FRUIT CULTURE. 841 



will be worth, but it pays in the end to keep the vines entirely free from both weeds and 

 grass. There is a great difference in varieties, both as to the quality of the fruit and the 

 bearing qualities of the vines; some varieties are small with thin flesh, while others are large 

 with thick flesh, the last-named being the most desirable. No large plantation should 

 be set without a positive certainty that the vines that are set are abundant bearers; for 

 while some varieties produce more than three bushels to the rod, others do not produce as 

 many quarts. If one can do so, it is always best to select vines by a personal examination 

 when the fruit is on them, and not depend on the recommendation of any one. 



Gathering. Cranberries, when grown extensively, are generally gathered with a fine 

 rake, or a raking machine made for the purpose, a, single man being able to gather thirty 

 bushels or more in a day, when the vines are in full bearing. Some of the berries are apt to 

 be injured, however, by this process, by coming in contact with the teeth of the rake, but 

 when the berries are to be used in a short time, this is no serious objection. When the berries 

 are to be kept until the following spring or summer, they should be picked by hand, as the 

 bruising from the rake will cause them to decay. They will then keep for months in a dark 

 place, as cold as possible without freezing. 



Mulberries. The mulberry tree is not cultivated very extensively in this country, but it 

 is really quite an acquisition to our summer fruits, and is well worthy a place in every garden. 

 The fruit resembles the blackberry in appearance, but is less tart, and has l^ss pronounced 

 flavor. It is used the same as blackberries and raspberries are. It ripens in July, very soon 

 after the cherry season is passed, the fruit easily dropping upon the ground when fully 

 ripe. &quot;With some varieties the tree grows very rapidly, bearing when two years old, and 

 often attaining a height of forty-five or fifty feet. On account of the fruit dropping as soon 

 as ripe, a clean, short grass turf is generally kept under the trees, so that the fruit may be 

 easily picked up uninjured. The principal varieties are the RUSSIAN, a fine hardy variety, 

 berries sweet with sub-acid taste, and fine flavor, black or reddish white when fully ripe; the 

 BLACK or ENGLISH variety is of slow growth that seldom attains a height of more than fifteen 

 feet; it is, however, very long lived, specimens being found in England that are said to be 300 

 or more years old. The fruit is large and fine, but the tree is not as hardy as some varieties, 

 and will not well endure the cold winters of a region north of the State of New York. The 

 EVERBEARING originated from the seed of the Multicaulis, and is a fine, hardy variety; fruit 

 an inch and a quarter in length, and nearly half an inch in diameter, qolor blue-black at full 

 maturity. It continues bearing a long time. JOHNSON S SEEDLING is also a fine, hardy variety. 



Cultivation, etc. The mulberry is very easily propagated from cuttings, and thrives 

 best in a rich, sandy loam. The tree requires little or no pruning, and is easily cultivated. 

 The cuttings are usually about three feet in length, planted about half their length in the soil 

 in the spring. 



