RAP 



496 



R AS 



thin. It has been cultivated for a great 

 length of years on the continent, and 

 for about thirty years in this country ; 

 but only by one person, as far as Mr. 

 Dickson is aware. 



Time of Sowing. It is propagated by 

 seed, which, for the main crop, may be 

 sown from the middle of July to the 

 end of August, or even later.. These 

 will supply the table until April ; and 

 if wanted throughout the year, a little 

 may be sown in the latter end of Octo- 

 ber, the plants from which vvill be fit 

 for use, if they succeed during April 

 and May : the last crop to be inserted 

 from the middle of January to the mid- 

 dle of February, which will come in at 

 the end of May and during June. On 

 a north border, and if the soil is sandy 

 and moist, it is possible to have them 

 sweet and tender during the whole 

 summer, to effect which the seed must 

 be sown at the close of March and May. 



Cultivation is the same as turnips. In 

 dry weather the beds must be watered 

 regularly until the plants have got three 

 or four leaves. 



Soil. — One great advantage attending 

 the cultivation of this vegetable is, that 

 it requires no manure. Any soil that is 

 poor and light, especially if sandy, is 

 suitable to it. In rich manured earth it 

 grows much larger, but not so sweet 

 and good. 



To obtain seed. — Mr. Dickson recom- 

 mends, in February or March, some of 

 the finest roots to be transplanted to 

 two feet asunder; but it would perhaps 

 be a better practice to leave them where 

 grown. The ground is to be hoed re- 

 peatedly, and kept clear of weeds. The 

 seed must be cut as soon as ripe, and 

 treated as directed for turnips, &c. 



RAPHANUS. Three species. Har- 

 dy annuals, except R. landra, which is 

 an herbaceous perennial. Seed. Rich 

 mould. See Radish. 



RAPHIOLEPIS. Four species. 

 Half-hardy evergreen shrubs. Cuttings. 

 Loam, peat, and sand. 



RASPAILIA microphylla. Green- 

 house evergreen shrub. Young cuttings. 

 Sandy peat. 



RASPBERRY. Rubus idaus. 



Best Varieties. — Red. — Fastolff, or 

 Bee-hive, Franconia, Antwerp, red ; 

 Barnet ; Cornish; Double-bearing, and 

 Gennessee. 



Yellow. — Antwerp, yellow; Cox's 

 Honey; Old white. 



The Fastolff (Fig. 142) has been " re- 

 cently received from England, where 

 it was raised or discovered near the 

 castle of that name. It has produced 

 fruit at Philadelphia the two past sea- 

 sons, and quite equals its transatlantic 

 character, which is higher than that of 

 any of its tribe. The fruit is large, deep 

 red, inclining to purple, well flavoured, 

 and yielded longer than usual. Such was 

 the description written before the fruit 

 of the present year (1846) had matured ; 

 another season's observation has con- 

 firmed it. The annexed drawing, ac- 

 curately copied from nature, has been 

 supplied by Doctor William D. Brinckle. 

 The plants are yet scarce, and conse- 

 quently higher priced than the old va- 

 rieties ; but from its adaptation to our 

 climate, it will, it is hoped, be speedily 

 increased, and widely distributed — so 

 valuable an acquisition one could desire 

 to see domesticated in every garden in 

 the land." — Rural Reg. 



The Franconia was " imported from 

 France some years since; it is hardy, 

 fruitful, and may be safely recommend- 

 ed as in all respects desirable. This is, 

 perhaps, taking all its merits into ac- 

 count, next in value to the Fastolff'." 

 — Rural Reg. 



Propagation by Seed. — New varieties 

 are easily raised from seed. Wash 

 away the pulp from some of the finest 

 thoroughly ripe fruit, dry the seed, and 

 sow it the same autumn in a dry border, 

 giving it the shelter of a frame through 

 the winter. Trim and plant out the 

 seedlings to remain in the autumn fol- 

 lowing, and they will bear in the suc- 

 ceeding summer. 



By Suckers. — These spring from the 

 root annually, and grow from three to 

 five feet in height the same year, form- 

 ing plants by autumn or winter for 

 transplanting, to bear fi uit the following 

 summer. 



Planting maybe done any time from 

 October till March, the earlier the bet- 

 ter, in open weather. Raise the plants 

 carefully with plenty of fibres; shorten 

 any long straggling root; and cut off 

 any naked woody part of the root of 

 the old stool, observing at the same 

 time, if one or more buds appear near 

 the root, they, being the embryo of 

 future shoots, must be very carefully 

 preserved ; and shorten each sucker at 

 top to about three or more feet long, 

 according to their strength — they are 



