The Canadian Horticulturist. 133 



Plums have done better with me than apples, they more than paid their first 

 cost before I sold my farm, which was far from being the case with apples ; still 

 I lost quite a number of them through over-bearing in a dry season, — one of the 

 results of a too porous subsoil. 



In this latitude grape vines should never be left uncovered in the winter ; 

 my practice was to support them by movable frames about two feet or less from 

 the ground, and on the approach of winter these frames were removed and the 

 vines falling to the ground were covered with snow. This plan I consider good, 

 for in addition to easy protection in the winter, the foliage shaded the ground in 

 summer and kept it moist. 



In proof of the necessity for winter protection, I have frequently noticed that 

 where any part of a cane was exposed above the snow line, not a single bud 

 would start from the exposed portion ; but the wood not being killed, the ends 

 of such canes, which were covered, would start buds and grow fruit just as 

 though the whole cane had been covered. 



My rows of trees ran north and south, and my small fruits — such as goose- 

 berries, currants and raspberries — -were planted in the same rows between the 

 trees. This arrangement may have robbed the trees somewhat, but I found it 

 very useful for the strawberry plants, for, forming as they did a wind-break every 

 twenty-four feet, they kept the snow from blowing off, and the next summer's 

 crop always showed plainly the benefit of this protection, as compared with 

 ground not so protected ; so that I have frequently said that it would have paid 

 me to grow gooseberry bushes, supposing they never bore any fruit. 



In conclusion, I am quite satisfied that apples and other fruits can be grown 

 with success in the County of Simcoe, more easily than in a large part of the 

 province further to the south ; for there is a broad ridge of land between Barrie 

 and Toronto and extending west and south-west till it reaches Stratford, and how 

 much further I cannot say, that is from two hundred to four hundred feet more 

 above sea level than is Lake Simcoe, and has consequently a more rigorous 

 climate. But I think it advisable in the north to grow summer and fall apples 

 only, as most winter varieties are tender, and then a fall apple becomes almost 

 a winter apple as grown in the north. I have myself kept the Wealthy in good 

 condition until spring, although it is only rated as a fall variety ; but I must con- 

 fess that what I have done in this respect one year, I could not be sure of doing 

 the next, and whether this was owing to the particular season, or to the time of 

 gathering, I am unable to say. 



Toronto, 28th March, i8gi. A. Hood. 



Gooseberry Mildew. — Mr. A. Morton, of Brampton, has experimented 

 with ammoniacal Paris green for gooseberry mildew, and has found it quite 

 effective. He dissolves one-half teaspoonful of Paris green in ammonia 

 mixes in five gallons of water, and sprays it upon the bushes. 



