4G8 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 11, 1S91. 
cut back as advised for the Ked and White, but leave the best and strongest 
shoots their whole length, encourage young wood from below, and cut 
out all weak wood and long weak branches, and keep generally open 
and well balanced all through. Black Currants do not seem to me to 
be so durable as the Red. Eight or ten years seems to be the limit of 
fertile life with this fruit. It is long enough, however, considering the 
pleasure of change, and by that time the land around the roots begins to 
collect perennial weeds, which it is difficult to get rid of when they once 
attain a footing in such quarters. Varieties.—Black, Black Naples, 
Lee’s Prolific, Red and White Dutch, the Cherry. 
The Gooseberry. 
This is one of the most valuable of hardy fruits. Like the Currant 
bushes, it is found in every poor man’s garden, and pays well for good 
culture. It is always saleable, from the half-grown green fruit for 
culinary purposes to the coloured fruit fit for dessert. The propagation is 
the same as that for the Red Currant, the price about Is. per dozen 
dearer. The garden cultivation, however, with regard to pruning differs, 
as the young wood of Gooseberries is not left entire as in the case of the 
Black, nor is it spurred in as the case of Red Currants, with the excep¬ 
tion of the laterals, which, if anything, are cut in still more closely. The 
main shoots are allowed to remain nearly their whole length, and only 
slightly pruned at the poin's. Young wood ought to be encouraged 
by judicious summer pruning or thinning out, leaving only sufficient 
growth to develop as would form a good head of healthy and strong 
shoots annually ; the winter pruning would then consist of reducing the 
points of such shoots, and cutting out the older branches entirely. 
Keep an open centre, let every shoot be as distant from its neigh¬ 
bour as to allow of the hand passing between the branches 
to pick the fruit. Planting of the Rites family, like most other 
fruit, is best done as soon as the leaves begin to turn yellow. There are 
many varieties of Gooseberries all of which have some merit, few are 
absolutely worthless, but I object to the pendulous varieties for I 
cannot see the advantage of a weeping habit in a Gooseberry bush. Let 
the fruit be ever so good one half would be spoiled by the splashing of 
the soil during a heavy scorm, to say nothing of the extra annoyance 
during picking. Gooseberries hang on the bush long and well if pro¬ 
tected by covering with a mat to keep the birds away and the fruit dry. 
It is grand for market, comes quickly into bearing, and it is surprising 
that it is not more largely grown in the vicinity of Cardiff, the vast 
population of 130,000 people being chiefly supplied with fruit from 
distant districts. 
Culinary and Dessert Varieties. —’’'Warrington, Ironmonger, White 
Venus, Pitmaston Gage, Yellow and *Red Champage, Yellow Sulphur, 
and Crown Bob, The two marked with an asterisk are valuable for 
preseiving. 
The Raspberry. 
Thi.s fruit is well known as one of the best, if not the very best, 
for preserving purposes. It is propagated by suckers, which it throws 
up freely. It is also easily raised from seed. Strong canes can be 
purchased at about Is. per dozen. 
Planting should be done early and the ground well trenched and 
Iieavily manured. The old custom of planting in clumps and secured 
to a stake is fast going out. The better way is to plant in rows 
.") or G feet apart, and of the same height trellis. In many old gardens 
can be seen permanent iron railings for Raspberries which look strong 
enough to last a century. There is no necessity for going to such 
expense. It stands to reason that any bush of the size and habit of the 
Raspberry which is so easily transplanted would benefit by a change of 
quarters, and to effect this with economy a wooden trellis would last 
long enough, look just as well, and its cost would not be a tenth of the 
former, and from which crops of equal quantity and quality might be 
gathered. Wires strained upon wooden uprights would last at least 
eight or ten years, and I do not think a plantation of Raspberries would 
improve if left any longer than that period in one place. 
Assumiirg the canes were planted in October, they should be cut 
back in February or March to 18 inches, with the object of insuring fine 
canes for the second year. If left unpruned they not unfrequently die 
back. From the second season onward they ought to yield good crops. 
It is important to thin out the suckers while quite young, but bad 
practice to allow all suckers to grow up anywhere. If they were thinned 
■early, only allowing as many as were required, about two for every foot 
of space, to attain maturity, those left would in every way repay for the 
extra attention. Select, if possible, canes that spring up in line with the 
trellis, cutting all the rest right away. In winter reduce the canes to a 
certain height. If strong and stout they may extend 6 inches above the 
top wire. A portion of those that are not so strong may be cut back to 
B feet and upwards. Manure liberally by mulchings applied in June 
and allowed to remain, and fork between the rows in spring. When 
well treated the canes respond with vigour and need but one tie each. 
