Gardening for Amateurs 



99 i 



open, but they prove successful in some 

 localities as half standards, when they may 

 be pruned much in the same way as advised 

 for young standard Cherries. Afterwards, 

 little, if any, pruning is needed. 



VARIETIES Of the numerous varieties 

 now obtainable the following are recom- 

 mended : Archduke, almost black, flavour 

 sweet, grows and bears well, ripe in July ; 

 Belle d' Orleans, pale yellow, early June ; 

 Early Rivers, large, heart-shaped, June ; 

 Florence, a distinct and good late Cherry, 

 pale yellow, with red dots, August ; Frog- 

 more Bigarreau, pale yellow, large, juicy 

 and sweet, July ; Governor Wood, pale 

 yellow, with red flush, handsome and sweet, 

 July ; Guigne d'Annonay, black, heart- 

 shaped, flesh tender and flavour excellent, 

 June ; May Duke, one of the best, colour 

 dark red, slightly acid, June ; Royal Duke, 

 a large red Cherry of good flavour, July ; 

 Black Heart, one of the largest, reddish- 

 black, very juicy, rich and sweet 



Morello or Brandy Cherry. This variety 

 succeeds best when trained against a wall 

 with a northern aspect. It will thrive 

 also in the open as a standard or pyramid. 

 When planted against a wall the tree should 

 not be cut back at the winter pruning like 

 the sweet Cherry. The young shoots of the 

 previous year's growth are laid in without 

 any shortening within 4 inches of each 

 other. The system of pruning this variety 

 is the same as that followed in the case of 

 the Peach and the Nectarine. 



Grab Apple. The old Siberian Crab (or 

 Cherry Apple, as it is commonly called) is 

 too well known to need description. It is 

 very beautiful when in full blossom in May, 

 and equally attractive in autumn when laden 

 with its red-cheeked fruits. It forms a 

 charming lawn tree, and its fruits make 

 delicious jelly. Amongst improved varie- 

 ties the following three are well worth 

 growing : The Dartmouth, a handsome 

 American variet}^, rich crimson with bluish 

 bloom ; John Downie, exceedingly prolific 

 and one of the most attractive, golden with 

 rosy cheek ; Cheal's Crimson, crimson and 

 scarlet, and prolific. Crab trees grown as 

 standards, and planted on the lawn in 

 groups of three or five together, or in the 

 shrubbery, provide a pleasing feature and 



t 



J 



Fig. 3. Red Currant two years old : Prune 

 at g. h, Clean stem to height of 12 inches. 



Fig. 4. Pruning Red Currant : Prune side 

 growths as at /'; prune leading growths 

 as at j. 



in autumn add a brilliant splash of colour 

 where, too often, green predominates. The 

 Crab is hardy, and will succeed in ordinary 

 garden soil. 



Currant, Black. The Black Currant 

 needs a cool, moist soil for its successful 

 cultivation ; it is unhappy in hot, dry land. 

 Thus deep digging and generous manuring 

 form the best preparation. Yard manure is 

 the best possible stuff to use, but basic slag 

 offers a good substitute, or Wakeley's Hop 

 Manure is reliable and convenient. The 



