Raspberry Culture. 7 1 



RASPBERRY CULTURE. 



BY X. OHMER, OF OHIO 



Gentlemen of the Convention : Having been solicited by the Secretary of 

 this Association to read a paper before you on the Cultivation and Marketing 

 of Raspberries, I, out of respect for the gentleman, and the desire to add my 

 mite to make this meeting one of practical value, consented to do so, and now 

 rise, not to tell you where the first raspberries came from, by what name 

 they were called, nor what were their quality and commercial value, but pro- 

 pose to go directly into the merits of the case by giving you in a brief form 



WHAT I KNOW ABOUT RASPBERRY GROWING. 



Raspberries are attracting more attention at this particular time than ever 

 before. Raspberries have always been appreciated more or less on account 

 of filling in the place nicely between strawberries and blackberries. It is a 

 fruit much admired by many, though never so popular as the strawberry. 

 Up to within a few years there were but few varieties. The Red Antwerp, 

 American, or common Black Cap, and Brinkles Orange, were popular as far 

 back as I can recollect. As much improvement has been made in late years 

 in the raspberry as in any other fruit, we are now not confined to three or 

 four varieties, but varieties of distinguished merit can be counted by the 

 dozens. I have grown the raspberry for market now twenty-six years, but 

 never to the same extent as at present. I now plant largely of them because 

 I find their culture profitable. Any of you can do as well if you have suita- 

 ble soil, varieties, and understand the proper mode of culture. 



THE CONDITION OF SUCCESS. 



To grow raspberries successfully you must select good soil, well under- 

 drained; let it be clay loam or sandy soil, but prefer upland clay loam. I 

 have known them to do admirably in almost any soil, provided it is rich and 

 not wet Plow as you would for any other crop, the deeper the better if your 

 soil admits of it. Harrow well ; plow out furrows six or seven feet apart and 

 plant in said rows three feet apart— a partial shade I find to advantage. My 

 patches that do best are in an old orchard. 



BLACK RASPBERRIES 



Are usually planted shallow, an inch or two deep. If it is your intention to 

 tie up your canes, that is deep enough, but if you wish them self-supporting 

 you must plant them so that by after culture they will be at least three to 

 four inches deep, otherwi.se they will not be self-supporting. By so planting 

 and pinching back, as hereafter described, I never have trouble about my 

 canes blowing or falling down by the weight of fruit. 



The first year's growth I pinch back when eight to ten inches long. The 

 second year, and every year thereafter, I pinch back the tips of the growing 



