1362 THE FKUIT INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK STATE 



PROPAGATION 



Black raspberries are propagated by means of tip-layers, and 

 better plants are secured from two-year-old and three-year-old 

 bushes than from yearlings or from the older plantations. The 

 tips are usually ready for layering about the middle of August, 

 depending on the season, at which time they begin to thicken. 

 The tips take root readily if buried about three inches deep in 

 moist soil. The tips are usually well rooted by the close of the 

 growing season and are transplanted the following spring, sever- 

 ing the cane about six inches from the tip, thus leaving a con- 

 venient handle. 



CULTURE 



The culture of black raspberries is quite similar to that of red 

 raspberries. Strong, healthy plants with a good root system are 

 set, preferably, in the spring. They are set rather shallow, especi- 

 ally in the heavier soils ; or, if set in shallow furrows, should be cov- 

 ered lightly at first to avoid smothering the young buds, gradually 

 filling in during the season as growth develops. The new shoots 

 which start early should not be broken off during the process of 

 setting the plants. 



Black raspberries are set at slightly wider distances than the 

 reds - 7 feet by 3% feet or from five to six feet apart each way. 

 They seldom, if ever, develop suckers. Cultivation is similar to 

 that for red raspberries but should not be deep enough to injure 

 the shallow root-system; a hoed crop may be grown between the 

 rows the first year, and cover crops should be used as with red 

 raspberries. 



Black raspberries require more severe pruning than reds. The 

 old fruiting canes should be removed as soon as the fruit has been 

 harvested. Additional summer pruning consists in stopping the 

 new growth at a height of from twenty-four to thirty inches from 

 the ground by removing or pinching off the succulent tip. This 

 is done the last of June or in July. It will be necessary to go 

 over the plantation several times to stop all the growth at the de- 

 sired height. In the spring, the lateral branches which develop are 

 shortened back from one-third to one-half their growth, depending 

 on vigor and on the variety, and the canes are thinned out to from 

 three to six per hill. 



