128 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



THE COMMERCIAL RASPBERRY FIELD. 



HENRY HAGGARD, EXCELSIOR. 



I assume that the purpose of every grower of raspberries on a 

 large scale for mafket is to obtain the largest possible returns 

 at the least possible cost. The extremely low prices of the past 

 two years make it imperatively necessary that we reduce the 

 cost of production. It is also very important that the fruit be of 

 good quality and be put upon the market in good condition, so 

 as to obtain the highest market price, as a difference of twenty- 

 five cents a case may make the difference between a profit and 

 a loss. In times of high prices, berries of almost any kind sell 

 at a profit, but in times of depressed markets, such as we have 

 just passed through, inferior berries are produced at a loss. 



The following is not in all respects what I have done with my 

 raspberry field, but is what my somewhat limited experience has 

 taught me to think is a good plan for planting and managing a 

 commercial raspberry field. 



First, I would choose a plat of ground with just sufficient 

 slope to insure drainage and admit of cultivation soon after 

 rains, but I would not choose a hillside, first, because if the land 

 was cultivated directly up and down the hill there would be a 

 rapid loss of soil by washing during rains, and, second, if the 

 rows were at right angles to the slope of the hill there would still 

 be some washing, as the earth would work down the hill and 

 ridge up against the upper side of the row, and work away from 

 the lower side of the row, so that in a few years you would have 

 a succession of terraces with your raspberries on the edge of 

 each terrace with roots exposed on the lower side. 



I think a north slope is best, though good berries are grown 

 on all slopes. My reasons for preferring a north slope are, first, 

 the plants are less liable to winter kill ; second, evaporation is less 

 rapid and the sun's rays are not so direct, thus insuring coolness 

 and moist soil, two very essential factors. 



I would prefer land with a clay subsoil, if not new land, and 

 would enrich it with barnyard manure before planting. 



I would plow deep and pulverize thoroughly. The field is 

 to last many years, and a failure to do the preparatory work right 

 cannot easily be remedied and is often the cause of dishearten- 

 ing failures year after year for a long series of years. 



Next, I would be very careful to get good, thrifty plants with 

 good roots from a healthy two-year old field, rejecting all inferior 

 ones. 



