4 



THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 



[January, 



f|uie]|. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



During the winter months, while the ground 

 is frozen, although nothing can be done in 

 the way of planting and cultivating, much 

 important work may be performed in the 

 fruit garden, and upon its proper execution 

 depends a large share of the coming season's 

 success. One of the most important is — 



Pruning. — How, when, and where to prune 

 is one of the most puzzling questions to the 

 beginner in fruit culture. It is often taken 

 for granted that pruning, in some way or 

 other, is something 

 of vital necessity to 

 the growth of a tree. 

 This is far from 

 being true, and un- 

 less one understands 

 thoroughly the prin- 

 ciples and objects of 

 the operation, it is 

 generally better not 

 to prune at all than 

 to cut and saw 

 promiscuously, and 

 thereby frequently 

 produce exactly the 

 opposite of what was 

 aimed at. 



Grape-vines may 

 be pruned at any 

 time during winter 

 when the wood is not 

 frozen. The leading 

 point to fix upon 

 one's mind is, that 

 one or two strong, 

 healthy shoots are 

 better, and bear 

 more, than a dozen 

 weak and sickly 

 ones. It is almost 

 impossible to con- 

 vince the beginner 

 of this fact, yet it 

 is just as true as 

 that one healthy, 

 well-fed horse can 

 pull more than two 

 sickly and half- 

 starved ones. The 

 experiment is easily 

 made, and nothing 

 could give the nov- 

 ice a clearer under- 

 standing of the principles of pruning than 

 to plant two young vines near each other ; 

 let the one grow at will, saving all the 

 wood, and tying up the branches ; the other, 

 cut back to one bud the first year, and to 

 two or three, according to its vigor, the 

 next, and the first crop of fruit will con- 

 vincingly demonstrate which of the two is 

 the best mode of treating grape-vines. The 

 " Kniffin system," described in our last issue, 

 is about as simple and easy as any. 



Raspberry and Blackberry canes, if they 

 have not been pinched back during the pre- 

 vious summer when in a growing condition, 

 must be cut back during winter. Long canes 

 are useless, as the most valuable fruit-bear- 

 ing spurs break from the end of the cane, 

 and, as a pretty general rule, the lower they 

 are cut, the stronger the side shoots will 

 push, and consequently the finer the fruit. 



CAP KASPBERRIES. 



The improved methods of drying fruits, 

 and the ready market for dried berries, have 

 given a new impetus to the culture of Cap 

 Raspberries, or Thimble-berries, as prop- 

 erly they ought to be called. This classify- 

 ing two so distinct species under one name 

 has always been productive of considerable 

 confusion, yet, as they were so denominated 

 by our forefathers, Thimble-berries will no 

 doubt be called Black-cap Kaspberries to the 

 end of time. 



In the early history of small-fruit culture, 

 Cap Baspberries figured prominently, and 

 many varieties, all chance seedlings, were 

 introduced and cultivated ; but from disease 



a most appetizing sight to all who are fond 

 of Cap Raspberries. 



Hopkins originated in Missouri, and prom- 

 ises to be of great value. According to an 

 excellent authority from the State of its 

 origin, it is as large, as the Gregg, decidedly 

 hardier, and even more productive. 



Gregg. — In congenial soil, and under proper 

 treatment, this is, perhaps, the largest Rasp- 

 berry of its class that has as yet been pro- 

 duced. Much disappointment has been 

 encountered with this variety by planting 

 it upon thin, light soil, where most Cap 

 varieties succeed. The Gregg Raspberry, 

 like the Strawberry, delights in a deep, rich, 

 cool soil, and is so critical in this respect 

 that it frequently 



BLACK-CAP. 



and other causes most of them have become 

 deteriorated and unreliable, creating a de- 

 mand for good reliable new varieties, which 

 seems in a fair way of becoming satisfied. 

 The following varieties are among the most 

 promising recent introductions : 



Hoosier Mammoth is evidently a seedling 

 of the old Mammoth Cluster, and is in no 

 way superior to it, unless it be that it is less 

 subject to the casualties which impair the 

 value of the latter. 



Florence. — This is a large yellow or buff 

 variety, and were it not that the so-called 

 yellow varieties are not popular, and not in 

 demand in the markets, would be eagerly 

 sought after. It is almost as large as the 

 Gregg, of strong growth, excessively prolific, 

 and entirely hardy. It ripens in mid-season 

 to late, and is of sweet and pleasant flavor. 

 A dish of this and the Gregg, nicely mixed, is 



to respond 

 in the least to any 

 amount of coaxing 

 on almost any other, 

 and proves an utter 

 failure upon sand. 

 It is extra large, jet 

 black, with a decided 

 bloom, and, although 

 quite good, yet not 

 of the highest qual- 

 ity, being somewhat 

 dry and meaty. In 

 time of ripening it 

 is a little later than 

 the well-known 

 Mammoth Cluster 

 hence late to very 

 late. Very produc- 

 tive (when grown on 

 congenial soil, and 

 with thorough cult- 

 ure), and although 

 exempt from the dis- 

 eases that attack the 

 Mammoth, and free 

 from its weaknesses, 

 it is not quite as 

 hardy as that fine 

 old kind. However, 

 taken all in all, it is 

 a variety of great 

 value, and worthy 

 of a place in all 

 gardens suited to its 

 culture. 



Souliegan is just 

 what every one in- 

 terested in Cap 

 Raspberries has long 

 been looking for : to 

 wit, a good early va- 

 riety. It has steadily, and entirely upon its 

 own merits, made itself known, and really 

 leaves but little to be desired as an early 

 Black-cap, either for market or the home 

 garden. Of first importance is, that it suc- 

 ceeds on both light and heavy soils, and in 

 productiveness it is simply wonderful, being, 

 without exception, the most prolific variety of 

 the productive Cap Raspberries that has yet 

 come under my notice. In hardiness it ap- 

 pears to be " iron-clad," having stood twenty 

 degrees below zero without injury, when all 

 others in the same plantation were killed to 

 the ground, and is very early, ripening 

 about a week earlier than Doolittle. It is of 

 fair size, as shown in the accompanying illus- 

 tration (which is a correct portrait of a clus- 

 ter), juicy, sweet, and rich, and, what adds 

 much to its value as a market berry, shining 

 jet black, without bloom. J. T. Lovett. 



