagram : — » . » . » ^j^^ asterisks 



represent the trees intended to produce 

 fruit this year, and the dots those 

 which bore last year, and which have 

 been cut down to produce strong growth 

 for bearing next year. As soon as 

 those cut down have started a growth 

 of two or three inches they should be 

 looked over ; never allow a shoot more 

 than will be requii'ed. It will be seen 

 my motive for cutting down every 

 alternate tree is to produce a succession 

 of strong young wood and get fruit of 

 better quality than could be had other- 

 wise. Only gr»w the finest varieties ; 

 discard all inferior sorts. I have 

 raised a very fine lot from selected 

 seed ; but I know of nothing easier to 

 propagate than the currants from cut- 

 tings. So if an acre will take 4,840 

 plants, half that number, 2,420, will 

 be in fruit yearly, and fruit of the 

 finest possible kind. Some of our ex- 

 perienced small fruit growers may have 

 carried out this suggestion, and if so 



