THE RED RASPBERRIES 



the canes. Sometimes the strongest canes, 

 which probably grew most in the fall, are dam- 

 aged worst. Plants which are weakened by 

 disease or starvation often are unable to with- 

 stand winters of no more than ordinary sever- 

 ity, while healthy vigorous canes will some- 

 times come through very cold winters in 

 perfect condition. At times canes which 

 apparently have come through a severe winter 

 in good condition are badly damaged in March 

 after killing temperatures presumably are 

 past. 



Winterkilling of plants is complicated by 

 many factors which are so little understood 

 as yet that the causes cannot be clarified. Ex- 

 perience however points to several things 

 which tend to prevent it. A strong healthy 

 growth is first to be desired. Over fertiliza- 

 tion, wet land and other things that tend to 

 promote a rapid growth as the time for killing 

 frost approaches are to be avoided. Beyond 

 that, little can be done at present in the way 

 of cultural treatment. 



Winter Protection 



In some sections raspberry canes winterkill 

 so severely that they are covered with earth 

 for protection. This is not a difficult opera- 

 43 



