246 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



much larger than if he had encouraged side 

 branches on the growing cane instead of on 

 the bearing cane, as he has done. 



In the case of the blackberry, there is no 

 question that the summer pruning is the 

 only plan, both to keep the bushes within 

 bounds, and to make them bushy with an 

 increased quantity of bearing wood. We 

 shall be pleased to publish the experience of 

 other small fruit growers on this subject. 



FRUIT ACCOMMODATION AT THE 



INDUSTRIAL. 



We are pleased to learn that, through the 



instrumentality of one of our directors, Mr. 



W. E. Wellington, the Industrial Exhibition 



Association has agreed to erect a building 

 which is to be devoted entirely to the exhibi- 

 tion of fruit. This will be a great boon to 

 exhibitors, and much increase the interest 

 of the Association in the eyes of horticul- 

 turists. Of late years exhibitors of fruit 

 have been much pressed for room, and much 

 of the space, which had been provided for 

 the display of flowers, has been occupied with 

 fruit exhibits, giving the whole show a very 

 crowded appearance. Now, although this is 

 not an abundant fruit season, yet no doubt 

 there will be a large exhibit in this line, and 

 we are glad that the Association is properly 

 estimating the value of the horticultural 

 products. 



^ ^tie^tion e J)pawep -^ 



A BARREN APPLE ORCHARD. 



64. Sir, — I have an apple orchard about 

 fifteen years old in the County of Prince 

 Edward, and for some reason it fails to bear 

 fruit in anything like the quantity it should. 

 The soil is rich and deep, the trees are 

 thrifty, and I cannot account for their bar- 

 renness. I just came into possession this 

 year, and, on enquiry, I learn that it has 

 never borne to any extent ; some of the trees 

 would be the better of trimming, but I do 

 not think that trimming would make them 

 fruitful, as some of the trees are trimmed 

 and in good shape, and yet unfruitful. What 

 do you advise? — P. A. M., Odessa, Ont. 



Since our correspondent gives us so very 

 few of the conditions, it is impossible to give 

 a positive reply. Very often an apple 

 orchard which has been highly cultivated 

 and manured spends all its strength in mak- 

 ing wood growth, and it is only upon receiv- 

 ing a check of some kind that fruitfulness 

 will result ; this is frequently the case with 

 young orchards, even up to the age of twelve 

 or fifteen years. We v>rould advise, in such 

 a case, seeding down the land to clover for a 

 few years, withholding barn-yard manure and 

 giving the trees about half a bushel of wood 

 ashes a year, not near their trunks, but 



spread broadcast as far as their limbs extend. 

 There are other causes of barrenness such 

 as an enfeebled condition of trees from long 

 continued neglect of cultivation, of manure, 

 and of pruning. The bark-louse is sucking 

 the life out of many of our orchards, and 

 the borer is tunnelling their trunks.' Besides 

 some varieties, such as the Baldwin, have 

 been subject to some sort of fungus disease, 

 or blight, which has made them unfruitful. 



GRAPE VINE EXCRESCENCES. 



65. Sir, — I have met with the Knot on the 

 grapes. I shall inspect for this further. I 

 send you some samples which I have taken 

 oflf of vines. The Champion is the most 

 susceptible so far as I have learned. Two 

 gentlemen say it is a fungus, positively ; one 

 of them says he has cultivated grapes 

 for twenty years, and has seen it for years, 

 and always cuts it at once ; he further says 

 he does not fear it as it is nothing like the 

 Plum Knot. — J. M. Denton, London, Ont. 



A year ago large pieces of grape vines, 

 affected similarly as this sample, were sent 

 in to this office by Mr. George Fisher, Free- 

 man, who had also corresponded with Prof. 

 Fletcher, of the Experimental Farm, con- 



