Notes and Gleanings. 307 



The Raspberry in Quebec. — To the Editor of '■^Thb. Canada Farmer." 

 Sir, — Several communications I have lately seen respecting the alleged want 

 of hardiness in the raspberry, induce me, with your permission, to venture a 

 few words of encouragement to any who may be hesitating as to the possibility 

 of their cultivating in Canada the finer varieties of this delicious fruit. To 

 such, then, I would say, It is not because you are located far to the north that 

 you will not succeed : on the contrary, living near the city of Quebec, I never 

 fail to have a most beautiful crop. Last winter was the most severe experi- 

 enced here for many years ; the thermometer sinking to 37° below zero, and 

 remaining near about there for days together. It has been followed by a most 

 scorchingly hot, dry summer ; yet my bushes are fairly loaded down with large 

 and delicious fruit, and not of the common kinds, but of the so-called tender 

 Antwerps. From my experience with this berry, I have thought that it can- 

 not be merely the cold which injures them, but, possibly, rather the alternate 

 freezing and thawing which they are exposed to in milder countries. I have 

 cultivated here Yellow Antwerps for the last fifteen years without experiencing 

 any difliculty ; and six years ago, wishing to try other varieties, I procured a 

 few bushes of Red Antwerp, Franconia, P^astolff, and Victoria. They have all 

 flourished ; but the Red Antwerps produce so much the best and largest fruit, 

 that to me the others are valueless. 



My mode of cultivation is simply this : About the middle of September, 

 select a spot where a goodly supply of snow is sure to lodge early in the fall 

 (no difficult matter here) ; manure the ground heavily by digging in decayed 

 stable-manure ; plant in rows about three feet apart, plants about eighteen inches 

 asunder in the row ; and, shortly before the first fall of snow, throw over them 

 any refuse straw or branches. We find potato-stalks and spruce-broughs 

 excellent. These will gradually bend the plants towards the ground ; the 

 weight of the snow will assist ; and, in the spring, they will come out ready to 

 send a leaf from every bud. I had omitted to say, that, after planting, I shorten 

 the canes to within less than a foot of the ground. Succeeding springs, I 

 merely take off a few inches from the tops. The Red Antwerps, with me, 

 average from five to six feet high. We train them to horizontal strips of 

 board, placed between each second row, on stakes about three feet high, bring- 

 ing two rows to meet to one board, and leaving thus an alley between each 

 second row. I find it essential to tie them up in this way, as, if not done, the 

 weight of the fruit brings them flat to the earth, soiling and spoiling the berries. 

 We top-dress well with decayed stable-manure and ashes every spring, and 

 again as soon as the fruit is gathered. Treated this way, a very small patch 

 will supply a very large family, and will last without replanting or changing the 

 location for an indefinite number of years. Even without any covering except 

 the snow, very good crops can generally be had ; but a few branches or potato- 

 stalks cost very little trouble, and insure a large yield, and, by bringing the 

 canes evenly and gradually to the ground, prevent their being broken. 



As I said, I have yet found no variety to equal the Red Antwerp : but Mr. 

 Beadle's letter, in your last number, has given me an inclination to try what 

 could be done here with the Hornet; for, so far, I have had no necessity to look 



