THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 835 



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i^ selves as they require a different treatment from some of the others. 

 ° We allude to the Cannonhall Muscat, and Muscat of Alexandria. — 

 / We are rather in advance with these remarks, but it is well to be 

 prepared in time so that half the summer does not slip over before 

 the plants are set out 



Gooseberries and Currants. The former of these, like the Foreign 

 grape, is liable to be attacked by mildew, consequently their cultiva- 

 tion is rather neglected. There are some excellent varieties, however, 

 that do well. In pruning, leave as much young wood of last year's 

 growth as convenient, taking care not to oveicrowd the bush. Do not 

 shorten the points of the wood retained. We have observed that 

 the fruit produced from vigorous young wood will be less mildewed 

 than that proceeding from spurs on older growths. Black currants 

 should be pruned in a similar manner, leaving the young wood to 

 produce the crop, and cutting out old wood to keep the bush regulated . 

 Red and white currants require the young wood to be spurred close 

 down to within an inch of the stem ; the leading shoot may not be 

 so closely cut until the plant attains the desired size. The wood 

 of all these bushes should be annually undergoing renewal, by cutting 

 out old wood and encouraging young in its place. Put in a few cut- 

 tings of the best varieties. Select stout shoots about one foot in 

 length ; smooth the base with a sharp knife, immediately below a bud, 

 and cut all the buds clean out except three or four at top. Insert 

 about four inches of the cutting in the soil, from which, more par- 

 ticularly, the buds should be extracted, otherwise they will continuity 

 give annoyance by sending up numerous suckers. 



Forcing. Strawberries in pots may now be introduced into a slight 

 heat; they can be ripened by the middle of April in a greenhouse; 

 they require to be on a shelf near the glass at the top of the house. 

 Some have small structures appropriated to the forcing of these and 

 o'her fruits. The " Golden Rule " in forcing is, never to be in a hurry. 

 Imitate as far as possible the various changes* of the natural atmos- 

 phere, and above all things avoid creating a mid-day temperature at 

 mid-night. We do not advocate sudden and extreme fluctuations of 

 temper. ture, but allow a diminution during the night, varying from 

 10 to 20 deg. below that of day. S. B. 



Flower Garden. I am very glad to see the "Florist" advocating 

 attention to our hardy native plants. Where flowers are grown on 

 lawns or in particular situations merely for effect, each kind will of 

 course have to be grown in masses; but in every garden there will be 

 situations where a collection of hardy plants will not be out of char- 

 ( acter, but will rather afford a fund of permanent enjoyment to those 

 <TU who do not gaze on a mass of flowers as a child does on a butteifly 



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^ora rainbow, for the beauty or harmony of its colors, but for the 



