File:The American garden (1873) (17962083800).jpg

Title: The American garden
Identifier: americang1418811883broo (find matches)
Year: 1873 (1870s)
Authors:
Subjects: Horticulture; Gardening
Publisher: Brooklyn, N. Y. : (s. n. )
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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1832.) THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 149 THE JAMES VICE STRAWBERRY. It is some time since Rochester has en- joyed a sensation in the line of new fruits. This is owing, in part, to the fact that the renowned authorities residing here decline to get enthusiastic unless the occasion is peculiarly enticing. Be that as it may, we have had a sensation in the new strawberry "James Vick," which made the greatest display, as regards quantity and beauty, of any strawberry I have seen, and in quality, size, and firmness, is desirable. Many fine fruits have been sent out from Rochester. Monroe County is the home of numerous seedlings that have made a wide reputation. The Sharpie ss Strawberry was scattered broadcast by Ellwanger & Barry, much to their credit. Now comes a new candidate, bowing and smiling, and looking its sweetest, as you will attracts attention everywhere by its glossy luxuriance. I will stop now before saying more, for I know no man or berry is perfect; thus this must have a weak poirA I have, however, been unable to discover it thus far. Chas. A. Green. (Plants of this variety growing in our Ex- perimental Garden show extraordinary vigor of foliage and roots, enabling them, appar- ently, to withstand sun and frost.—Ed.) DO BEES INJURE GRAPES? This mooted question is answered in the negative by Dr. T. T. Robertson, who, in proof of it, relates his experiments in the Scientific American. The doctor placed at the mouth of the hives bunches of several varieties of thin-skinned Grapes, and for days, although the bees were constantly THE CALIFORNIA GRAPE. Vitis Californica seems to be just what the phylloxera-stricken vintners all over the world have been looking for. The vines raised from seeds forwarded to the Govern- ment of New Zealand are very favorably spoken of, and, if they succeed as well else- where, will prove a great boon. Dr. R. Schomburgk, Director of the Botanic Gar- den of Adelaide, says: " There is no doubt of the value of the Vitis California for grafting stock, and its use is recommended either by cuttings or seeds. But the crowning virtue is not alone that it is phylloxera-proof, but also that it makes a palatable claret wine, so that it is worth cul- tivation for the sake of its fruit. It is believed that it will supply a great desidera- tum in wine-making, and is destined in the future to make the claret of California
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THE JAMES VICK STRAWBERRY. note in the engraving. But is it possible that so many berries ever grew on one Strawberry plant"? I confess it appears in- credible, but the engraving shows only a part of what one average plant produced, and these plants were seen by our most prominent pomologists. I could see no dif- ference in the plants, one appearing as heavily laden as another. I never saw such a sight, and this was the verdict of many. While the James Vick cannot be ranked among the largest varieties, the size aver- ages large, as was remarked by Secretary P. C. Reynolds—"Larger than Downing or Miners, not so large as Sharpless." Mr. Reynolds said it combined sprightliness with sweetness in a happy manner, and was very good. In color and form it is perfect, ripen- ing evenly throughout, and its firmness will make it desirable for shipping. The plant crowding over them, not a berry was in- jured. He then punctured half of the berries on each bunch, and instantly the bees went to work on all so punctured, in a short time sucking them dry. The remainder of the berries were untouched, and remained so until punctured by him, when they in turn were attacked as promptly as the former. This experiment demonstrates that it is necessary for the Grape to have been pre- viously injured so as to allow exudation of juice, otherwise the bee will not molest it. According to Dr. Robertson, rot, splitting of the Grape, injury by insects and birds, are the causes that render Grapes liable to attack by bees ; and when it is reflected that the berries thus injured would decay, it will be seen that the bee actually saves to us what would otherwise be lost, by storing it up as honey. famous. It produces tannin and tartaric potash, has no striking aroma, is sufficiently neutral, and has no disagreeable taste what- ever." CURRANT-WORMS. It has been recommended to plant Black Currants alternately with Red ones, as a pre- ventive against Currant-worms. We hope no reader of the American Garden will fol- low such chimerical advice. We had a whole row of six hundred feet in length, parallel with several rows of Red Currants, and could not perceive that those nearest the black ones were less favored by the worms than the others. True, the black ones were not troubled; but if it had not been for the timely and profuse application of White Hellebore, the red currants would have suffered severely.

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