68 



DREER'S GARDEN CALENDAR. 



strict adherence to clean culture ; particularly should every runner be 

 picked off as soon as it makes its appearance, and no weeds allowed to 

 interfere with the growth of the plants. Each plant should also be 

 kept distinct; indeed, with many of the newest strong leafing sorts, 

 distinct culture is indispensable, otherwise they will speedily cover the 

 whole ground with a mass of foliage and runners, and produce little if 

 any fruit. Beds for propagating should be planted solely for that pur- 

 pose. Mulching during summer when the fruit is ripening, will assist 

 greatly towards a heavy continuous crop, and a sprinkling of litter 

 should be thrown over them about the middle of December, to protect 

 the buds during winter. 



The most prolific of all Strawberries, is Wilson's Albany Seedling, and 

 among foreign varieties, the Triomphe de Gand is the best for general 

 purposes. Downer's Prolific is a good fruit, and a most robust grower. 

 The finest flavored is perhaps, Vicomptesse Hericaurt de Thury, the 

 Hooker and Fillmore are also excellent varieties. Hovey's Seedling is 

 still a great favorite with many, and for beauty of fruit, few can com- 

 pare with Trollope's Victoria. 



THE &ASPBERRY. 



Owing to the fact that the winters more or less injure all Raspberry 

 plants, and many of the best sorts are much cut by the frosts, the 

 Raspberry has not been so extensively cultivated as its importance 

 demands. Laying down the canes and covering them lightly with soil, 

 is the most prevalent, as it is the most simple and efficient method of 

 protection. Some are more hardy than others, and the Allen and Doo- 

 little's Black Cap, will produce well without protection in most soils. 



All are benefitted by it, and will produce an excess from protection 

 more than will repay the labor of covering. A free dry soil is best 

 suited to this plant ; rich soil causes late growths which, never mature, 

 and get winter killed. It has also been proved that a slight protection 

 from early spring frosty winds, such as would be afforded by a fence or 

 hedge, is of vast utility in saving 'a crop. They should be planted 

 about four feet apart, never allowing more than four or five canes or 

 shoots to a plant, and immediately after the crop is all gathered, cut 

 out the canes that produced it, so that the young shoots for the future 

 crop may have free room for development. ^ 



There are several so-called ever-bearing varieties, Fall bearing 

 would designate them more truly. Of these, the Catawissa is the most 

 fertile. Si^elect vi 



