LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 117 



In the case of the former the drupes cohere, and when ripe fall away from the 

 woody or dry receptacle, being broad, flat, and cup shaped next the stem. 

 There are many divisions of the raspberry family in their natural or wild 

 state; but I shall confine this paper to two distinct varieties, the red and the 

 black. The common wild red raspberry, from which doubtless all our 

 improved sorts have originated, is found from Newfoundland to Oregon, and 

 as far south as the Middle States. It is found growing wild in great profusion 

 in the northern part of this State. It is not found wild in the south. The 

 canes, of a light copper color, after the first year grow upright from two to 

 four or five feet, mainly without laterals. The shrub is biennial in charac- 

 ter, this year's growth of wood fruits next year and dies. It propagates freely 

 by underground stems, which run out in every direction from the main plant 

 a few inches below the surface, and from which numerous upright stems or 

 canes are produced. These may be allowed to remain and mature their wood, 

 and transplant the following season ; or they may, when four to six inches 

 high, be taken up and transplanted at once. For this purpose, the ground 

 for which they are intended should be well prepared, deep, straight furrows 

 drawn from six to eight feet apart, and when taken up should be immediately 

 transferred to their new home. This should be done moreover, when the 

 ground is quite damp, and during a cloudy or rainy day, when it will prove 

 every way successful. For cultivating one way set the plants three by eight 

 feet, for cultivating both ways six by six feet. This arrangement will apply 

 equally well whether we set old or new wood. When the last year's wood is set 

 the canes should be cut back to four inches of the ground ; and after the first 

 year the canes thinned out to five or six. Heading back may be deferi'ed till 

 the spring before fruiting, when all the canes stung the previous summer by 

 the white cricket should be carefully cut out, collected, and burned. 



Of this fruit there are many varieties contending for supremacy, but for 

 home use, or even for market, under favorable circumstances, I know of none 

 that for hardiness, productiveness, and fine quality is superior or even equal 

 to the Turner. The Cuthbert and Brandywine are more firm but not equal in 

 quality. 



The black raspberry rubus occidentalis, sometimes called blackberry and 

 thimbleberry, is in the wild state more widely distributed than the red, 

 extending as far south as Georgia. The canes of most varieties are more 

 prickly than the red, and the fruit spurs instead of starting from the axils of 

 the main cane as in the red are mostly produced by the laterals. Its propa- 

 gation is also different from the red. Instead of producing plants from 

 underground stems, the plants are formed on the tips of the canes. The pre- 

 paration of the soil, and tlie setting of the plants are mainly the same; only 

 the black varieties require more room on account of the spreading habits of 

 the shrub, and should have from eight to ten feet between the rows, and at 

 least three feet in the row. Like the red, they should be set as early in spring 

 as the ground is in good working condition. The first season they require 

 only good culture, the same as corn or any other hoed crop. After the first 

 year, when the growing canes are about two and one-half feet high, the tops 

 should be pinched : this will induce a more rapid growth of latterals, from 

 which the main crop of fruit is procured, also, plants for future setting. 

 These laterals in growing re-curve, and finally reach the ground, and some- 

 times run along the surface for a yard or more, become enlarged at the tips, 

 turn purple, and are then ready for the formation of roots or stools. In order 

 to secure strong, well-stooled plants, the tips should then be put in the ground 



