THE CANADIAN HORTICDLTDRI8T. 



263. 



a very fine large grape, witli tender 

 juicy flesh, but is subject to rot in un- 

 favorable seasons. On the whole, the 

 Lindley is the best grape of the three 

 for genera] planting in Canada, as it is 

 more certain to mature, and the vine 

 is very vigorous and productive. 



76. Grafting Grapes. — Is vioist sand in 

 the cellar the best receptacle for tJie 

 cuttings for spring grafting ? L. F. S. 



Yes, it is the best, generally speak- 

 ing ; although the writer usually ber- 

 ries the cuttings in the earth outside, 

 in the dry sandy loam. They will not 

 be needed for grafting until INlay or 

 June. 



77. Spirea Japonica. — Will the roots be 

 best set in the ground this fall, or put 

 in moist sand in the cellar ? L. F. S. 



Probably in your district the}- would 

 be safer kept in the cellar until spring. 



78. Asparagus Culture. — (1) When is 

 the best time to traus/ilant asparagus 

 roots, seeds soirn last spring ? 



J. R., Berlin. 

 REPLIES BY J. A. BRUCE. 



As the plants are only five months 

 old, would advise spring planting. It 

 should not be done whilst the ground 

 is too cold, or, in other words, not 

 before the plants begin to push. If 

 possible, advantage should be taken of 

 mild, cloudy weather. When the air 

 is moist they should be carefully taken 

 up with a fork, and the roots preserved 

 as entii'e as possible. They should not 

 by any means be allowed to get dry ; 

 as soon as the roots are in proper posi- 

 tion, they should instantly be covered 

 with the soil. 



(2) What kind of soil is best ? 



A rich sandy alluvial soil is naturally 

 best adapted for the growth of aspara- 

 gus, and in such soil its cultivation is 

 an easy matter. In preparing the 

 ground for a plantation attention should 

 be directed to the texture of the soil ; 

 and if this is too close, as is generally 



the case, such means should be adopted 

 as will efiectually reduce it to a suffi- 

 ciently light and porous style. The 

 application of large quantities of man- 

 ui'e has this tendency. 



(3) Hoio icoidd black muck do ? 



Black muck, when largely mixed 

 with silver or other sands, and the sub- 

 soil made porous and thoroughly drain- 

 ed, will grow fine succuhmt stalks, 

 always keeping in view that large 

 quantities of manure are essential in the 

 formation of an asparagus bed. The 

 aiitumn is the proper season to prepare 

 the ground for spring planting, as it 

 allows time for the beds to get settled, 

 and the winter frosts mellow the .soil, 

 which teiuls to vigorous growth, the 

 great desideratum in asparagus cultui'e. 



79. Japan Ivy. — In the October num- 

 ber of the Ilorticidturist is a picture of 

 and an article on, Japan Ivy. ■ Cotdd 

 you kindly inform where it can be pro- 

 cured — and price. 



C. Greexaway, Strathroy. 



Note. — Wiite to Mr. James Vick, 

 Florist, Rochester, N. Y. 



Jfruit Reports. 



APPLES. 



Rejiorts from all sides are encourag- 

 ing. Chicago and INFontreal men are 

 competing at Sl.75 to Sl.So, fo.b., 

 west of Hamilton. The Montreal mar- 

 ket ranges from S2.25 to ^3.00 for 

 prime winter fruits, with an upward 

 tendency. The returns from shipments 

 to England are encouraging, prices run- 

 ning from $3.00 to 84.00 for such kinds 

 as Gi'eenings, Baldwins, etc., and from 

 84.00 to 85.00 for such fancy kinds as 

 King of Tompkin's Co. The supply of 

 apples in the United States is very 

 light, and prices are steadily advancing 

 in Philadelphia. Advices from there 

 on the 13th October quote choice full 

 apples at $2.75 to 83.00. 



