AUTUMN-FRUITING RASPBERRIES AND STRAWBERRIES. 403 



or possibly by the end of July in some instances. Then, if there are too 

 many shoots to tie up, those without any fruit are cut out to allow room 

 for those with fruit. (I might add here that our crop was late in show- 

 ing this season, hence it was the end of August before we had finished 

 thinning and tying.) The shoots should be tied erect, or as nearly so as 

 possible. Our plan is to tie in a continuous line rather than in groups. 

 By means of bamboos a light trellis is made, to which the shoots are 

 secured. A good plan being to sling each shoot separately, if not too 

 long, to the bamboo next above, the longer ones being first tied to the 

 same bamboo. Thus the one does not shade the other. Careful tying 

 up prevents injury to the fruits during strong winds and gales. The first 

 picking generally commences early in September in sufficient quantity to 

 keep up a supply. It continues generally until the end of October. 

 Last year (1902) we picked good dishes up to the middle of November, 

 but that is an exceptional instance, I think. This season, 1903, there is 

 promise of a late picking too, if the early frosts are not too severe. Pro- 

 tection is afforded against the depredations of birds by covering over the 

 entire quarter with netting. For this we use nets made upon the square 

 mesh (1-inch mesh) rather than use the old fish netting, which does not 

 cover nearly so well. Towards the end of October, if there are still 

 sufficient fruits left to ripen, it will be found a good plan to cover over 

 with an additional net to protect from frost. It is surprising how much 

 frost one net will keep off ; two, therefore, will be more effectual. 



Varieties. — The old October Bed is still a good variety to grow for a 

 late crop. The growth is somewhat short and stocky, the fruits of medium 

 size. 



Belle cle Fontenay is a better variety for general cultivation than the 

 preceding, coming into bearing earlier, the fruits being larger and the 

 growth stronger. We have also another variety, of which I do not know the 

 name thus far (it was sent from France without a name attached). This 

 is the finest in every sense, a robust grower and one that fruits abundantly. 

 It comes into bearing rather later than the preceding. We also grow a 

 yellow variety, ' Surprise d'Automne,' but this, so far, has not had a 

 sufficient trial to be able to speak of it with any confidence. In addi- 

 tion there is the new variety first shown by Messrs. James Veitch last 

 autumn ; this I have not grown yet at Gunnersbury. 



Uses. — We find that the autumn Raspberries are in great demand in 

 the kitchen and stillroom for various purposes. As an addition to the 

 dessert they are also welcomed when well ripened. 



Strawberries. 



These resolve themselves under three heads for autumnal supplies, 

 each distinct in itself, viz. : 1. The Alpine or ' Quatre Saisons ' of the 

 French. 2. The so-called perpetual-fruiting varieties, of which 1 St. Joseph ■ 

 may be taken as the type. 3. The plants that have been forced in the 

 spring, from which a secondary crop may be obtained. 



1. The Alpine Strawberry has been catalogued for very many years in 

 almost every nurseryman's list, being offered as runners. This is a great 

 mistake, and as such should be erased from all catalogues. Owing to this 



