CHAPTER XIX. 



RASPBERRIES — SPECIES, HISTORY, PROPAGATION, ETC. 



T HAVE given the greater part of this volume to the sub- 

 -^ ject of strawberries, not only because it is the most 

 popular fruit, but also for the reason that the principles of 

 thorough preparation of the soil, drainage, culture, &c., ap- 

 ply equally to the other small fruits. Those who have fol- 

 lowed me carefully thus far can soon master the conditions 

 of success which apply to the fruits still to be treated. I 

 shall now consider a fruit which is only second in value, 

 and, by many, even preferred to all the others. 



Like the strawberry, the raspberry is well connected, since 

 it, also, belongs to the Rose family. It has a perennial root, 

 producing biennial woody stems that reach a height of from 

 three to six feet. Varieties, however, differ greatly in this 

 respect. Usually, the stems or canes do not bear until the 

 second year, and that season ends their life, their place be- 

 ing taken by a new growth from the root. The flowers are 

 white or red, very unobtrusive, and rich in sweetness. The 

 discriminating bees forsake most other flowers while the 

 raspberry blossoms last. The pistils on the convex recep- 

 tacle mature into a collection of small drupes, or stone 

 fruits, of the same character as the cherry, plum, etc., and 

 the seeds within the drupes are miniature pits. These 

 drupes adhere together, forming round or conical caps, 

 which will drop from the receptable when over-ripe. I 



