SUMMER MEETING. 65 



into consideration the draft sustained by the roots in keeping up old age, the 

 amount of injurious insect life it contains while it remains, the greatly im- 

 proved look of a field after its removal and the greater ease Avith which it can 

 be worked, we prefer to cut it out as soon as its usefulness is ended. 



The pruning of each succeeding year is the same as for the second, viz. : 

 Cutting back laterals in the spring, heading off new canes between two and 

 tbree feet high, cutting out and burning all old wood and cull canes aa 

 soon as fruiting season is over. 



REMOVING OLD CANES. 



Mr. Crawford, Ohio: Old canes are removed from a plantation of black-caps 

 solely tor the purpose of improviugits appearance. They are no detriment to 

 it, but rather a benefit. They give a little shelter to the new growth, and 

 help to keep the snow from blowing out of the State. Early in the spring the 

 new growth is shortened, and the old canes are cut out with pruning shears, 

 after which they are removed with fork and rake to a convenient place and 

 burned. 



C. W. Garfield: We find that we have more time to remove them in the fall, 

 and it is just as well to do so. It is done any time after the fruiting season, 

 but it is best to remove the canes of black-caps sooner than those of red varie- 

 ties. At Benton Harbor, a kind of horse-rake with wooden pins for teeth is 

 used to sweep out the canes from between the rows. The new canes of the 

 red varieties are thinned to about six inches. 



TIME TO PLANT BED VARIETIES. 



Rev. Mr. Day, of Ann Arbor, a gentleman of large experience, furnished the 

 following notes on the above topic: 



Dear Secretary: — A few days since I received a note from you requesting 

 my opinion as to the best time for transplanting the red raspberry. In acced- 

 ing to your request very briefly, I would say that the first matter of import- 

 ance is the right plants for the purpose. To secure them, transplant the suck- 

 ers, when from three to six inches in height, into drills three or four feet apart. 

 They can be set close together in the drills, and if kept well cultivated through 

 the season, will be found well rooted in the fall. 



Having such plants for the purpose, my preference is for fall planting. Com- 

 mence as soon as the leaves have fallen, or when fully yellow. The plants can 

 be moved at any time from that point until freezing weather; but I prefer 

 having it all done during October. As a rule, our charming Michigan Octobers 

 are exceedingly favorable for the purpose ; the soil moist, the temperature 

 inviting, and none of the hurry and rush we usually have in the spring. 

 Plants thus set in the fall become fully settled in their places and all ready 

 to start early in the season; and will make stronger canes than thosj set in the 

 spring. Spring planting is sometimes greatly delayed by other pressing work 

 or by too much water in the soil, by reason of which planting is retarded, 

 and they get a late start — a loss they are likely to show through the whole season. 



Plants thus set should have a parcel of litter from the barn-yard or horse 

 stable, or of earth, thrown around them to the depth of from six to eight inches 

 before freezing weather sets in, which should be removed the following spring 

 as soon as the frost leaves the ground. 



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