CHAPTER IX. 



THE RASPBERRY. 



Propagation. Most varieties are increased with great 

 facility by suckers ; a few, as the American Black and 

 American White, are propagated readily by layers, the tips 

 of the recurved branches when slightly buried, soon taking 

 root. New varieties are raised from seeds, and come into 

 bearing the second year. 



The soil for the raspberry should be rich and approaching 

 moist, and an admixture of swamp muck is useful. A strong 

 deep loam, is the only soil from which a full crop may be 

 expected every season. If sandy or gravelly, or a stiff, cold 

 clay, it cannot be relied upon. But the most important 

 requisite is depth, only to be attained by deep trenching, 

 and which will go far towards affording a remedy for any 

 natural defect of the soil. The most tender varieties, as the 

 White Antwerp, may be raised on higher, drier and firmer 

 spots of ground, being there less liable to severe frosts in 

 cases where winter covering cannot be applied. 



The culture is simple. It consists in pruning each spring, 

 keeping all weeds and grass well cleared away from the 

 stems, and the soil mellow and clean by cultivation. 



The pruning should be done early in spring. It consists 

 in cutting out all but the last year's growth, together with 

 all the smaller shoots, even with the ground, leaving only 

 five or six of the last summer's canes for future bearing. 

 These are to be cut off three or four feet high, and neatly 

 tied together, using a stake to stiffen them if necessary. In 

 tying, they should be allowed to spread slightly at the top, 

 in the form of a wine glass. The distance asunder should 

 be about four feet. 



