160 Commercial Gardening 



are tied together in a bunch, on the principle that union is uprightness. 

 Sometimes the canes are divided, and half from one stool is tied to half 

 of the next stool, on the stand-together-or-fall-together principle. The 

 system of growing Raspberries at Blairgowrie, in Perthshire, is described 

 at p. 35. 



The last two methods have the common disadvantage of bunching 

 the canes together at the top, so that some must have difficulty in develop- 

 ing their fruit spurs. The Scotch plan has the advantage that the 

 canes are tied singly along a wire, each being free to develop, and all being 

 made secure against the brushing and swaying action caused by winds. 



The gentleman's gardener plan of a stake and tie to each stool of 

 canes is discarded on the ground of expense. Some growers cut the 

 canes low enough to render them self-supporting. This can only be 

 done without serious loss of fruit with certain varieties that grow a short 

 stiff cane, such as Carter's Prolific or Steel's Victoria, and, to a less extent, 

 Superlative. 



The cost of canes is about 1 per 1000. The planting will cost about 

 Is. per 1000. The cost of cultivation will be the same as stated above 

 for Currant and Gooseberries. The cost of manure on fairly good ground 

 will be 4 per acre per annum. Pruning costs about 20s. to 25s. per acre. 

 To this must be added the cost of tying if this should be necessary. 



Steel's Victoria. This is a slow-growing variety, requiring good soil 

 and generous treatment, taking four or five years to come into full bear- 

 ing. The fruit is large and conical. It is very early. Some fruit from 

 this variety was sold last summer in Covent Garden at 3s. per pound. 



Superlative produces canes of moderate vigour. The fruit is large 

 and it is very prolific. It is early, but not so early as Steel's, though 

 it comes into bearing quicker. Both this variety and Victoria are table 

 varieties, and are not favoured by jam makers. 



Carter's Prolific. An old variety, with much the same characteristics 

 as the Superlative, but not so good. 



Antwerp Red. The variety most favoured at Blairgowrie. Canes 

 grow with considerable vigour, often attaining 6 ft. in length. A prolific 

 bearer, producing medium -sized fruit. Fine-grained, with small seeds, 

 suitable for jam making. 



Semper Fidelis. Producing strong canes, sometimes 10 ft. in length. 

 Late in fruiting, prolific bearer, fruit acid, firm, medium to large in size, 

 with very small seeds. This variety is the most favoured of all for jam. 

 It is of no use for table fruit. 



The cost of picking is f d. to \d. per pound, according to district. Near 

 to a good centre of population a good deal of the best fruit can be disposed 

 of in punnets on stalk for table, and this will do a good deal to lift the 

 average. Where the only outlet is to the jam maker, the fruit is " slipped " 

 and sent in tubs. 



Of late years the price has come tumbling down, owing to over- 

 production. Before the fever for Raspberry growing at Blairgowrie 



