210 



On the Cultivation of the Raspberry. 



Vol. VII. 



On the Cultivation of the Raspberry. 



The raspberry, like the strawberry and 

 currant, and other small fruits, the goose- 

 berry excepted, has been greatly neglected 

 in its cultivation. Though common in every 

 garden, and everywhere esteemed, next to 

 the strawberry, for its rich and handsome 

 fruit, yet few individuals have attempted 

 improved methods of growth, by which the 

 size, beauty, excellence and productiveness 

 of the berries, may be increased to a much 

 greater degree than they are generally seen 

 in our gardens. 



The raspberry is as susceptible of im- 

 provement as the strawberry; yet, while in 

 the latter we have the beautiful Keen's 

 seedling, and our own, (Hovey's,) variety, 

 contrasting with such marked superiority 

 over the small and inferior berries of the 

 older sorts, the same varieties of the rasp- 

 berry are now cultivated that were common 

 20 or 3!) years ago, and they are still deemed 

 the most desirable sorts. The same atten- 

 tion bestowed on this fruit, that has been 

 devoted to the gooseberry, would undoubt- 

 edly have resulted in the production of va- 

 rieties much superior to those at present 

 grown. 



The raspberry, like the strawberry, is a 

 native of low and partially shady situations, 

 growing in boggy or soft black soils, which 

 allow its roots to strike deep, and throw up 

 a free growth of its vigorous suckers. It is 

 only in such situations, in their wild state, 

 that the plants are found productive ; on 

 light and thin soils, and in high and exposed 

 situations, the growth of the suckers is lim- 

 ited, and the fruit scarcely ever attains any 

 size. Nature thus teaches the proper mode 

 which the cultivator should adopt in the 

 growth of the plants ; and it should be his 

 object to follow her, rather than to divert 

 and thwart her in the course she has pointed 

 out for us to pursue. 



The plants are frequently set out in light 

 and poor soils, crowded together, left un- 

 trimmed, choked up with a profuse growth 

 of weak stems, and what little fruit they 

 produce, nearly dried up, from the arid situ- 

 ation in which they are placed. On the con- 

 trary, in cool, deep, and moist soils, in a 

 sheltered and partially shaded place, the 

 plants throw up suckers to the height of six 

 or eight feet, and produce a profusion of 

 large, handsome, and well flavoured berries. 

 So well assur." I are the most eminent Ens£ 

 lish cultivators of the raspberry, of its love 

 of a cool and moist soil, that some writers 

 have strenuously recommended the use <>f 

 bog earth and rotten leaves, in the place of 

 the richest loam. We are well assured that 



the many complaints which are made of the 

 meagre produce of many raspberry planta- 

 tions, may be attributed wholly to the light 

 and droughty soils in which they are often 

 planted. 



Situation. — A cool aspect is of material 

 consequence ; and to secure this, the north 

 side of a fence or trellis, which will form a 

 screen from the sun, is the most favourable : 

 on the north side of a shrubbery, or row of 

 fruit trees, is also a suitable place. If nei- 

 ther of these situations is to be had, an 

 open spot in the garden may be chosen, al- 

 ways being careful to avoid the south or east 

 side of a fence. A temporary shade may be 

 effected in the open garden, by planting a 

 row of running beans on the south side. 

 Having selected a proper place, proceed to 

 prepare the soil. 



Soil. — A good soil is the most important 

 requisite. Having marked out the size of 

 the bed, if the earth is not naturally very 

 rich and deep, preparations should be made 

 to trench it. First cover the surface with 

 three or four inches of bog earth, if to be 

 procured, or, in its place, leaf soil, and if 

 these are not conveniently to be had, good 

 old rotten hot-bed manure, which has laid at 

 least six or eight months: that from hot-beds 

 made in April, will do for use in the follow- 

 ing October, and if a portion of the bed was 

 leaves, it is so much the more to be pre- 

 ferred. Having spread the manure upon 

 the surface, it should then be trenched in, 

 two spades deep, or about eighteen inches, 

 placing the manure at the bottom of the 

 trench. Level the surface, and spade in an 

 inch or two more of the same kind of ma- 

 nure, and after allowing a week for the bed 

 to settle, it will be ready for planting. 



Procuring plants. — The success of plant- 

 ing out, depends considerably upon a judi- 

 cious selection of plants. Suckers of all 

 sizes are generally thrown up, and many 

 cultivators would naturally, select the largest : 

 such, however, are not the best; those of 

 medium size, neither too large nor too small, 

 have the finest roots, and spread more ra- 

 pidly than the others. In selecting, refer- 

 ence should be had to the roots rather than 

 the tops. 



Planting ma. — Having prepared the beds 

 and seemed a sufficient number of plants, 

 preparations may be made for setting out. 

 A spade, a rake, and a garden hoe will be 

 the proper implements to accomplish this. 

 The bed being marked out, stretch the line 

 across the bed, at the distance of two feet 

 from the walk: commence on either side of 

 the line at one end, by taking out the earth 

 the width and depth of the spade; place in 

 the plant against the line, and throw the soil 



