REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF GARDENS AND GROUNDS. 23 
RASPBERRIES. 
Many of the apparent discrepancies in the results ef raspberry cul- 
ture, and the conflicting opinions upon the merits of varieties, arises 
from a want of a thorough discrimination of the species from which they 
have been obtained, anil the special treatment that they respectively 
require. 
Taking the Philadelphia as a type of our native species, we have a 
plant that has proved healthy and productive, almost without excep- 
tion, wherever it has been planted, and therefore it has become some- 
what popular, although, when compared with varieties of the foreign 
species, the fruit is inferior in size, quality, and appearance, affording 
another instance where vigor of growth and productiveness give a su- 
perlative value, even when the quality of fruit is decidedly inferior, as 
exemplified by the Albany Seedling among strawberries and the Con- 
cord among native grapes. 
Taking the Red Antwerp as an example of the foreign varieties of the 
“raspberry, we find a vast difference in the opinions of cultivators with 
regard to its success. In some localities it is highly extolled, while in 
many others it is as decided)y condemned. That there are good rea- 
sons for these opposite opinions there can be no doubt, and observa- 
tions prove that failures are caused by the great heat and dryness of 
our climate during summer, which arrests the growth of the plants and 
prevents their proper maturity. : 
The measure of success attending the culture of the foreign varieties 
of the raspberry depending so much upon a proper degree of moisture, 
it is evident that in light sandy and gravelly soils failures will be the 
rule; when planted in more retentive and clayey soils, growth will be 
more continuous and a heaithier vegetation be secured. 
Keeping these facts in view, thé special treatment required to meet 
the various influences of particular soils and localities will readily be 
suggested. 
With regard to localities, it would appear that in the Southern States, 
where the weather ts dry and warm during the latter portion of sum- 
mer, these varieties will be wnfitted to the climate, and only productive 
uuder the constant attention to such culture as tends to modify these 
antagonistic conditions to success; and experience fully bears out. this 
conclusion. Again, in regard to soils, where it is unavoidable to plant 
on dry soils, the whole of the surface surrounding the plants should 
receive a heavy mulching during summer. Where this is persistently 
practiced, remunerative crops may be produced even in southern local- 
ities. 
On clay soils, provided they are properly drained, surface-stirring, so 
as to keep a loose, comminuted surface; mulching may be dispensed 
with, but even on these soils it may prove of great advantage in the 
dryest seasons to spread a thin coating of leaves or strawy manure over 
the roots of the plants. The special object to keep in view is that of 
constantly maintaining the soil in a condition that will encourage growth 
during summer, and secure the unchecked maturity of the canes for 
fruiting the following year. Covering the canes during winter, although 
a wise precaution, and profitable always, will not in itself secure a crop 
of fruit from unripened weod; hence those who depend altogether upon 
the covering process, are frequently subjected to disappointments. 
; WILLIAM SAUNDERS, 
Superintendent of Gardens and Grounds. 
Hon. HoRACE CAPRON, 
Commissioner. 
