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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



from the fruiting branches all up the canes if these are not too 

 long — 3 feet to 4 feet being a fair length. Very little pruning is 

 required if the shoots are restricted, as previously advised, by 

 cutting away those not wanted, and shortening back the fruiting 

 canes either in the autumn or early spring to 3 or 4 feet long. 

 I advise two prunings — that is, first, to go over the canes in 

 the autumn and lighten them of heavy growth, but not to 

 shorten back as much as required, and then in the follow- 

 ing spring the heavy canes may be shortened to the required 

 length. By this plan the canes do not die back lower down 

 the stem, as is sometimes the case in severe winters, and 

 at the final pruning the necessary ties can be given and the 

 stakes or supports made good for the fruiting season. Whatever 

 system is adopted in training and pruning, the best method is 

 that which allows the fruit-bearing branchlets the most space 

 and the greatest amount of light and air, so that crowding should 

 be avoided. Much depends upon the vigour of the canes, and if 

 at all weak it is much the best plan to renew the plantation, 

 choosing new ground well prepared. This fruit may be had for 

 a considerable time if due attention is paid to varieties, position, 

 cropping, and pruning for late supplies. The early lot should be 

 thoroughly exposed on an open sunny border, another may be 

 planted under a wall on a north border, and these will last till 

 the latest or autumn-fruiting kinds, so that a long fruiting 

 season may be secured if desired ; and these all require plenty 

 of feeding— a good dressing of decayed manure in the autumn and 

 one again in the spring, and when I say a good dressing I mean 

 several inches, as the plant pays well for good treatment ; and as 

 I have previously observed, no digging or forking near the roots, 

 only keeping free of weeds and not allowing the stools to remain 

 too many years in one position, if large fruit is desired. 



Varieties. — I prefer Superlative of the newer introductions ; it 

 is a heavy cropper and a vigorous grower, with a large dark red 

 berry, of excellent flavour. Indeed, plants of this variety, in 

 good soil and position, need little support in the way of stakes ; 

 and another recommendation, it makes an excellent preserve. 

 Baumforth's Seedling — an improved Northumberland Fillbasket 

 — is also good, bearing large fruit. Carter's Prolific — a heavy 

 cropper of large size — is also excellent for garden cultivation. 

 Hornet and Yellow Antwerp are good, also Fastolf and Northum- 



