396 Thk Canadian Horticulturist. 



EXriCRIMKN'l- WITH CAUSTIC POTASH. 



.SOS* — Sir, — I liiive an oruhaid of •J,.')0() plum trees, .")00 apple and "JOO peach trees. 

 Last .May I sprayed the major part of tliis orchard with caustic potash, diluted to about 

 the proportions of one pound to two gallons of water. The bails had swollen to cup-like 

 forms, but the green edge of the leaf had not appeared. I used a brass pump. Tlie appli- 

 cation was sufficient to deeply darken the bark, remaining for several weeks. .\ly object 

 was to destroy the germinal ijuality of insect eggs, cleanse the bark, and possibly destroy 

 fungous spores incidental to tlie trees, which may- have just lodge«l. 1 know the immediate 

 value of potash applied in a soluble form, and the annual need. The ashes of a ))lum 

 showed 75 per cent, of potash. This season, by accurate observation, my plums and apples, 

 where the potash was so used on the buds, are pronounced one-eighth larger than previous 

 years. I am perplexed as to the cause of this larger fruit. Each cup-like bud was capable 

 of holding one or more drops of the showered potash, and the hundreds of thousands of 

 buds wo\ild hold an appreciable ((uantity, and timely developed larger leaves and stronger 

 fruit blossoms. The absorption by the bark would be influential in the same direction. 

 Kindly favor me with reliable data gathered at Maplehurst along this line of experiment. 

 W. C. Archibald, Enrmdiffe Gardens. Wol/ville, N. S. 



The experiment made by Mr. Archibald is worthv of notice, and we would 

 direct the attention of our experiment stations to the excellent results which he 

 obtained. We have never tried caustic potash in this way. The only use we 

 have made of it has been in a weaker solution applied to the trunks and brandies 

 of trees to destroy the oyster shell Ijark louse. Most experimenters have been 

 endeavoring to destroy fungi with solutions of sulphate of copper, one pound to 

 twenty-live gallons of water being recommended for scab and mildew, apj^lied 

 before the foliage appears, and the Bordeaux mixture after. Possibly a strong 

 solution of caustic potash will be as serviceable, for we can only account for the 

 clean, large fruit resulting, except by the destruction of minute fungi and insects 

 which weaken the growth of the trees, and bring al)Out the production of small 

 sized fruit. 



RASPBERRY GROWING FOR HOME USE. 



."$04. — Sir, --I want to set out next s))ring two hundred raspberry bushes. What 

 varieties, and in what proportion would you advise. The ground slopes to the west, is 

 sheltered on the east and south by a cedar hedge and is clay. 1 want them for home use, 

 not for shipping. 



F. (i. Tkkmavnh, Sutton MW, Out. 



Of red raspberries we would rcromnicnd Turner and Cuthbcrt, and for 

 white, the (iolden Queen. If sufficiently hardy, or if winter protection can be 

 given, we would recommend Brinckle's Orange, on account of its superior excel- 

 lency of <iuality. \ fine red raspberry, surpassing either of the above-named in 

 flavor, was sent us by Mr. (iibbard, of Najianee, some time ago. The bushes 

 are fairly productive and seem (juite hardy. We have called it Gibbard's Seed- 

 ling. Of the black caps for family use, we would recommend Souhegan and 

 Hillborn. For canning ])urposes the .Shaffer raspberry is the most desirable of 

 all, and should have a ])lace in every home garden. 



