152 FltUIT GARDEN. 



strongest are left, which are shortened about a third. As 

 the stalks are too weak to stand by themselves, they are 

 sometimes connected together by the points in the manner 

 of arches, so as to antagonize and mutually support each 

 other, and sometimes they are attached to stakes. Perhaps 

 the best support is obtained by fastening the points of the 

 shoots to a slight horizontal rail or bar about four feet high, 

 and placed a foot and a half on the south side of the rows. 

 By this means the bearing shoots are deflected from the 

 perpendicular to the sunny side of the row, and are not 

 shaded by the annual wood. The ground between the rows 

 should be well digged in winter, and kept clean. Fresh plan- 

 tations of raspberries should be made every six or seven years. 

 The double-bearing varieties, which continue to bear during 

 autumn, require light soils and warm situations. It may 

 be mentioned that the crop of any of the varieties may be 

 retarded by breaking off the points of the bearing shoots at 

 an early period in spring ; but, like all other fruits, the 

 flavor of the raspberry is highest when it is allowed to 

 ripen at its natural season. 



Although several varieties of this fruit are found growing 

 wild in the United States, some of which are exceedingly 

 fine flavored, as for example, those abounding in the north- 

 ern states and British provinces, still the best cultivated 

 kinds have been brought from Europe. Nichol enumer- 

 ates twenty-three varieties, among which are the American 

 red and black, the Long Island, the Virginia, the Ohio 

 ever-bearing, and the Pennsylvania. Some of the Ameri- 

 can varieties may be propagated by layers, so as to pro- 

 duce fruit the second year. New kinds of choice qualities 

 from the seed of the best European, often hybridized with 

 native American varieties, are produced in the United 



