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The Canadian Horticulturist 



Hardy Vines. 



560. Sik, — Please give a list of hardy climbing vines for the north side of a house 

 in Cape Breton. D- S. McD., Mabov, Cape Breton. 



Not being familiar with the climate of Mabou, we can scarcely give a very 

 complete answer. The following would be worth trying : Ampelopsis Vir- 

 giniana, C'clastrus scandens, Clematis Jackmani, Clematis viticella, Lonicera 

 Halleana. Will some reader reply more exactly ? 



Pruning- Plum Trees. 



561. Sik, — About four years ago I had two white plum trees given me, and I was 

 strictly charged and warned not to prune them, but let them grow as they liked, because, 

 if I pruned them, they would die. Well, now they are large, straggling trees, and last 

 year bore a few plums, the most of which were spotted. What must I do ; and when is 

 the proper time to prune them ? M. E. S., Mount Royal Vale, Que. 



It is a mistaken notion that any of our fruit trees will do as well neglected 

 as if cared for. No branches should be allowed to grow long and straggling ; 

 all such should be cut back in the spring. It will be difficult now to bring these 

 trees into proper shape, but a good deal can be done by the intelligent application 

 of the knife in March or April. 



Varieties of Cherries. 



562. Sik, — In an orchard of one thousand trees or so, would it be better to plant 

 equal proportions of sweet and sour varieties, or would you, in Southern Ontario, plant a 

 larger proportion of the Hearts and Bigarreaus ? Allan* Bros., Winona. 



In Southern Ontario we would advise the planter to include in his orchard 

 an extended list of the best varieties. The Heart and Bigarreau cherries are like 

 peaches, very uncertain, but when they do yield a crop the prices are hi^h 

 enough to make them profitable. At Maplehurst the following varieties have 

 succeeded well : Hearts — Black Tartarian, Early Purple, Elton, Governor Wood, 

 Knight's Early Black ; Bigarreaus — Mezel, Napoleon, Elkhorn. Windsor might 

 be added to these. Of Dukes and Morellos, the Early Richmond, the two 

 varieties of Montmerency, English Morello and Reine Hortense, the latter an 

 excellent variety for all purposes. 



Training- Grapes. 



563. Sir, — I was overtaken with winter before I pruned my vines last year ; and 

 the weather this month is so far (March 13th), very unfavorable. Kindly inform me what 

 is the latest period suitable for pruning the vineyard ? Geo. Stracchen, Woodstock. 



The only objection to pruning the grape in the month of April is the loss 

 of sap, commonly termed bleeding. Many vineyardists do not finish the work 

 till past the middle of that month, and the loss of vitality, so far as we have 

 noticed, is not observable. 