We often see wiry-looking rows of Raspberries not more than 3 to 3^ feet 
high. This result can generally be traced to being left too long in the 
same ground. Sometimes the Raspberries will refuse to grow in fresh 
positions. I am inelined to attribute such cases to the condition of the 
soil which having been so long under cultivation has gone almost black 
by the humus of past manuring. In such cases it would be best to bring 
in a few loads of loam, or if this cannot be had, burn the old soil. This 
latter course is often effectual with ground that has “ lost heart,” as 
gardeners say, and is one of the best and cheapest methods of renovation 
for an old garden. 
I know but few varieties of the Raspberry. The ordinary varieties 
of Red and Yellow Antwerps I am most accustomed to ; but there are 
others offered by the trade I know, but I am not acquainted with them. 
The Red is better than the Yellow for all purposes. 
(To be continued.) 
Events of the Week. —The chief horticultural gathering will be 
the Royal Botanic Society’s second summer Show for the year, to be 
held in Regent’s Park on Wednesday, June 17th. This is always one of 
the best of the season, as besides plants and cut flowers there is a good 
representative collection of fruits in competition. The Society meetings 
comprise the Royal Society, Thursday, June 11th (to-day), at 4.30 p.m., 
and the Royal Botanic Society on June 13th, at 4 p.m. Messrs. Protheroe 
and Morris announce a sale of Orchids at their Cheapside Rooms on 
Friday next, June 12th. They will chiefly consist of Orchids imported 
by Messrs. Charles worth. Shuttle worth & Co. A sale of plants will 
also be held by Messrs. Protherce at the Assembly Rooms, Bath, on 
June 16t.h and 17th. The York Floral Fete and Gala opens on 
June 17th and closes on June 19th. 
- Royal Horticultural Society. —We are informed that 
the R.H.S. dinner at the Hotel M6tropole on Tuesday, June 23rd, pro¬ 
mises to be a great success. Amongst the invited guests of the Society 
who have already accepted the invitation of the Council, we may 
mantion the American Minister, the Greek Minister, the Right Hon. the 
Lord Mayor, the Right Hon. the Earl of Rosse, the Right Hon. Sir Lyon 
Playfair, Bart,, M.P., the Lord Justice Fry, Sir James Paget, Bart., Sir 
Joseph Lister, Bart., Sir James Whitehead, Bart., Sir Henry Thompson, 
Mr. Sheriff Farmer, Mr. Brymer, M.P., Dr. Farquaharson, M.P., General 
H. D. Donnelly, Norman Lockyer, Esq , S. B. Bristowe, Esq., Q.C., Dr. 
Aitchinson, the Mayor of Croydon, Dr. Herman Weber, H. W. Lawrence, 
Esq., &c. &c. A few tickets (price 12s. 6d.) may still be obtained on 
application to the Secretary, 117, Victoria Street, S.W. 
- Brighton and Sussex New Horticultural and Mutual 
Improvement Society. — At the last meeting of this Society C. W. 
Cott, Esq., was elected President; a Committee was formed with 
Mr. W. Balchin, jun., as Chairman and Mr. J. Cheal as Vice-Chairman. 
The rules were also thoroughly discussed and confirmed. It was stated 
that Mr. J. Wright had offered to read a paper at the first meeting on 
Thursday, June lltli, the subject being “ The Objects and Usefulness of 
Gardeners’ Improvement Societies.” Other papers are promised by 
Mr. Lewis Castle (July 9th), Mr. George Gordon (October 8th), and 
Mr. J. Cheal (August 13th). The place of meeting is the Imperial 
Hotel, Queen’s Road, Brighton, at G.30 p.m, 
■- Under the curiously compound title Clivieucharis pulchra 
L'Illustration Uorticole for May loth has a note respecting a bi-generic 
hybrid, which should possess considerable interest. It is stated that 
M. Rodigas has given the name to a plant which has recently flowered 
for the first time in M. Louis Van Houtte’s nursery at Ghent, and 
which had resulted from crossing a Clivia with pollen of Eucharis 
amazonica. Though it is said to be intermediate between the two 
parents no description is given, that being reserved until more flowers 
have been seen, but it is strange the colour is not mentioned. 
- The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —At the meeting of the 
Committee on Friday evening last 10 guineas were received from Mr. 
John Wills, the first instalment of 50 guineas he so generously offered 
for the charity. In view of the loss sustained by the discontinuance 
of the Covent Garden Fete, through its obstruction to business in the 
market, and also in view of the number of applicants for the benefits 
of the Fund, arrangements for a national collection in gardens on 
Saturday, 13th inst., were completed, and if every gardener collects a 
few shillings, or even a few pence, it will amount in the aggregate to a 
valuable and much-needed contribution. It is hoped that gardeners, 
old and young, will be glad to contribute something on the occasion 
for the support of children now waiting for election. It has also been 
decided to hold a “ Floral Fete and Rose Fair” at the Crystal Palace 
on Wednesday, July 15th. An extensive and unique display is expected, 
and among other attractions a cricket match will be provided between 
