STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 83 



The heav}^ mulching over the ground will make a carpet to prevent 

 weed growth and to keep the ground moist and the fruit clean. Re- 

 move this after fruiting and by hoeing often in July and August the 

 plants may be put in condition for another j-ear as before. 



Raspberries and blackberries in the small city lot or village garden 

 should each be planted in single rows with plants filteen to eighteen 

 inches apart and onl^'^ one or two sprouts allowed to grow from each 

 plant, all others being treated as weeds and hoed down as fast as 

 they appear. The training of the canes so as to be as little in the 

 way as possible is an important consideration in such a garden, the 

 plan that keeps them the most closely within bounds and yet gives 

 room for sun and air is to set at each end of the row heavy posts 

 four feet high and eight to ten inches in diameter, on these stretch 

 three strands of wire on either side of the posts, and training the 

 canes to grow up between these wires they will alwaj's be confined 

 within the space of eight or ten inches. 



Keep the canes pinched off just above the top wire which should 

 be near the top of the posts, lateral branches may be shortened in 

 according to the room we can spare to them. The shady spots may 

 be given to the raspberries as they will fruit well there if manure and 

 moisture are supplied, although of course the fruit will not be as rich 

 and sweet as that grown in tlie sun. 



Gooseberries and currants may also be planted quite closel}' in 

 single rows and bj' close pruning and a wire frame, be confined 

 much the same as the raspberries and blackberries except thai the 

 width between the wires should be not less than fifteen inches, how- 

 ever, these little matters of details will largely regulate themselves 

 according to the situation of each plot of ground or the taste and 

 ingenuity of the owner. 



There is no great mystery about fruits and their culture, plenty of 

 manure and liberal culture, and almost any manner of pruning and 

 training that will let in air and sunlight, will give abundant returns. 

 That is what we are after, plenty of fine fruit as earl}^ and cheaply 

 grown as possible. Its importance as an article of diet is at last 

 beginning to be appreciated. Every dollar expended on the fruit 

 garden will save at least two dollars in butchers' and doctors' bills, 

 and the sooner we understand it the better. Three times a day the 

 whole year, our tables could and should be supplied with these 

 refreshing and health-giving fruits of our own growing. How 

 much better for the boys and girls at school to have a dish of fresh 

 berries, a cluster of grapes, or a cup of raspberry jam and good 



