SUGGESTIVE EXPERIENCES. 329 



and the runners are allowed to strike. The third spring, wood- 

 ashes are applied ; and after fruiting the plants are turned 

 under. No winter protection is given to the plants, unless you 

 except the top-dressing of manures ; but this is sometimes not 

 applied till spring, and I observe no appreciable difference 

 between the plants with and those without it. What I do ob- 

 serve is that an early winter, and plenty of snow, kills fewer plants 

 than a winter in which the snow-falls have been delayed till 

 after frosts and rains. 



" Strawberries begin to ripen with us about the 28th of June, 

 and raspberries about the 15th of July. With the above treat- 

 ment, I have grown Wilsons and Cheneys at the rate of 11,000 

 quarts, or 344 bushels, to the acre. 



" RASPBERRIES. 



" I prefer fall planting, which may be done as late as they can 

 be put in. I have set them the last day of October, without los- 

 ing one. I plant them four feet apart, but five would be better, 

 and tie the canes, when grown, to stakes four and a half feet 

 high.i Sometimes I have laid them down, and sometimes 

 have tied up the young canes to the stakes in the fall, and I find 

 but little difference. They always bear, and are never winter- 

 killed. 



" As to blackberries, I have but little experience. That black- 

 berries will succeed here, some canes I saw 15th August, in a 

 friend's garden, some two miles from my house, afford ample 

 proof. They were loaded with clusters of magnificent, large, 

 luscious fruit, and were equally prolific last year. My friend 

 told me he was obliged to give them very warm protection ; lit- 

 erally bury them in straw and earth. 



" Red and black currants grow well with us, under ordinary 

 treatment. Gooseberries, however, are liable to mildew ; that is, 

 the EngHsh varieties. The native and hybrids, of course, are 

 safe enough. Still, under some conditions, I have seen the 



^ " The following fall, of course ; when planted, the canes are cut 

 back, so as to be only six inches above ground." 



