RASPBERRY 273 



While it would be better to cover them all if it were practicable, 

 yet treated in this way enough snow will generally lodge in 

 the canes to cover them, and if this is supplemented with a 

 light covering of coarse litter or straw so much the better. If 

 mice are numerous they must be poisoned or they will eat the 

 canes under the mulch. 



A machine has been originated in Minnesota that covers 

 raspberries and blackberries quite successfully and it is there 

 used on a large scale. It requires four horses to operate it. 

 However, it often breaks many canes in operating and some 

 growers prefer to take their chances of winter injury to cover- 

 ing with it. 



Lifting canes in the spring. — The canes should be raised 

 In the spring soon after the land is dry and well settled. To 

 do this use a round-tined fork and after carefully removing 

 some of the earth raise the plants slightly to a slanting posi- 

 tion. It is found that left in this position the fruiting canes 

 are shaded by the new growth and are not so crowded as when 

 raised up straight. 



The fruit. — The fruit is found in red or yellow colors in 

 the red raspberry class and in black, yellow and purple in the 

 cap class. The varieties vary in size, fruitfulness and vigor 

 as well as in color. The red kinds are most popular but the 

 black caps are much used. The purple and yellow varieties 

 do not sell well in most markets but are often very satisfactory 

 In the home garden and for drying. All kinds are used for 

 drying in years when prices are low. 



Picking and marketing. — Avoid picking when fruit is wet, 

 if possible, and pick fruit clean. Do not leave any overripe 

 fruit on the plants. Keep picked fruit in a cool, shady place; 

 transport small fruit in a good spring wagon. 



Red raspberries are generally marketed in pint boxes, (24 

 pints in a case), and black cap raspberries in one quart boxes, 

 but some growers find the pint box best for all kinds of rasp 

 berries. In the west the gift package only is used, but in the 

 Eastern states the return package is generally preferred. This 

 subject should receive the most careful attention of growers. 



For further notes on picking, marketing, diseases and in 



