Raspbebeies akd Blackberkies. 211 



with varieties much inclined to overbeai-, the result might be different. 

 In general, however, the thinning can be managed well enough and 

 much more cheaply by regulating the amount of bearing wood at the 

 annual spring pruning. 



Autumn Fruiting. — Certain varieties of raspberries possess a strong 

 tendency to bear fruit in autumn on wood of the present season's 

 growth, and it is sometimes recommended to take out the old canes in 

 spring in order to induce this habit. To determine whether our com- 

 mon varieties would yield to this treatment, plants of Fontenay, Cuth- 

 bert and Shaffer were simply mowed off with a scythe in the spring of 

 1893 before the young canes started. The results are very definite, if 

 not encouraging. The young canes have made a vigorous growth, but 

 not a single cluster of flowers has appeared on either the Cuthbert and 

 Shaffer plants. There are two or three fine clusters of fruit among the 

 Fontenay plants thus treated, but this is one of the European varieties 

 which are characterized by more or less continuous fruiting throughout 

 the season. Just as good clusters are to be found and aj^parently as 

 many of them where the plants have been treated in the ordinary 

 manner. 



The only advantage in autumn fruiting is the production of a small 

 amount of fresh fruit for family use late in the season, but this trial 

 seems to show little prospect of forcing tardy fruiting by means of 

 encouraging a late seasonal growth. 



Effect of Spraying on Pollination. — It is generally supposed that 

 rainy and cloudy weather at blossoming time is injurious to the fruit 

 crop, and the question occurs whether frequent spraying with water at 

 this period would produce any noticeable effect. On June 15, 1892, 

 spraying was begun on Caroline, Cuthbert and Turner raspberries. At 

 that time the < 'aroline was well i-n bloom, while the others were scarcely 

 beginning to bloom. The spraying was continued until July first two 

 to four times each day when the weather was bright and pleasant, but 

 omitted when there were rains to take its place. Showers were fre- 

 quent during the period, but were well interspersed with bright weather 

 and sunshine. 



The results were entirely negative, showing no effect whatever from 

 the spraying. The fruits on this portion of the row were just as per- 

 fect and abundant, and the plants appeared to suffer no more from 

 fungous diseases than those not sprayed. It is to be noted, however, 

 that the conditions were not the same as those present in continuous 

 cloudy weather, for during much of this time the weather was bright, 

 and insects were numerous and continued working among the blossoms 



