Winter Meeting- 205 



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When packing to ship this year, wrap each berry, or cluster of 

 berries, in two thicknesses of paraffine paper, each thickness separately^ 

 and pack in the nsual berry box and crate, sending at once to the place 

 appointed for processing them and putting into jars. 



The raspberry, blackberry and dezaberry will need careful thinning 

 out and short pruning of the bearing canes, and then, after the fruit is 

 well set, take off one-half or two-thirds of the berries, and keep down 

 the young sprouts and canes so that the strength will go to the berries. 

 Fertilize with four pounds muriate of potash and two pounds of nitrate 

 of soda per square rod. 



For next year's fruiting, grow the canes for this especial purpose, 

 retaining about one-fourth as many canes as usual and then treat the 

 same as above: picking, handling, wrapping and packing the same as 

 for the strawberry. Fine clusters and branches where they can be re- 

 tained should be shipped as clusters after wrapping. 



Twisting the canes often causes them to produce larger fruit, and 

 water is often used with i lb. muriate of potash and J^ lb. nitrate of 

 soda to twenty gallons of water to help increase the size especially if 

 the weather is dry. Mulching is necessary and watering can then be 

 done safely. 



Large paper bags put over the clusters of fruit, will cause them tO' 

 ripen evenly and color up beautifully as well as keep much better after 

 gathering. 



The currant and gooseberry will need the same care as the other 

 small fruits, the bushes well thinned out and the berries or bunches re- 

 duced to half the crop or even less. Clusters of them when ripe will 

 be wanted both for jar exhibit in 1903, and for the fresh exhibit in- 

 1904. Fertilize with 34 to 1-3 lb. muriate of potash and Ys to 1-6 lb. 

 nitrate of soda per bush and keep them well mulched with old straw 

 or hay. 



The grape will need special care in pruning for the crop this year 

 and special preparation of the canes for the crop of 1904, when the 

 grapes are to be shown fresh on the tables. Use the best canes for crop 

 this year but not so many nor so long as usual. After the grapes are 

 well set, tie a wire tightly around the canes below the bunches and 

 then thin out the bunches so as to secure the largest size of bunch and 

 berry. The very best of cultivation should be given to the vines during 

 the whole summer and the use of fertilizer, 1-3 to 1-2 pound muriate of 

 potash and 1-6 to 1-4 pound of nitrate of soda per vine. Summer prun- 

 ing should be closely followed, care being taken to leave enough leaf 

 surface to shade the fruit well. Put 2 lb. or 3 lb. paper bags on ali 

 specimen bunches before June ist. each year. 



