Raspberry Culture. 73 



well as the useful, I get rid of thena as soon as I can after the fruit has been 

 gathered. 



TYING UP CANES. 



For a long time I advocated and practiced the tying up of canes, first to 

 stakes, then to an iron wire stretched along the rows fastened to posts every 

 twenty-five to thirty feet. Either of the systems I found expensive and slow 

 work. It did well enough when I had but an acre or two, and did not know 

 any better. But when I had many acres I found it was not the thing to do, 

 especially so when I learned that stakes and wire were of no use, 1 might 

 say entirely unnecessary. I can not help but sympathize with those who are 

 so far behind the times as to follow that system now. By adopting the pinch- 

 ing back process, at the proper time, I save the expense of stakes, or posts 

 and wire, and the time necessary to tie the canes to them, and raise as many 

 bushels of as nice berries per acre as I did when I followed the old system. 



GATHERING BERRIES. 



I have often been asked how I manage the many hands necessary to pick 

 my berries to have the job well done; and to have them continue to the end. 

 First, I live near a large city, Dayton, Ohio, (too near to save a large part of 

 my apples and pears) and can get all the pickers I need, and my system is 

 as follows : I use a stand with handle holding four quart baskets to pick 

 into. Each picker is given a stand and a basket holder, which holds one 

 quart basket. This holder is tied around the waist, enabling the women, 

 girls and boys to use both hands in picking. Thus equipped, they are put 

 two to a row, one on each side. I have a trusty man to be with them con- 

 tinually, his business is, first to see that they pick none but ripe fruit; sec- 

 ond, that they pick all that are ripe; third, that they do not damage the 

 berries nor canes; fourth, that they do not skip rows or parts of rows; fifth, 

 that there is no wrestling in the patch. When the stand has four full quarts, 

 they are brought out to where the packing is done, in the shade of one or 

 more trees. Then give them a check for the full stand, and an empty stand 

 filled with baskets to fill again, and so on till the day is over. I have large 

 printed checks good for ten, twenty and thirty checks, which I give in ex- 

 change for smaller checks when desired. I pay no one money on account, 

 or in full, until the last picking is over, except in case of sickness or other 

 good cause. By adopting this method my hands continue their work until 

 the last picking is over. When iDay day comes all are made aware of it, all 

 come, and when we are through with the last picking, all hands collect in 

 the shade and are paid oft' in full, after which I give them a treat of cider,* 

 lemonade and cakes; all have a good time and go away more happy than 

 many worth their millions. 



PACKING AND MARKETING. 



There is a very strong disposition about Cincinnati, and where I live, to 

 stick to the old half bushel drawer (four drawers to the stand), for such bcr- 



6 



