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Predicting the future of raspberry growing in Massachusetts is 

 about as certain as predicting the weather years in advance. However, 

 there are some practices, some results of research and some trends that 

 point to a better future for the raspberry grower in Massachusetts. 



First is the control of virus troubles. For several years. Dr. R. 

 H. Converse of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture has been working on the 

 raspberry virus problem. By persistent search and special methods, he 

 has collect 28 varieties of red raspberries free of virus. At present, 

 only a small supply of a few of these varieties has been distributed to 

 nurseries for multiplication and distribution. Very few growers will 

 be able to get these superior stocks in 1964, but in a year or two after 

 the supply has been built up in nurseries, plants of most desirable var- 

 ieties should be available. The problem of keeping the^e superior stocks 

 virus free in commercial plantings has not been solved, but the grower 

 will be able to start a planting with far better plants than have been 

 available for a long time. 



The problem of cold injury will not be solved but may be somewhat 

 alleviated by the use of virus free plants. The cold resistance of vi- 

 rus free compared with virus infected plants will have to be determined 

 by research, but one would expect healthy plants to stand more cold 

 than sick ones. 



The use of chemical weed control is a promising method for reduc- 

 ing the requirements for labor and thus the cost of production. Spec. 

 Cir. 215 of the Massachusetts Agr. Extension service gives the details 

 for the chemical weeding of raspberries. 



With the increase in the overall prosperity of the country, the 

 problem of obtaining pickers becomes increasingly difficult. Some of 

 the Massachusetts growers have solved this by adopting the "pick-your- 

 own" system of marketing. This system not only eliminates the necess- 

 ity for obtaining pickers, but it solves one of the worst marketing 

 problems, getting the fruit into the hands of the consumer in good con- 

 dition. 



There is a development which gives promise of assisting in getting 

 raspberries to market in good condition. A chemical, dihydroacetic 

 acid, has been used to retard the growth of molds on berries. It does 

 not eliminate mold but slows its growth so that the fruit has a much ^ 

 better chance of reaching the consumer in good condition. This chemi- 

 cal could be helpful where berries are marketed at a roadside stand. 



It is very unlikely that any sizeable raspberry industry will de- 

 velop again in Massachusetts. However, for the grower who has a favor- 

 able locatjon near even one of the smaller centers of population, the 

 prospects for successfully handling an acre or so of red raspberries is 

 brighter. 



