chap, vn.] RASPBERRIES. 203 



the strongest shoots in autumn, or early in 

 spring, and planted in rich soil. The cuttings 

 are srenerallv about a foot Ions;; and all the 

 buds are taken off except five or six at the 

 top : the cutting is then firmly inserted in the 

 soil about six inches deep. No other care is 

 required but pruning the young trees every 

 year. The currant bears on spurs of the old 

 and new wood; and, as currant trees when 

 pruned are generally cut in to these spurs, a 

 currant bush after its winter pruning looks like 

 a worthless knotted stump, fit only for the fire. 

 The currant is very hardy, and will grow in 

 any soil or situation, even under the drip of 

 trees. In open situations and rich soils, cur- 

 rants have been grown to a very large size ; 

 but not proportionately large to gooseberries. 

 The red, white, and striped currants are varie- 

 ties of the same species ; but the black is 

 another species. All belong to the same genus 

 as the gooseberry. 



Raspberries thrive best in a light free loam, 

 moderately rich ; and in an open situation. 

 They always bear on the young shoots, so 

 that the principal art required in pruning them 

 consists in cutting out the old wood, and short- 

 ening the vouns 1 . The height at which the 

 bearing shoots should be left is three or four 

 feet. The best raspberries are: the Red and 

 Yellow Antwerp; the Fastolff; and the New 

 Victoria. Raspberries are propagated by 

 suckers, which are produced in great abund- 

 ance every year. The raspberry belongs to the 

 same o-enus as the bramble or blackberry. 



Berberries. — No fruit tree or shrub requires 



