The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-04
A Horticultural Letter.

NY MRS. A. W.
Mr.. Editor Can you tell us what
blackberry plants to set for family use?
OF course the first requisite will be
hardness; the next, good quality.
Is the Delaware raspberry hardy?
1t is said to have the same flavor of the
wild berry. l have few plants of
Clarke's Red, but do not like the flavor
of the fruit. 1t tastes like the dew
berry, or running raspberry, that grows
wild in moist places.
What is the best strawberry for home
use? We have nine kinds, but the
Charles Downing is the only one we
have had long enough to test fairly.
"That husband of mine " says if we
find anything to beat it in flavor we shall
do well. 1t is nice for fresh eating, but
too soft to look well canned.
always use warm water for water
ing plants, and 1 do not think it will
make any difference then whether the
sun shines on the pot or not. Plants
should neyer be watered, especially in
the winter, until the soil looks dry on
top or feels so to the touch, always ex-
cepting Gala lilies, or such plants as
naturally grow in wet places. If you
wish flowers for winter blooming pro-
cure some bulbs next fall and treat
them according to directions found in
any seedman's catalogue. Also buy
some primrose and cineraria seed this
spring, and raise some plants to blossom
next winter. Almost any one with
ability to do anything yell can easily do
this, if they can get the money to buy
the seeds.
have been trying for several years
to raise grapes, but have been unsuc-
cessful thus far. The first few years
the vines would winter-kill, but last
year Brighton vine gave promise of
grapes, which amounted to nothing, as
the cold of May 30 and 81 blasted all
my high hopes in that direction. 1t
was ll1t uGRItCS DtlOM luC llCtLlll0
points on the morning of the 31st, and,
though 1 covered the vine as best
could, nearly every leaf on the vine, as
well as the fruit buds, was frozen.
think it was almost as bad as put
ting my name in the paper to have you
sag what you did about it. 1 am not
ashamed of my name, or residence
either, but did not wish to be brought
before the public.
REMARKS BY THE EDITOR.-W have
this valued correspondent objects to.
We find it was merely the matter-of-
fact statement that she did not desire
her name or residence printed. Per-
haps it was stupid for us to mention it,
but we had in mind to " kinder" coax
our bashful correspondents to let us
print their names, so that they might
feel more acquainted. We certainly
had no idea that those words could be
construed in the way Mrs. w. took
them. OF course we know she was not
ashamed" and did not suppose that
any one would infer that we thought
so. All the same, we beg pardon.
Regarding blackberries, Snyder and
Sable Queen have proved the most sat
isfactory with us. But even these do
not bear well unless covered in winter,
either with earth or snow. We secure
the latter by planting on the lee side of a
fence, and usually get good crop.
The Delaware raspberry we have
not tried. One of the hardest and
most productive reds is the Philadel-
phia, and it also has the merit of max
ing but few suckers. 1t is of dusky
red, and not so attractive as those that
are brighter colored. Perhaps the
Turner, a very hardy sort, might be
more satisfactory.
: For canning, the Wilson strawberry
!, is desirable, as it is very firm tieshed.
, When used for this purpose Strawberries
+ should be picked as soon as colored.
Very few grapes are hardy if left on
: the trellis during winter in Vermont.
But we have no trouble with even the
i tenderest if laid down and covered
+ with earth or mulch in the fall. From
severe late frosts in spring, or early
+ frosts in fall, there is no safety any
where in New England. In such years
we must lose the crop.