STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 247 



Plantations should be renewed, /. e., new ones planted each year, as- 

 they will not bear well more tlian three seasons, the first iivo crops being 

 the best. 



With a little outlay for plants, some care and attention, every family 

 having a garden spot may have all the delicious strawberries they need,. 

 just as easily as all the potatoes. Who will try it.-* 



RASPBERRIES. 



BY O. B. GALUSHA. 



There has been such a magnificent display of representations of beau- 

 tiful fruits, accompanied by an array of '• first class" testimonials of the 

 superior merits of each, pictured and published in the circulars and in all 

 the agricultural and horticultural journals, during the last few years, as to 

 bewilder the mind and unsettle the choice of almost every one who 

 attempts, through these means, to learn what varieties are best suitctl to 

 his purpose or adapted to his locality. Next to grapes and strawberries 

 there is, perhaps, more risk in raspberries in this respect, than in any other 

 species of fruit, tree, or shrub. If we consult the advertisements and pic- 

 tures, we are assured that there are about fifty sorts (more or less), each 

 one of which is the " very best in cultivation." 



The credulous and hopelul purchaser buys almost at random among 

 these varieties, and in a majority of instances finds — after one or twO' 

 years' cultivating and waiting — that lie has cumbered the ground with 

 plants, to eradicate which he would gladly pay a sum equal to their first 

 cost, so as to make room for some variety that has been tested and found 

 good and productive in his own neighborhood. 



Since thousands of dollars are thus yearly thrown away in our State, 

 it is a matter of considerable importance to know what sorts are good and 

 reliable. 



Having ti'aveled considerably in the central and northern parts of the 

 State during the raspberry season, noting the characteristics of diflicrent 

 sorts, and also having quite a number of "highly approved" varieties in 

 cultivation upon my own grounds, I am prepared to judge of the merits 

 of the more prominent varieties in this region. 



First, and far in advance of all others for productiveness, throughout 

 the territory inilicated, stands the Philadelphia. In all soils and situa- 

 tions, where observed, it bears a third more than any other variety, and 

 in sandy soil, fully double. It proves hardy here, though reported to 

 have been somewhat injured in the tops, last winter, in the southern part 

 of the State. 



The fioiit, though not as rich as many other sorts of red or purple 

 berries, is of good size, pleasant, pulpy, and refreshing; and with "sugar 

 to the taste" is relished quite as well as othcrvarieties; it has been longer 

 in season with me than any other sort, continuing, in sufiicient quantity 

 to well repay the gathering, up to August second (about ten days after 

 the last picking of other sorts), and as late as August 6th fine berries 



