RASPBERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES. 



21 



in the wind but not sufficiently to break them by its violence. It 

 keeps the fruit off the ground and is cheap and convenient. 



Winter Protection. — As a rule it is not safe to allow any 

 known variety of raspberries to go through the winters of this sec- 

 tion without some kind of protection, not that they will always kill 

 to the snow line if not protected, but because covering them in- 

 volves no great expense, makes them almost a sure crop, and the 

 covered plants seem, to have more vigor than those left exposed. 

 There are, however, locations near some of the larger lakes, or 

 where surrounded by forests, that are so very favorable that such 

 varieties as the Turner, Souhegan, and even the Cuthbert, are not 

 injured when left unprotected in winter. 



The bushes should be covered late in autumn before the ground 

 freezes hard and should not be handled when there is any frost in 



the canes. The best 

 covering is fresh 

 earth. In laying 

 them down com- 

 mence at the north 

 end of the row, re- 

 move the soil from 

 the north side of the 

 hill, about four inch- 

 es deep, with a gar- 

 den fork ; gather the 

 branches together 

 Fig. 12. Canes laid down, for ivinter but not yet ^^^-^ a two-tined 

 '''^"'^■^'^- fork, press gently to 



the north, at the same time place the foot firmly on the base of the 

 hiU and press hard, bending the bush in the root as much as pos- 

 sible, and as little as may be in the canes, until nearly flat on the 

 ground (i^/^. i2), and hold it there until second man covers with 

 soil sufficient to hold them down. The top of each succeeding hill 

 will lie at the base of its predecessor, making a continuous cover- 

 ing. It will be found that a little of mulch put on the canes first 

 after laying them down will hold the soil put on, and much less will 

 be required than if no mulchjs used. After laying them all dovm 

 turn a furrow against each side of the rows, covering as much as 

 possible, and draw a little over any canes that may be left exposed. 

 It is only necessary to use soil enough to barely cover the canes. 

 There are some of the strong growing varieties, such as the Gregg, 

 that en rich land are very difficult to cover. With them it. will 

 do very well to bend as nearly to the ground as is safe and cover 

 the tops with enough soil to hold them in place. 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 

 must be poisoned, or they may eat the canes under the mulch. 



they 



