586 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



tlic ground all round the Currant bushes and Strawberry plants should 

 be heavily mulched with rotten manure, and then, on the surface, a good 

 layer of clean straw. If this plan is adopted very little watering will be 

 needed, for the Currants will, in a great measure, help to keep the ground 

 shaded and moist for the Strawberries. The ground selected for this 

 purpose is best if situated in an open position, where it has the full benefit 

 of the sun, but so placed as to be protected from high winds, for these 

 often dry the ground up and spoil the crop sooner than hot sunshine, for 

 then the nets help to protect the plants. 



In order to have very fine fruit from Strawberry beds, no plan is 

 more successful than that of making a quite new plantation every 

 year, and treating the plants as if they were intended for forcing. By 

 planting out strong healthy runners from pots, a good crop can be secured 

 the first season. They should be planted two feet between the rows, and 

 one foot in the rows. Then, as soon as the' fruit is gathered, cut out 

 every alternate plant, thus leaving the plants two feet apart each way. 



Gooseberries. — These, as a rule, do best in the coolest part of the 

 garden, and may be grown in various forms, such as upright cordons, 

 pyramidal bushes, or in the ordinary form. If trained on a north wall, 

 they ripen much later, and so prolong the season. When placed in such 

 position, it is a good plan to plant bush trees in front of the north walls, 

 as then a net can be placed on the wall so as to cover the border at the 

 same time, and thus have an ample supply till late in the season. In 

 cultivating small fruits in the garden, a certain number of young plants 

 should be propagated every year, for old plants are never satisfactory, 

 they occupy valuable ground, and never produce such good fruit as young 

 healthy plants. This remark applies to every variety of small fruit grown 

 in the garden. Old worn-out bushes are like old horses : they consume 

 valuable food, but are of no ornament or use. Nothing to my mind 

 looks more wretched than a lot of old worn-out small-fruit bushes, either 

 Gooseberries or Currants. Young trees are cheap, and they can be pur- 

 chased far cheaper than grown from cuttings ; then, I ask, " Why keep 

 old and useless stock in a garden ? " 



Raspberries require few remarks. They are universally grown, and 

 always appreciated for preserving or cooking purposes. Good soil and 

 generous treatment will produce gratifying results. 



Strawberry -Raspberry. — This has been introduced from Japan into 

 this country, and was at first said to be a hybrid between a Strawberry and 

 a Raspberry. It may almost be classed as an ornamental plant, for apart 

 from its use it has a distinct value for its beauty, both when in flower 

 and when covered with its fine handsome fruit. 



The Logan Berry is a true hybrid between a red Raspberry and a 

 Blackberry, It produces freely, and lasts a long time either gathered or 

 on the bush. 



