306 VILLA GARDENING part hi 



Tkaining. — The best way is to plant iu rows 6 feet apart, 

 and from 1 to 2 feet apart in the rows, according to the strength 

 of the phints. The first year the phmts should be cut down to 

 1 foot. If the canes were strong a light crop will be obtained 

 the first year, and a better one the second year, and the third 

 the plantation will be at its best. They will require no train- 

 ing the first year, but the second a number of short stakes 

 should be driven in 10 feet apart, and 4| above ground. A 

 couple of wires should be strained from end to end of the rows, 

 and secured by nails or small staples to each stake. The upper 

 wii-e will nui along the top of the stakes, and the lower one about 

 halfway up. To these wires the canes will be tied with bits of 

 the Golden Willow, and be shortened back within an inch or two 

 of the top wire. There are other ways of training ; but the most 

 wasteful one, I think, is the old-fashioned i)lan of tying the canes 

 in a bundle with a stake in the midst. But those who cannot 

 obtain stakes may obtain a fair crop without any training. The 

 field crops are mostly grown so. The rows should be planted 4 

 feet apart, and the canes be pruned back to 3 feet. In the course 

 of a year or two after this system is adopted, if the young canes 

 are well thinned out in summer, they will acquire such strength 

 as to be virtually self-supporting. Another way is to leave the 

 canes the full length, and form them into arches by reaching the 

 canes from opposite stools till they meet, and are secured in the 

 centre, forming an arch. In windy districts they are occasionally 

 dislodged, but on the whole fair results are obtained. 



Top-dressing and Watering. — There should be no digging 

 in the ordinary meaning of the term among Raspberries. The 

 surface should be stirred up with a fork in March, to correct its 

 acidity and closeness ; and as soon as the dry weather sets in, early 

 in June, top-dress with maum-e, and give an occasional watering 

 to help to swell oft' the fruit to a good size. Watering adds size 

 and weight to the fmit, though it does not impi'ove the flavour of 

 ripening fruit. Raspberries will live and bear fruit for a consider- 

 able number of years iu one position, but I have never yet 

 known an instance where it did not pay to transj^lant at least 

 every ten years, and, in some instances, it has been advantageous 

 to move at shorter intervals. When moved frequently there is no 

 cessation of fruit bearing. It is only when they remain too long 

 in one place that a new plantation takes several years to establish 

 itself. In moving Raspberries at frequent intervals they are 

 taken up and moved to the place assigned. The canes are thinned 

 out and shortened to 2 feet, which will permit of a good crop 

 being gathered the first year, and leave plenty of sm-plus strength 



