State Agricultural Society. 481 



'worked throughout the season. The first season should be devoted to 

 the growth of as much strong, stocky wood as possible. Cut the canes 

 back in August, and pinch off the side branches in proportion. This 

 severe pruning must be resorted to to insure a substantial growth for 

 the next season. A crop of vegetables can be grown to advantage the 

 first season between the rows, which will be more likely to insure good 

 cultivation. 



PRUNING. 



The operation of pruning the raspberry is simple. In general field 

 culture but little is given except to cut out the old wood to the ground 

 in the Fall. It is well, however, to shorten the leading shoots of new 

 wood, and cut back the lateral ones. This operation is very necessary 

 with the Black Caps, as their long, slender branches would otherwise be 

 broken down with the weight of the fruit. I think it advisable to cut 

 back severely all varieties of this class of fruit. The result of such 

 pruning is much larger fruit, and the weight per acre as much or more 

 than if the canes were left their full length. 



TRAINING. 



The best mode for field culture is to train to stakes. There is nothing 

 saved by trying to cultivate without stakes; many of the canes will be 

 broken down by the wind, by the horse passing through, and by weight 

 of the fruit. The cost of the stakes is trifling compared to the loss of 

 fruit by not using them. Every stake will save three tim< s its cost in 

 fruit and convenience of picking in a single season. 



VARIETIES TO CULTIVATE. 



The following are among the leading and most valuable sorts to culti- 

 vate for market: 



Davidson's Thornless — this is one of the earliest varieties of the 

 Black Cap family; it is a profuse bearer, very sweet and fine flavor, and 

 its being without thorns is alone sufficient to make it desirable. The 

 Miami, Seneca, Black Cap, and Golden Cap, are all favorite sorts and 

 valuable. The Mammoth Cluster, following the abovementioned, and 

 the latest of the Black Caps, is the most prolific bearer; very large, and 

 fine flavor. 



Following these we have the Purple Canes. The flavor of the fruit 

 of this variety is distinct from Black Caps; the color generally red; the 

 growth and habit of the canes is different, and they are propagated from 

 the roots. The Philadelphia is undoubtedly the most prolific of this 

 sort, of good size, and fine quality. 



The Clarke is a new and very valuable sort for our climate; its large, 

 thick, and heavy foliage being well calculated to protect the fruit from 

 our hot sun. I think it better adapted for our climate in this respect 

 than any I have grown, though there are other sorts that no doubt 

 could be successfully and profitably grown here. 



THE BLACKBERRY. 



This is another very desirable and almost indispensable fruit. It be- 

 longs to the same family and genus as the raspberry, and has the same 

 general characteristics, and the same method of propagation and culti- 



