30 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



not too close to permit intervals of open skj' and sunshine. The 

 varieties most commonlj' g-rown at the present time and that are 

 proving- the best adapted to this region and climate, are of two dis- 

 tinct species, the Rubus Strigosus, to which belong- the fed- 

 fruited, and Rubus Occidentalis, or the black familj'. The best va- 

 rieties of each will be noted later on. 



There is a verj- marked difference in the habits of growth and 

 methods of propagating the two species. The red varieties usuallj- 

 throw up suckers from the roots in sufficient abundance for all 

 practical purposes, and these young canes taken from between the 

 hills and rows are usually the plants of commerce and the means 

 used for extending our plantations. 



The blackcap varieties are increased or propagated almost en- 

 tirely* from layers of the tips. The canes of this species generallj* 

 grow strong and stockj* at the base, gradually becoming slender, 

 and the ends bend down to ground and take root, thus forming a 

 natural lajer. The extreme point of cane after entering the ground 

 turns up, forming a large bud from which the cane for the next sea- 

 sou is produced. Occasionally more than one plant will be produced 

 upon a single cane, because after the extreme end has taken root, 

 side shoots will put out, and being but a short distance from the 

 earth soon reach it and form well rooted plants. It is sometimes 

 necessary to go over the plantation and assist nature by covering 

 the tips of the canes to ensure their taking root, especially so with 

 buds after the first year, or in places where the wind is constantly 

 shifting them about. All that is necessarj- is to throw a small 

 quantitj- of soil on the top of each cane. The time for performing 

 this operation varies with the different seasons, soils, and localities, 

 but is generally from the 20th of August to the middle of September; 

 but care should be taken not to cover too earlj- or too late; if too 

 earl}-, the plant is not sufficientlj' ripened and the end will rot and no 

 plant will be produced. The canes at the right time will usually 

 show indications of becoming rooted, such as a slight enlargement 

 near the end and a cessation of growth. 



The roots will continue to grow until the ground is frozen, and it 

 is better to let them remain until the next spring before taking them 

 up for setting. 



Where plantations are large enough to admit of the use of a horse 

 in cultivating, we like to give the plants plentj- of room, and, there- 

 fore, advise planting the rows of the red five or six feet apart and 

 the blacks seven or eight feet To prevent the loss of so much 

 ground, some other crop may be grown between the rows the first 

 season, such as beans, potatoes or cabbage, any one of which is better 

 than corn. The plants in the rows maj' be set from three to four 

 feet apart, and of the red varieties two or three plants may be set in 

 one hill. The red varieties will do just as well to be set in the fall, 

 provided thej- are covered through tlie winter with a mound of eartli 

 or some other material, or the plants may be dug in the fall and 

 wintered by heeling in or burj-ing for earlj- spring setting. But we 

 think it is better and safer to set the blackcap in the spring, taking 

 the plants up fresh as the operation goes on. 



