I go Editors Letter- Box. 



Reader, Marlborough, Mass. — What kinds of raspberries do well ? What 

 distance apart should they be set in field-culture ? What is the yield per acre ? 

 What is the general market-price per quart in Boston ? Do they need winter- 

 protection ? — The Franconia is the variety most extensively cultivated about 

 Boston for the market. It bears transportation well. It is not a high-flavored 

 sort. Knevett's Giant is large, early, and a berry of very good quality. Among 

 the newer varieties, the Philadelphia is said to be very productive, and profita- 

 ble for market- purposes. The Clarke is another new sort that is attracting a 

 good deal of attention at the present time ; the plants finding a ready sale at 

 high prices. If we should recommend but one, we should say Franconia. We 

 should advise putting the rows about four feet apart, and the plants three to 

 .three and a half feet apart in the rows, so that there may be plenty of room for 

 the plants to spread and form a stool. The yield per acre varies from five hun- 

 dred to two thousand quarts, according to soil and cultivation. The market-price 

 in former'years was about the same as that of strawberries ; but last year we 

 know that sixty cents a quart was not considered too high a price. The red 

 raspberries need protection, and all of them succeed the better for it. We won- 

 der that the market-gardeners of Massachusetts should have so neglected this 

 fruit for several years past ; for it is more profitable than the strawberry-crop. 



Westerner. — Most of my neighbors believe that there is more profit in 

 raising large apples than small for market, even if of poor quality. I do not agree 

 with them, and have planted such varieties as give only small or medium-sized 

 fruit. What is your opinion .'' — It depends somewhat upon what use is to be made 

 of the fruit. If for cooking, every thing else being equal, the largest apples are 

 the best ; if for the dessert, the reverse is true. The Lady Apple, though very 

 small, is yet one of the most beautiful little apples ever grown ; yet we doubt if 

 its cultivation would prove profitable. The Garden Royal, Fameuse, and others 

 of that size, are among the best of apples for table-use ; and considering the price 

 they sell for, as compared with the larger and coarser apples, are quite as profit- 

 able to grow. 



Northern New Hampshire. — Cranberries grow spontaneously in this 

 region, and there are thousands of acres where they would flourish if once the 

 land was stocked with the plants. Can the culture of the cranberry be made 

 profitable at this distance from a market ? — We think so : for there is always a 

 great demand for this fruit ; and the price is high enough to pay for considerable 

 pains and expense, not only to raise the crop, but to get it to market. The market 

 cannot be overstocked with this fruit. There are many choice places where no 

 crop that could possibly be raised would pay so well as this. 



E. M., Rochester, N.Y. — Can scions of " Presiaent " 1 ear that you have 

 recently figured in your Journal be obtained of the originator or elsewhere ? — 

 We think not. Dr. Shurtleff has let out none of his seedlings yet. We do not 

 know what his intentions are. He can answer, and possibly may before long. 



