48 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Mr. Hopkins: Well. I can tell pretty nearly by figuring a 

 little. 



Pres. Underwood: I would like to extend the thought of Mr. 

 Hopkins in regard to planting close together and then taking 

 them out. It is a good plan where they are grown for market 

 purposes. The last two years we have adopted the plan of 

 doubling the rows; instead of planting them seven feet apart in 

 the first place, we have planted the rows three and a half feet 

 apart and three feet apart in the row. The next j^ear we get our 

 first crop. So far as we have gone, we likethe idea very well. We 

 ought to have a full crop of berries off of ten acres next sum- 

 mer, that being the first crop, and there being double the num- 

 ber of plants to the acre. Then we will plow up one row after 

 next summer's fruiting and thin them out. The vines occupy 

 the ground, and I like that better than planting some other 

 crop between the rows. However, that is an experiment that 

 has not been fully worked out to the end, and it may be that 

 it will not be satisfactory, although it looks as if it would be 

 now. 



Mr. Elliot in looking our plants over this summer suggested 

 to me a good idea, and that was in planting black raspber- 

 ries, if one could get the plants cheap enough — and, if they are 

 bought in quantity, it seems as though they might be had cheap 

 enough — and that was to put in two plants to the hill, so as to 

 insure against possible loss. It is always best to have the ground 

 occupied, and if there is a missing hill — as is frequently the 

 case — there is just that much ground wasted. If you put in 

 two plants to the hill, you are almost sure of one growing . I 

 don't know yet how it will work, although we shall try it nex t 

 year. I told Mr. Elliot it was an excellent argument in the in- 

 terest of the nurserymen who had plants to sell. 



Mr. West: How cheap should we get them? 



Pres. Underwood: It depends upon the quantity you buy . 

 Market gardeners buy them in large quantities, and, of course, 

 get them very much cheaper than if bought in 50 or 100 lots. 

 The price varies from S3. 00 to 815.00 per thousand. 



Mr. E. J. Cutts: Mr. E. P. Roe recommended that plan fifteen 

 years ago, and I have followed it. 



Mr. Harris: There is one other advantage in close planting, 

 you get a full crop the first year. You get better raspberries 

 from those young plants, larger berries, more juicy and better 

 looking. The first crop will give you a better quality of fruit 

 than any you get in succeeding years. 



