Culture of the Goo&eherry and Raspherri/. 465 



as bringing fresh soil from the fields would be rather expensive, 

 how would it do to trench down the turf, and allow it to lie for 

 two years, laying nearly all the soil that would be above the turf 

 up in steep ridges, in the same manner as we do the stiff soil in 

 the kitchen-garden in winter, adding lime and manure at the 

 same time ? Having the soil thus exposed both to the winter's 

 frost and the summer's sun, and then turning up the bottom again 

 after the turf had been completely decomposed, would certainly 

 very much invigorate the soil. Perhaps some of your intelligent 

 correspondents will favour me with their opinion on the subject. 

 Dunimarle Gardens, Aug. 9. 1841. 



Art. XI. Observations on the Culture oj" the Gooseberry and Rasp- 

 berry. By A. Mackenzie. 



Much has been written on the cultivation of that excellent fruit 

 the gooseberry, and also about the prevention and destruction 

 of the caterpillar that infests it, an account of which will be 

 found in many of the horticultural v/orks of the present day. 

 The following remarks are founded on the experience and 

 observation of many years ; they may appear simple, but I have 

 no doubt will be found beneficial to many of your readers. 



The bushes in this garden are quite healthy, and bear abundant 

 crops, and the fruit for size and flavour can seldom be equalled ; 

 while those in the surrounding gardens have been nearly all 

 destroyed for several years back by the caterpillar, though here 

 not one was to be found. My plan is as follows. Having selected 

 a plot or brake or any quantity of ground I think proper for 

 planting gooseberries in, I dung and dig it in the usual way, 

 and plant in rows 6 ft. wide, and 5 ft. between each plant. 

 Afterwards I neither dig, dung, nor manure them in any way 

 whatever, but just hoe and rake during summer to keep them 

 clean. My currants and raspberries I treat in the same manner, 

 and all have the same healthy appearance, and bear abundant 

 crops of large and highly flavoured fruit. By covering with tan 

 or leaf mould, the ground is easily kept clean. The above 

 method saves much labour both in digging and pruning, as the 

 bushes do not produce so much wood. 

 Blair- Adajn Gardens, Aug. 1841. 



Art. XII. On the Effects of Water on the Grotvth and Ripening of 

 Melons. By J. Wighton. 



It is a very common practice to plant melons in very strong 

 soil, indeed tenacious clay, and afterwards give little or no water 



H H 2 



