CARE OF HOME-GROWN FRUITS. 471 



ries become covered with this whitish mould,and the flavor is ruined. 

 The old proverb applies here, that "an ounce of prevention is worth 

 a pound of cure." The treatment should be preventative by giving- 

 the bushes plenty of room. It is better not to plant gooseberries 

 with other bushes, as they prevent free circulation of air, which is all 

 important. Thorough cultivation will assist in keeping the bushes 

 in a healthy condition. There are several hardy varieties. "Indus- 

 try" has proved satisfactory during the past three years with us. 



Raspberries are easily propagated by layering and root cuttings. 

 The red varieties send up shoots from the roots, and these with a 

 moderate amount of roots may be transplanted. This may be done 

 in the fall or spring. The land should be rich and thoroughly cul- 

 tivated. Set the plants three feet apart in rows six feet apart. Keep 

 the weeds down by thorough cultivation and allow no more than 

 four or five shoots to grow. The second season these will produce 

 fruit, and should then be cut out as soon as the fruit has been 

 gathered, and the new shoots, which will fruit the next season, 

 thinned out. Remove all other shoots by pinching them off. 



The blackcap raspberries are propagated by layering, which is 

 done in August by laying the ends of the branches on the ground 

 and covering with several shovelfuls of earth; they will root before 

 cold weather comes on. In the spring cut off a piece of cane with 

 the roots, transplant and cultivate as with the red variety. 



In most sections of the state, winter protection is necessary, which 

 may be given by laying down the canes. Gather the canes together 

 and bend towards the ground, at the same time pressing with the foot 

 at the base of the canes. Cover the tips with a shovelful of earth to 

 keep them down. Lay all the canes down in this manner, in a row. 

 With a wide plow turn a furrow on each side, throwing the dirt over 

 the canes. 



Methods of cultivating other fruits will readily suggest themselves, 

 and when an interest is aroused, farmers will arrive at the conclusion 

 that the cultivation of fruit is as important as that of wheat. 



We are reminded of the story of the farmer that owned a large 

 farm and didn't devote any of it to fruit, who once upon a time took 

 tea at a neighbor's. He asked for a second dish of berries and de- 

 clared with the same breath that fruit raising did not pay, 



"Precept is better than example." 



"The proof of the pudding is in the eating." 



The process of orchard cultivation is not difficult. Tools used 

 may be disk harrow, spring tooth harrow, or any of the implements 

 found on almost any farm. If the spring is dry, plow with an ordi- 

 nary breaking plow, then go over the ground with a disk harrow. 

 For later cultivation a spring tooth harrow is probably the most 

 desirable. Carry cultivation as near the trunk of the tree as possi- 

 ble. Care must be exercised in working under overhanging tops, as 

 much damage may be done the fruit. After heavy rains the surface 

 should be broken up with a smoothing harrow. If the rains have 

 been very heavy it may be necessary to use a disk for this purpose. 

 In seasons where rainfall is abundant it will be sufficient to keep 

 the orchard free from weeds. 



