BUSH FRUIT PRODUCTION 



distance for the narrow hedge system. Under 

 good growing conditions seven feet is undoubt- 

 edly much better. Growers often complain of 

 insufficient room in which to work about the 

 plants, but seldom that they have too much. 

 In gardens especially rows are often set 

 but four or five feet apart. That seems to be 

 plenty of room at the start, but before long 

 the rows begin to crowd. When the space be- 

 tween rows becomes too narrow for frequent 

 and easy cultivation, the temptation is strong 

 to neglect that most important operation. Too 

 close planting ruins many raspberry patches 

 and should be carefully guarded against. 



The most desirable width of row is open 

 to question. It varies somewhat with the fer- 

 tility of the soil and the vigor of the variety, 

 but in general narrow rows produce the best 

 berries and they are much more easily pruned 

 and harvested. When the row becomes so 

 wide that the middle is not easily reached, 

 many berries on the middle canes are over- 

 looked and the rest are found with consider- 

 able difficulty. The same difficulty of reach- 

 ing through the brambles to the middle of the 

 row is experienced at pruning time. While it 

 is probable that higher total yields may be 

 secured from wider rows, ease in handling 

 makes it advisable to keep the rows narrow. 

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