474 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



not know of anything that Is relished more than a black raspberry pie 

 or a red raspberry shortcake. It is a typical fruit for jellies, also. I do 

 not know of anything more refreshing, or that I remember with more 

 pleasure, than a good raspberry sherbet. When we think of these things 

 we may well say the raspberry is entitled to a place. And then it comes 

 to us in the open space between the strawberry and the blackberry, and 

 it has its place on that account. When you plant raspberries, choose a 

 soil that is light, rather than heavy, and with lots of vegetable matter in 

 it, to hold the moisture and that will not bake and got hard when tramped 

 by the pickers. We like that kind of soil, because it will make the best 

 growth; and it will hold more water and grow more tips. That is the 

 kind of soil I should like to have, and I should want it level or nearly so. 

 Not so rolling as tp wash. We can not break ground for from five to eight 

 years after the plant is set, and the cultivation is entirely surface cultiva- 

 tion. If the ground is sloping, heavy rains wash off the loose soil and 

 the plant is left standing on a little ridge. Therefore, we like to have the 

 ground level. 



As for the planting. Plant them in rows seven feet apart, either for 

 red or black raspberries, and about three feet apart in the row. We plant 

 in the spring in preference to the fall, because it requires less labor to 

 cultivate and keep the rows clean and requires but little hand hoeing. If 

 the plants are of our own growing and at hand, we prefer to plant after 

 the tips are started; and the ground should be loose and fine. Set the 

 plants with the dirt clinging to them, as you set tomatoes, and they will 

 grow right on. The finest growth we ever had was in that way. Here 

 is a specimen [showing one in hand] that is a fine growth for so early in 

 the fall. Get them in that form, and set them out early. 



As to cultivation. The best tool I know of from recent experience is a 

 cultivator with several shovels in a V shape that will throw the dirt away 

 from the plants: and I should like to have one wide enough to extend from 

 one row to another, and let' the horse walk between or in the middle, so 

 the berries will not scratch the horse nor driver. That V-shaped tool will 

 throw the dirt out and then we have a harrow that will push it back. 

 Begin as early in the spring as the ground is dry enough to work. We 

 cultivate up to the first of August, when we stop. The surface should 

 be left as loose as possible, late, so the tips can take better hold. Last 

 year we sold thousands of plants and never had to bury the tips. Much 

 depends on whether they are strong growers or not. The Kansas makes 

 lots of plants, like the Crawford strawberiy. The Gregg is subject to 

 disease, and is not a strong grower, and there is not much profit in it. 

 The Kansas, even if it gets broken ofC, puts forth many more plants." 

 It is a strong grower. 



In the picking of raspberries we use buckets in preference to boxes; 

 for if we gather them in boxes we do not get the chance to pick them 

 over and see that there are no leaves or dirt in them, which often occurs 



