II. Various Observations Upon Raspberries 



and Blackberries. 



Various questions which are frequently asked of the Station are 

 here given more or less full answers. Some of them demand a care- 

 ful collating of the experiences of successful berry- growers and I con- 

 sequently issued a circular to the growers in New York and other 

 States, seeking information upon a variety of questions, I have also 

 drawn upon my own experience in commercial berry-growing, and 

 upon various experiments made at this Station. 



Average Yields of Red Raspberries and Blackberries. — The aver- 

 age yield of red raspberries and blackberries as well as of black 

 raspberries was asked of many growers. As to the yield of red rasp- 

 berries, fifty-six growers replied and the average , of their answers 

 gives 2201 quarts or nearly 69 bushels per acre. The lowest estimate 

 given in this case was 640 quarts, and the highest 8000 quarts. 

 These were from the same men who gave the lowest and highest esti- 

 mates of the yield of black raspberries respectively, mentioned in Part 

 I. Most growers place the yield of black-caps higher than that of 

 reds, but six good growers in New York, two in Pennsylvania and one 

 in Delaware place the yields of reds higher than of blacks. 



In answer to the same question concerning blackberries, fifty replies 

 were received, and the average of them all is 3158 quarts, or over 

 98 bushels per acre, the lowest estimate being 1280, and the highest 

 10,000 quarts. 



These figures possess great value, both to persons contemplating 

 going into berry-growing and to those who are already in the busi- 

 ness. Growers who find their yields below these averages can rest 

 assured that something is wrong, and that unless some uncontrollable 

 disease is devastating the fields, their system of cultivation undoubt- 

 edly needs improving. From the nature of the question, the answers 

 are in most cases estimates rather than actual yields obtained, but they 

 are estimates based on the practical experience of the growers them- 

 selves, hence can be taken as very reliable guides. 



Pinching back Blackberry Canes. — In reply to the question, " At 

 what height do you pinch your young blackberry canes," the answers 



