THE CUREANT. 179 



If the canes are cut down in the spring the young shoots, are 

 forced on more rapidly, and will begin to ripen their fruit ahout 

 the first of September. We advise those who live in those parttf 

 of the country where they find it difficult to raise apples, and 

 where pears are almost an impossibility, to give this and the 

 BeUe de Pontenay a trial, treating them as here recommended, 

 and see if in this way they are not able to secure a crop of 

 autumn raspberries that will in some measure compensate for the 

 loss of other fruits. 



Mammoth Cluster. — ^The largest and best of the varieties of 

 the Black Cap family. The canes are very strong, branching, 

 perfectly hardy, and enormously productive. The berries are 

 large, black, with a handsome bloom, juicy, sweet, and fine, 

 flavored. It ripens later than Davidson's Thomless, in this way 

 continuing the season of this class of fruit. 



Naomi. — We give this variety a place here inerely to say 

 that, after having grown it for several years, we fail to see 

 sufficient difference between it and the Franconia to make any 

 distinction. It -is no more hardy, nor any more productive, nor 

 different in size or flavor of fruit. 



Purple Cahb. — ^This native variety is hardy, very productive, 

 and ripens its fruit early and all at once. The canes are strong 

 and tail, perfectly hardy, and root at the tips. The berries are 

 of medium size, of a purplish maroon color, too soft to bear 

 carrying to a distant market, but good for home use, sweet, 

 j uicy, and rich. 



THE CUEEANT. 



It is quite common to find the Currant bushes in some 

 neglected part of the garden, nearly hidden by the grass and 

 weeds, and yet bearing considerable crops of fruit. But though 

 the great vitality of the plant will enable it to endure such treat- 

 ment, it will repay a more generous treatment in both size and 

 quality of fruit. While thriving well in almost every soil, it 

 will produce the best results in a well-drained clayey loam, which 



