RASPBERRIES PROPA GA TING PLANTING. 207 



Those issuing from tho creeping mots, and at a distance from the rootstook, are the best, 

 as they lift with abundance of fibres, and are well furnished with buds on the under- 

 ground part of the stem for pushing stout suckers the following season. These are the 

 kind of offsets sold by nurserymen, who strive more after a number of well-rooted, 

 moderately vigorous than strong and sparsely rooted canes. 



Offsets or suckers springing at such distance from the parent plant as to admit of 

 their being detached at the proper time, with abundance of fibrous roots, are the only 

 canes, likely to transplant well and come into early and profitable bearing. These, care- 

 fully lifted and planted early in the autumn, will produce some fruit the following year, 

 but the canes must be shortened, the strong to 2 feet and the medium 12 to 18 inches. 

 Those, too small to bear, though well rooted, should be cut down to the ground. When 

 the canes have to be sent a distance, the roots must be exposed as little as possible to 

 the air and be packed in damp material. 



Planting. This should be done as soon as possible after the leaves have fallen, for 

 the soil is then warm and the plants commence rooting at once. It may, however, be 

 carried out in mild weather during the winter, and until the plants commence growth 

 in the spring. Cut away any damaged roots to sound parts, and let them be spread out 

 to their full length. Place good soil under and above them, firming it well. As the 

 tendency of the crown is to rise, the rootstock buds should be covered about 3 inches 

 deep and never less than they were before removal. Where the soil is heavy or thin, 

 the plants may be placed on the surface, and good soil taken from the intervening spaces 

 used for covering the roots, forming a flat-topped low mound. This will give the 

 plants a start ; tho stubborn soil can be ameliorated by exposure to the weather, and 

 permanently improved by adding opening materials. Fine soil or compost should be 

 used for planting in, as rough is not favourable to root formation, and a mulch of short 

 manure around every plant or stool is highly desirable Stake the canes after planting 

 to prevent their swaying about, for this moves the roots and hinders them from getting 

 established. Short canes will not need stakes, and in large cultures long canes are 

 shortened at planting. 



PRUNING AND TRAINING. 



It is not advisable to prune immediately after planting, but defer it until February. 

 If the weather has been moderately mild, and the planting is completed eaily, root 

 action will by that time have commenced and the buds be moving; then, or soon after, 



