THE RASPBEKRY AND BLACKBERRY. 257 



mulching is imperatively needed. After mulching, the 

 narrow space between the covering is cultivated to con- 

 serve moisture and keep the soil mellow. If this system* 

 of mulching is kept up and worked into the soil no other 

 fertilizing will be needed. But if not mulched, and clean 

 culture is given, barnyard manure must be applied as with 

 the grape. 



249. Winter Protection. The usual way given in our 

 American fruit-books to lay down the raspberry and black- 

 berry, is to commence at one end of the row and lay down 

 the canes all in one direction in the line of the row. But 

 where laying down is necessary a much better plan is now 

 practised. The rows are laid out east and west and the 

 plants are turned to the north. A deep furrow is turned 

 away from the row on the north side, running the plow as 

 close to the stools as possible. The assistant prepares a 

 cavity in the furrow and the operator crowds over the tops, 

 while with his foot he crowds the crowns toward the open 

 furrow to lessen the bend as the tops are crowded north 

 into the opened cavity, where they are covered with the 

 earth taken out for the reception of the next lot of cane?. 

 With some practice in using the fork and pressing with 

 the foot, few canes are broken and the work progresses 

 rapidly. The assistant who covers, soon finds that some 

 straw or litter over the canes, before the earth is thrown 

 on, helps in holding down the canes. In the spring the 

 vines are raised with a round-tined fork. When raised, it 

 will be found that they will not regain the upright posi- 

 tion. Some of them partly broken will remain nearly 

 horizontal and in the way of cultivation. This is provided 

 for by a wire resting on open iron hooks driven in small 

 low posts close to the row on the north side. In the fall, 

 prior to covering, the wire is dropped down and the vines 

 .rest on it. In the spring, as the canes are taken up, the 



