THE CiSkNADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 180 



it appeals to me is the oiily part of the lAant that gets old — just like 

 rhubarb. 1 believe from all my examinations and observation that 

 the crowns which constituted the foliage of the plant and bore the 

 fruit last season perished when they had done their duty for that year^ 

 and gave place to a new growth of buds out of the old root. Eacli 

 one of these seems to me as completely a new plant as those from the 

 runners, with the difference that they are a generation older, being the 

 parents of the runners, but still both coming into existence the same 

 year. So completely is each crown an entirely new plant, that after 

 having derived its subsistence from the root from which it springs 

 during its infancy, as soon as matured and having put forth fruit and 

 runners, strikes out its own tibrous roots at its base and junction with 

 the old root, which done it is independent and draws only on its own 

 roots. In separating these crowns, I get in each one a complete new 

 plant, with its tibrous roots, just like the new runner, only a gener- 

 ation older and better established — fitter, I should say, than the runner 

 to bear a full crop next summer, but of course being further advanced^ 

 must grow itself and fail first. I conclude, therefore, that this system 

 of replanting should be repeated every two years, so as not to let the 

 plants get dependant on a foundation of old roots, or get, as they do 

 when left to themselves, so thickly clustered that they have not, and 

 cannot have, the necessary aid and freedom to grow to perfection, but 

 on the contrary degenerate until they at last grow barren and die. 

 My theory is that if I did not divide these crowns, their cones, so to 

 speak, would during the autumn and winter go to form an addition to 

 the mass of old root, their tops of course decaying, and new buds 

 would spring out in their place, to form the crowns and bear the fruit 

 next year. When I see the result next year, and reap the fruit I 

 shall know more about it. 



The Dempsey Potato. — Mr. J. Mather, of Keewatin Mills, North 

 AVest Territory, states that from his pound of the Dempsey potato he 

 obtained eiglity-one pounds, and that the smallest was as large as a 

 goose egg. Tlie potato was in every respect a decided acquisition, 

 and superior to any other variety he had. 



Burnet Grape in the Province of Queuec. — My Burnet Grape 

 fruited this year for the first time ; it had only two bunches ripe about 

 the end of September. The flavor is very fine — beats all others I have. 

 J. W. Gumming, St. IJilaire, F, Q. 



