SUMMER MEETING, 1880. 55 



The ground should be worked early in the spring, and a heavy mulching 

 placed around each hill. It will be found very beneficial in a dry season. 



I have found that three or four canes, for bearing fruit the following year, 

 are better than a greater number. When three feet high the top should be 

 pinched out; but, if not done at that time, it will be best to leave it until 

 spring, and then shorten in one-third, and the laterals also. All suckers 

 should be destroyed as fast as they appear. 



Both the Bed and Black Raspberry may be planted either in the spring or 

 fall; but as the buds start early, I prefer fall planting. A shovelful of ma- 

 nure will be advantageously placed on each plant after setting. 



THE BLACK RASPBERRY, 



with similar soil and treatment, will do well. In pruning, however, the canes 

 may be left four feet high and the laterals from twelve to sixteen inches 

 long. 



BLACKBERRIES 



require the same soil as the raspberry. Six feet apart each way is the best dis- 

 tance for field culture ; for garden culture, four feet each way will do. They 

 will stand the drouth better than the raspberries, and do not really re- 

 quire as rich soil. The ground should be worked up to the time of fruiting. 

 From three to four canes in a hill is sufficient, and when five feet high should 

 be headed in. The laterals should be stopped when twelve to eighteen inches 

 long. 



The Law ton is, unquestionably, the best blackberry under cultivation, when 

 fully ripe — 'possessing all the good qualities of that family. It is only half 

 hardy, and requires protection through the winter. For family use I prefer it 

 to all others after a trial of nearly all the known varieties. 



The Snyder is perfectly hardy. It has stood the severity of the weather at 

 twenty-six degrees below zero. 



THE GRAPE 



is, perhaps, the oldest fruit mentioned in ancient history (except the apple 

 eaten by Eve). It certainly is one of the best of all the fruits, and may well 

 be classed as one of the healthiest, and no farmer should feel satisfied with his 

 home without a full supply for family use. With a proper selection of varie- 

 ties we can enjoy this delicacy eight mouths in the year. 



The grape succeeds best in a deep, rich, warm soil, and does not like clay 

 even when well-drained. To secure a crop each year in this locality it should 

 be pruned in the fall, and the vines laid down and covered with soil two or 

 three inches deep. I have had good success by keeping the vines down with 

 cord-wood. 



CURRANTS 



are so generally grown throughout the country that, I presume, all farmers 

 know, or think they know, just how to grow them. The fact, however, is that 

 after planting, the only attention they get is the plucking of their fruit, and 

 I may safely say poor fruit at that. When properly pruned, manured, and the 

 soil worked in the spring and weeds destroyed through the summer, the fruit 

 will be doubled iu size, and the quality will be found to be very much improved. 



