THE Y 



sects from the vine, the grape remained in a vigorous 

 growing state all summer. 



I noticed the unusually healthy state of the grape vine 

 very early in the season, and watched it for results. 

 The consequence was that there was no rot or decay on 

 either leaves or fruit. I thought it worthy of note, es- 

 pecially since all the leaves of white grapes in the neigh- 

 borhood were completely fallen off. If one of these 

 wild cucumber vines or its seed were planted on ever}' 

 fifteen or sixteen feet of grape trellis and should be the 

 means of saving the crop, it could not possibly do any 

 harm, and I think it well worthy of a trial. — T. B., Mer- 

 cer- Co., N. J. 



The increase of the exportation of apples from Nova 

 Scotia to England is something remarkable. According 

 to Mr. Johnson, statistician of the Dominion of Canada, 

 this export, which in 1868 was but $44,000, reached, in 

 1888, $700,000. At the same time the increase in the 

 quantity of apples annually sent to the United States 

 was from $35,000 to $400,000. — T. H. Hoskins, M. D., 

 Vermont . 



Tasmanian Apples. — The Tasmanians have some 

 very fine apples, of which the best approved in this 

 market are the Scarlet Pearmain, the Scarlet Nonpareil 

 and the Sturmer Pippin ; some of the former have 

 fetched i8s. per box, which, we presume will leave 

 a very handsome return for the shipper. Before we go 

 any farther, we may say that the Tasmanian apple box 

 leaves nothing to be desired, and the present system of 

 packing, /. , wrapping each apple in tissue paper, and 

 not lining the box with paper, cannot be improved upon ; 

 but there are several points in which the putting up has 

 been faulty. In the first place, the fruit has been gen- 

 erally rather over-ripe. This is a very important point, 

 and if future shipments are put up less ripe, they will 

 arrive in a much better condition. Another point is that 

 the apples have not been properly sorted before packing ; 

 large apples and small apples have been packed together. 

 Great care should be taken in the future to have even- 

 ness of size in each box, whether the apples are large or 

 small. The next very important point is the manage- 

 ment on board ship. In the first place, the nearer ship- 

 pers can get to a direct transit from Tasmania to Lon. 

 don the better, and in the interest of the trade we hope 

 that it will become of sufficient magnitude to trade to in- 

 duce steamers to call at a Tasmanian port for the Lon- 

 don shipments during the season ; but a more important 

 point is that during the passage the temperature of the 

 cool chamber should be maintained at 45° to 50°, and 

 never below 45°; in a recent catalogue we read the word 

 "frozen" much too often. — Aitstialiaii Tradi)ig World, 

 London . 



Apples in Manitoba. — Several varieties of crabs are 

 found to succeed at Hendingly, and out of quite a num- 

 ber of Wealthy apples planted some fifteen years ago, 

 two yet survive. Other persons have tried apples, but 

 having, as I contend, planted unsuitable varieties, they 

 have failed to keep then alive beyond the third year. 



Some of the Russian varieties give promise of hardiness. 

 — Thomas Frankland, Manitoba. 



The lona grape has been very far from satisfying the 

 hopes of commercial growers. In this respect we must 

 class it with the Adirondac. But both varieties will re- 

 pay the careful attention of the skillful amateur grower; 

 and it must be admitted that for dessert quality the lona 

 is equal to any grape in the world. It is a good grape, 

 even when not fully ripen, being one of the kinds which 

 are quite eatable before they are mature. It is also a 

 long keeper. — T. H. Hoskins, M. D., Vonnont. 



The extension of grape growing in Canada is quite 

 remarkable. Not only in Ontario, but down the St. Law- 

 rence river on both banks as far as Montreal, and below, 

 grape growing as a business is extending itself, and fruit 

 is being produced which is preferred to that brought 

 from the southward. It is a fact that on the upper St. 

 Lawrence and about the north end of Lake Champlain, 

 better grapes are produced, and the fruit is a surer crop 

 than in western Massachusetts. — T. H. Hoskins, M. D., 

 I'ci'inont . 



Hoffman and Cloud Strawberries. — Our report on 

 the Cloud and Hoffman, set one } ear ago, is not a very 

 favorable one. The Hofiman had a light crop. The 

 Cloud did better, but not as well as some of the old va- 

 rieties. It is possible that they may do better in the 

 south than in the north. — J-'i nit GroTiwrs' [onrnal. 



Strawberries for Southern Illinois.— C. H Smith, 

 of Southern Illinois, says that the sooner the Crescent 

 berry is discarded, and all raise a large, firm berry and 

 raise less of them, there will be more money in the crop. 

 As the acreage planted this year is larger than last year, 

 he looks for a repetition of low prices, even with half a 

 crop. He thinks the plants set out as a fertilizer ought 

 to be set in a row with other plants, instead of in a row 

 by themselves. He reports such varieties as the War- 

 field, Windsor Chief, Sharpless and Bubach as bringing 

 the most money in Chicago. 



Mulching of Strawberries. — Mulching is necessary 

 to successful and profitable strawberry growing, and I 

 think that its advantages are not as yet fully under- 

 stood. Though contrary to general practice, I would say 

 mulch as soon as plant growth ceases in the fall. If this 

 arrives before the ground freezes, all the better. As a 

 matter of course, it will not do very well to mulch where 

 the ground is water-soaked, but I would even prefer to 

 mulch at that time rather than wait till the ground is 

 hard frozen. This year I mulched when the ground 

 was comparatively soft, and I did very little injury to 

 the plants, not near so much as I have done heretofore 

 when the ground was hard frozen ; but as I expect that 

 this idea will provoke discussion, I shall not say any 

 more on the subject at present. 



After all that I have said on this matter, I think that 

 the profits of strawberry growing, where obtained, are 

 largely due to the individual. Any person engaged in 

 this calling ought to have more than an average share of 

 patience, perseverance and prudence, patience to bear 



