CHAP. XI 11 VILLA GARDENING 305 



a well-draiued deep loam to do it well. If the soil is not deep 

 it will be a good plan to throw it up into a ridge and plant on 

 the rids;e. 



CHAPTER XIII 



The Raspberry. — The Raspberry renews itself from its base 

 annually, and, Ijesides the shoots wliieh spring directly from the 

 crown, it sends forth on all sides underground stems which cast oft" 

 suckers that are commonly used for increase of stock ; but only 

 enough of these suckers to meet requirements should be per- 

 mitted to remain, as they have an exhausting tendency. With 

 an established plantation the usual plan is to hoe up all suckers 

 except those near the lines of plants, and only a limited num- 

 ber of these should be left. Raspberries may be raised from 

 seeds, and it is best to sow in pans in a frame, and transplant 

 when large enough. Few people give any attention to this matter, 

 but it is worth some consideration, as the Raspberry, like all other 

 fruits, is capable of improvement. To save seeds select the finest 

 fruits, and separate the seeds from the jmlp by squeezing and 

 washing. Dry them in the air in a cool room, and place in a 

 drawer till ]\Iarch, and then sow in a gentle warmth in frame. 

 Raspberries treated in this way soon bear fruit ; there is no long 

 period of waiting to know results. 



Soil and Situation. — The position of the Raspberry quarter 

 should be cool and moist, and this being an indigenous fruit, 

 growing wild in woodland districts, seems to suggest the in- 

 ference that partial shade is desirable. But though as a matter 

 of fact they will grow in the shade of (.)ther plants or trees, 

 the best results are obtained where nothing overhangs, and they 

 will not fruit freely unless they receive plenty of light and air. 



New Plantations. — These may be made any time during 

 autunm and winter, but the suckers or the young plants should 

 be lifted from the old plantation and be laid in till opportunity 

 serves to plant them, and this should not be later than the 

 first week in March. In the meantime the ground should be 

 well prepared by trenching, digging in plenty of manure, for 

 Raspberries are gross feeders, and the question of manure is an 

 important one on dry porous soils. It will be an advantage, 

 if Raspberries must be planted in a dry porous soil, to prepare 

 trenches or lines by digging in a larger quantity of manure 

 along the site of the rows, adding some clay or heavy loam if 

 it can be obtained. 



X 



