The Strawberry -Raspberry. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2371, 10 August 1899, Page 8

The Strawberry -Raspberry. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — It seems difficult to understand the motif of Messrs Nairn and Sons in their ■wholesale condemnation of the strawberryraspberry, now being advertised by Messrs Nimmo and Blair as a valuable novelty. In the letter reprinted by you from the Christchurch Press Messrs Nairn and Sons quote from a " well-known horticulturist," but judiciously omit to give the name ; consequently, the advice of said horticulturist may be taken with more than the customary grain of salt. This new plant is nothing more than a Japanese raspberry possessing a characteristic strawberry flavour, and, like all plants of the same family, it spreads by sending up shoots from the roots. In rich soil, if allowed to grow unchecked, either the raspberry or blackberry will soon creep over the ground ; but anyone growing either for profit will have sense enough to use the spade about the roots to prevent undue spreading. I have no personal knowledge of the strawberry-raspberry; but it was one of the now Japanese fruits strongly recommended by Mr John Lewis Childsj of Floral Park, New York, in the Mayflower not long ago. I have found this publication thoroughly reliable as regards other plants recommended, and hardly think the Japanese raspberry would have been so highly spoken of it is were likely to porve as troublesome as indicated by the horticulturist (?) quoted by Messrs Nairn and Sons. The simple fact that this plant is extensively cultivated in Japan, where it is reckoned one of the finest small fruits, ought to bo guarantee sufficient for us ; for the Japanese can give the rest of the world a few points in horticulture, and are hardly the people to grow the noxious weed the horticulturist pressed into service by Messrs Nairn and Sons tries to make it out to be. — I am, etc., F. A. JOSEPH. Dunedin, August 1. Itose Culture. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — In the report in your issue of the paper on Rose Culture by Mr A. E. Lowe of Ohridtchurch, tho following words appear in the paper in connection with the best time for pruning hybrid perpoluals : "In Olago tho end of July and early in August is the beat time." These words were, however, not in Mr Lowe's paper, but wero an expression of opinion by Dunedin roparians present at the meeting when tho paper was read. — I am, etc., JOHN H. EVERY. Secretary Dunedin Horticultural .Society. [Tho 'interlineation wns made in pencil prior to the MS., being handed to us. — Ed.] DUNEDIN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. At the monthly meeting of the Dunedin Horticultural Society on Thursday, 17th inst., Mr Fitch, assistant Government pomologist, will give a lecture on bpraying fruit trees. Tables will be provided at the hall for any appliances etc., which may have a bearing on tho subject of the lecture. The secretary of the society (Mr Every) suggests that, as the process involves too much troubls for the ordinary fruit-grower to tuuleriake, it should affcrd profitable occupation to competent persons to contract at per tree for the spraying of private orchards.