RASPBERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES. 205 



Pinching back Med Raspberries. — "Do you pinch back red rasp- 

 berry canes; if so, at what height?" In reply to this question, thirty- 

 four growers say " Yes," two of the number limiting it to strong 

 growers, however. Thirty say they do not pinch at all; one pinches 

 the first season only and six express doubt as to which is the better 

 method. Among those who do practice it, more pinch at three feet 

 than at any other given height. Eleven pinch at heights varying from 

 fifteen inches to two feet inclusive; twenty-three pinch at heights 

 above two feet but not exceeding three feet, and seven above three 

 feet. 



This is an mteresting question because it shows such a wide differ- 

 ence of opinion. In a trip through the berry regions along Seneca 

 Lake in the summer of 1P92, several growers were found who had been 

 pinching back reds but had come to doubt its advisability and were 

 that summer letting them take their own course. My own experience 

 had led me to pass through the same change of practice and I find that 

 many growers elsewhere are making a similar report. From the pres- 

 ent knowledge, I am inclined to think that it is better to do no sum- 

 mer prunmg of red raspberries after the first year or two, unless it is 

 in case of very strong growers. In any event, I believe it better to 

 pinch low and early if it is to be done at all. If a plant is pinched as 

 soon as it reaches twelve to eighteen inches in height, so that it will 

 branch low, and develop in a way similar to the Cuthbert plant shown 

 in the cut, it is in excellent shape to bear an abundant crop of fruit; 

 but if neglected until three or four feet high and then cut back, it will 

 usually send out a few weak branches near the top, most of which will 

 be more or less badly injured by the winter and making at best a top- 

 heavy and unsatisfactory bush. The only possible objection to this 

 low branching, shown in the cut on page 206, is the liability to break- 

 ing from the settling of heavy snows; but this danger is usually slight. 



Those who have observed the matter, report that summer pruning 

 increases the tendency to throw up suckers; and if so it is a strong 

 argument against the practice, I,t is a matter of wonder sometimes, 

 that red raspberries often make such a feeble lateral growth when 

 pinched, but if there is a greater tendency toward the production of 

 suckers, that fact may explain it. It should not be inferred that the 

 spring pruning is to be omitted also; the bearing canes are then cut 

 back one-fourth to one-third, leaving them from 2^ to 4 feet high. 

 Only the true red raspberries are to be included here. Varieties like 

 Shaffer are similar to black-caps in their habit of growth and should 

 be pruned like them. 



