36 PROFITABLE FRUIT-GROWING. 



four feet high, with comparatively few roots. Most 

 persons not experienced would choose the strong 

 canes with few roots, in preference to the smaller 

 with bushy fibres, and would undoubtedly choose 

 wrongly. Again, ninety-nine persons out of a 

 hundred, for whose benefit these instructions are 

 prepared, would leave the canes their entire length 

 after planting, in the hope of obtaining strong- 

 bearing plants the sooner. The hope is a vain one. 

 Look at the figures again ; the small cane a, when 

 planted, was shortened to the cross-mark in 6, 

 leaving the stem not more than nine inches high. 

 What is the result? The strong canes springing 

 from the base of 6 are calculated to bear fine 

 bunches of fruit, and the foundation is laid for a 

 profitable bush, which, under good management, 

 will yield abundantly for many years. 



Now glance at c ; the strong cane was planted, 

 and not shortened. What is the result ? The cane 

 may or may not produce a few miserable fruits the 

 first season, but whether it does or not, it dies, and 

 leaves nothing behind but one or two small apolo- 

 gies for young canes (which see). These will 

 probably die in turn, and if not it is not possible 

 they can develop into a productive bush, even in 

 another year, and not one in ten will produce 

 strong bearing canes in three years. As it is often 



