134 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



hill method with cross cultivation has been generally adopted by my neighbors 

 shows that it has much to recommend it. The old-fashioned hedge rows usually 

 cease to be productive after a few years. Cultivation, aggressive, early and often^ 

 will keep hedge rows and hills within bounds if pruning is attended to. On 

 my soil the use of the plow in a raspberry plantation would mean my defeat by 

 the weeds. Upon some soils, or under special circumstances the plow might be 

 admitted. I stop the cultivator late in November and start in April. Weeds 

 should be grown in a patch entirely separated from other crops. 



Niagara Falls, Ont. E. Mordex. 



FERTILIZING AND CULTIVATING THE STRAWBERRY. 



1 X reply to your inquirer (page no), I would say, that I have not had 

 much experience with nitrate of soda on strawberries ; intend to experi- 

 ment this season to quite an extent. It must be used with care as any 

 small lumps that come in contact with the foliage of any plant 

 will burn the leaves or any soft stem it touches. About 200 or 300 

 lbs. to the acre applied when growth begins will be a good dressing. 

 There is some difficulty in applying it, as it is coarse and mixes badly on that 

 account, otherwise it could be mixed with twice its bulk of gypsum or dry loam. 

 I think the " Planet Junior," is the best implement to cultivate strawberries 

 with, as it has several attachments that can be used, some of which will always 

 do the work required, unless the weeds have been allowed to grow too large; in 

 which case they must be cut with the hoe and raked out. I do not know any 

 hand implement that will work among large weeds ; in fact if weeds are allowed 

 to get large in a newly planted strawberry patch, the plantation will not amount 

 to much. I do a large amount of work with a short-tooth steel garden rake 

 among my plants, especially in the rows where I cannot get with the cultivator. 

 When the weeds are just starting the rake works well, and that is the time the 

 work should be done. Yours very truly, 



W. W. Hilborn. 



N. B. — I believe nitrate of soda will increase the yield of strawberries very 

 much, especially if there is already a sufficient amount of potash and phosphoric 

 acid in the soil. The nitrate gives a quick growth, just what is wanted for the 

 strawberry. I would not expect satisfactory results from soil not already contain- 

 ing quite a large percentage of potash and phosphoric acid, as nitrate is not a 

 complete fertilizer. W. W. H. 



McMahan Apple. — Mr. E. S. Goff, of Wisconsin, says this apple originated 

 in i860, from seed of the Alexander, sown by the late Isaac McMahan, and 

 was first introduced to the public in 1873. The fruit is rather acid for dessert 

 use. Season, from the middle of October until Christmas : but with care may 

 be kept till February. 



