THE STRAWBERRY AND RASPBERRY. 201 



Edgar Queen, Great Pacific, Jewell, Stayman, Jessie, Wilson, and 

 Enhance. 



The past two seasons have been so unfavorable that it would be un- 

 just to pass an opinion on the newer sorts that we are testing. Of the 

 newer sorts, the Lovett did very well for the season and promises well, 

 also Robinson, which I think will make an excellent fertilizer, and 

 the Greenville, which I think has a good future. The Timbrell is 

 overestimated. Of the varieties set this year, the Brandy wine is mak- 

 ing the strongest, healthiest, and most luxuriant growth, with Bissell 

 a close second. Enormous and Cyclone are making a good supply of 

 runners. 



Another point I am frequently asked is how long will a strawberry 

 bed continue in fruiting in paying quantities. This is owing to the 

 season. Under ordinary conditions it should last six or seven years, 

 with proper cultivation. Our first planting consisted of three-fourths 

 of an acre, and we picked our largest crop the seventh season, which 

 brought $275. Before passing the strawberry I wish to caution the 

 inexperienced from setting plants from an old bed. Too many make 

 this mistake in order to economize. 



RASPBERRIES. 



I advise the planting of raspberries in young orchards whenever 

 possible. The trees not only help protect the bushes, but the rasp- 

 berries are beneficial to the trees, occupying considerable waste land 

 in the tree row that would otherwise be vacant. They also bear the 

 expense of cultivating the orchard and protecting the trees from being 

 barked by careless hands. Raspberries have always been a paying 

 crop with us, and are a fine crop this season, the demand far exceeding 

 the supply. 



The red raspberry with us has made a huge failure during the past 

 eight years. They have winter killed to the ground every vvinter, and 

 during this time all the red raspberries picked from one-half acre 

 would not make one good crop. They demand a sheltered place, and 

 then their room is preferable to their company. We have tried the 

 different methods of winter protection, and have found them unsatis- 

 factory as well as expensive. I would also advise setting them closer 

 in the row than we have been accustomed to. We shall plant here- 

 after two by six feet. 

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