144 SUCCESSFUL FRUIT CULTURE 



Distance of Planting — They are planted from 4x5 

 to 5x6 feet, according to the vigor of the variety, and 

 cultivation is generally done with the horse both ways. 

 Blackcap plants should be planted only in the spring, 

 as the roots are very soft and tender in the fall, and 

 the slight pressure of the foot will bruise them, while 

 in the spring they have become somewhat hardened. 

 The end bud of the "tip" or plant should not be planted 

 more than an inch or two below the surface of the soil, 

 but the roots must be put down into the moist soil. 

 Figure 61, illustrating the planting of the grapevine, 

 shows a good way of planting the blackcap raspberry. 

 Most failures in planting the blackcap raspberry come 

 from putting the end bud so deep that it cannot break 

 through the cover soil. 



Pruning — The pruning required by the blackcap is 

 about the same as for the blackberry, though it will stand 

 more summer pruning and perhaps requires two or three 

 "pinchings-in" to make the canes stand up without sup- 

 port. Some growers tie to stakes, while others use 

 the trellis and do not attempt to cultivate both ways. 

 The fruiting cane should be cut out as soon as the fruit 

 has been gathered in order to allow full growth of the 

 new canes. 



Harvesting and Marl^eting — The fruit is picked in 

 quart baskets and sent to market in twenty-four or 

 thirty-two-quart crates. It carries well, but the prices 

 are very low, ranging from five to ten cents per quart, 

 yet the yield is generally large and the fruit ripens 

 nearly all at one time, so that the cost of growing and 

 picking is small and much profit may be expected where 

 there is a demand for this fruit. 



VARIETIES 



Scarcely a variety is now grown that was in cul- 

 tivation ten years ago, on account of disease and 



