210 SCTCESS WITH SMALL FRUITS, 



muck with lime can be used alternate years, so as to give 

 variety of plant food, and a plantation thus sustained can be 

 kept twenty years or more \ but under the usual culture, 

 vigor begins to fail after the eighth or tenth season. The 

 first tendency of most varieties of newly set red raspberries 

 is to sucker immoderately ; but this gradually declines, even 

 with the most rampant, and under good culture the fruit- 

 ing qualities improve. 



In dry weather the fork should not be used during the 

 growing or bearing season. The turning down of a stratum 

 of dry, hot soil next to the roots must cause a sudden check 

 and injury from which only a soaking rain can bring full 

 relief. But in moist weather, and periods preceding and 

 following the blossoming and fruiting season, I have often 

 used the fork to advantage, especially if there is a sod of 

 short, succulent weeds to be turned under as a green crop. 

 If the ground between the hills was stirred frequently with 

 an iron garden-rake, the weeds would not have a chance to 

 start. This is by far the best and cheapest way of maintain- 

 ing our part in the unceasing conflict with vegetable evil. 

 An Irish bull hits the truth exactly : the best way to fight 

 weeds is to have none to fight ; and raking the ground over 

 on a sunny day, about once a week, destroys them when 

 they are as yet but germinating seeds. At the same time it 

 opens the pores of the earth, as a physiologist might express 

 himself. Unfailing moisture is maintained, air, light, and 

 heat are introduced to the roots in accordance with Na- 

 ture's taste, and the whole strength of the mellow soil goes 

 to produce only that which is useful. But this teaching is 

 like the familiar and sound advice, " Form no bad hab- 

 its." We do form them ; the weeds do get the start of 

 us ; and therefore, as a practical fact, the old moral and 

 physical struggle must go on until the end of. time. 



