i62 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



are quite distinct ; skin, smooth ; quality, very good ; bush vigorous, stocky and 

 upright ; a strong grower and productive. It is considered very hardy, and is 

 very httle subject to the mildew. Our colored plate for this month gives our 

 readers a very excellent illustration of this variety. 



Among other native varieties we have the Houghton's seedling, which has 

 been discarded on account of its small size ; Smith's Improved, a seedling of 

 Houghton, which is nearly as good as the Downing, and often competes with it 

 for. a place in our markets ; Pearl, a seedling of Houghton crossed with White 

 Smith, which appears to excel all others we know of for productiveness ; a variety 

 which was fully described on page 317, vol. 12, of this journal. There are other 

 Canadian and American seedlings which are being highly commended by their 

 introducers, some of which we have in testing at Maplehurst, as, Crosby's seed- 

 ling, which originated in the Township of Markham, and which bears evidences 

 of English origin ; Sutherland's seedling, a fine appearing gooseberry, from Mr. 

 Geo. Sutherland, Owen Sound, and some seedlings originated by the late James 

 Dougall, of Windsor, which are being tested at the Rural Experimental Grounds, 

 near New York City, etc. 



Although none of these varieties compare in size or beauty with those grown 

 in England, yet improvements are constantly being made, and there is no doubt 

 that in time such varieties will be brought to the front as will give special im- 

 petus to the cultivation of the gooseberry in Ontario. 



Crops in Orchards. — The best crop an orchard can produce is a crop of 

 fruit. But many think that the soil in that particular locality can do double 

 duty just as well as not. Yet there is a difference. Some crops are worse in an 

 orchard than others; as, for instance, the small grains — wheat, oats and rye. 

 The opinion of the late R. L. Pell, who raised and sent to England such im- 

 mense quantities of the Newtown Pippin apple a number of years ago, was that 

 three successive crops of rye would ruin any orchard. On the other hand, corn, 

 potatoes and such products as require cultivation during the growing season, 

 will do less injury, because the trees receive part of the benefit of the operation. 

 Indeed, if manure is supplied to compensate for what is removed in the corn or 

 potatoes, , the cropping would altogether be beneficial to the trees, except that 

 without special care the roots will be more or less mutilated. In the case of a 

 young orchard, this danger does not exist — and cropping is to be recommended. 

 But liberal manuring should not be omitted ; and the crops chosen should be 

 those requiring frequent stirring of the soil. — Ex. 



An exchange tells us that the quickest way known to make an independent 

 fortune is to get a pencil and a piece of paper and commence growing fruit. No 

 land and no experience is required in this sort of a horticultural venture and an 

 immense amount of success can be worked out in a season, and you know 

 " figures never lie." 



