ON FRUIT CULTURE. 



1039 



to support a crop of fruit without the aid of stakes, &c. — an 

 example that might be imitated by private growers in many 

 instances. 



In selecting varieties to plant, the comparatively new sort, 

 Superlative, is a great acquisition ; not only are the canes prac- 

 tically self-supporting by reason of their stoutness, but the variety 

 is an abundant bearer of large, handsome fruit of excellent 

 quality. For small gardens, or where tall-growing Raspberries 

 are objectionable. Carter's Prolific is a most desirable sort, the 

 canes being of moderate height, strong, and bearing heavy crops 

 of large, sweet fruit. Norwich Wonder is a favourite variety with 

 market people, being a strong-growing and remarkably fruitful 

 sort, and seldom failing to produce good crops of large, highly- 

 coloured fruit. Northumberland Fillbasket is another sterling 

 variety very similar to the last-named, and alike valuable for 

 home use or market purposes. Semper Fidelis is a rather later 

 fruiting variety than any of the above, and is only useful for 

 cooking, not being sweet enough for dessert, but it is a good 

 bearer. Yellow Antwerp and White Magnum Bonum are in 

 use with the varieties already named, but except for giving a 

 change in the colour of the fruit for dessert, they are not worth 

 planting, as they never carry such good crops as the red-fruited 

 varieties. 



Where autumn Raspberries are appreciated, the variety named 

 Four Seasons is the best to plant; in November, 1897, we 

 frequently picked good dishes of fine sweet fruit. These autumn- 

 fruiting kinds bear on the young wood of the current year's 

 growth. All the very weak, useless canes should be cut out 

 early in the season, and the vigour thrown into the best and 

 stoutest canes, thus inducing them to produce large fruit 

 freely. 



The Raspberry Beetle {Bytiiriis tomentosiis) is most trouble- 

 some to the grower. The damage is twofold, the Beetle eating 

 the flowers and the larvae the fruit. The 

 Beetle is -Jin. long and reddish or brownish, 

 .and intensely downy (Fig. 672); the larva _ ^' " 



is yellowish, with a paler head. Little can '^"^^wllk^ 

 be done in the case of the larvae ; but the y^^H\ 

 Beetles, on a dull day, may be shaken from 

 the trees on to tarred boards or paper, and /^^Sl 

 afterwards collected and destroyed. Careful J ^Km y 



search should also be made for the cocoons 



which are in the bark. All infested fruit yig. 672.— Raspberry 

 should be burnt, as should all old canes Beetle. 

 removed at pruning time. 



Lampronia rubiella (Raspberry Moth) also does much damage 

 alike to young fruits and shoots. The Moths are under ^in. in 

 stretch of wings, and brown with yellowish dots and spots. The 



