SMALL FRUITS AND THE AVERAGE FARMER. 25 



nbout as deep as I can, making rows seven feet apart, planting the 

 plants not over three feet apart, placing plant in bottom of furrow 

 and covering it two and one-half to three inches deep above the crown. 

 Make the soil firm on the plant; then, as your plants grow, gradually 

 fill up your furrow. Give thorough cultivation with cultivator and 

 hoe all summer. When canes get twelve to fifteen inches high pinch 

 off the top; after that let them grow at will. The next spring trim 

 all laterals back to within ten to twelve inches of main cane. Culti- 

 vate the same this year, and when the new canes get from twenty-four 

 to thirty inches high, pinch them off. This will cause them to throw 

 out a lateral at about every leaf. Let these grow at will. The next 

 spring cut these laterals back to twelve or fifteen inches. Clean out 

 the rubbish and start cultivator again and keep it up until fruit com- 

 mences to ripen. This year you ought to get about a full crop. I 

 usually grow potatoes or sweet corn between each row of raspberries 

 the first year, which will pay for the cultivation of entire plat. 



Varieties. — Palmer is first to ripen. Kansas comes about two 

 days later. Older commences about five days after Palmer. Nemaha 

 and Gregg eight to ten days after Palmer. Were I planting for 

 family use only, I would plant Kansas and Older, because I would 

 then have early, medium, and late, as Older will last to the very latest 

 and is the best quality of any of them, especially for canning. Were 

 I planting for market, I would plant some of all named above except 

 Gregg. The Nemaha will fill its place and, in most respects, is pref- 

 erable. The Older will stand more cold, heat, and drouth than any 

 of them. 



SMALL FRUITS AND THE AVERAGE FARMER. 



GEORGE A. SLAYTON. 



After many years of observation, and a no less extended experience, 

 I am thoroughly convinced that the average farmer has fallen far short 

 of his privilege in appropriating the manifold blessings which may so 

 easily be placed at his disposal in that small plot of ground, the small 

 fruit garden. If calling attention to this fact, and if possible empha- 

 sizing the loss so often unconsciously sustained, shall be of any avail 

 3 



