1894.] ESSAYS. 35 



variety ; set healthy, medium-sized plants ; it is important that the 

 soil be well firmed around the newly set plants. As soon as the 

 plants show signs of new growth begin to cultivate and hoe. Give 

 frequent cultivation during the season to prevent the growth of weeds ; 

 narrow the cultivator as the runners extend till they cover the desired 

 width. It should be remembered that you cannot grow a crop of 

 grass or weeds aud a crop of strawberries on the ground at the same 

 time. Clean culture is one of the secrets of success with the straw- 

 berry. After the ground has frozen in the Fall give a light mulch of 

 meadow hay, leaves from the forest, or pine needles. As soon as it 

 is safe In the spring to do so, remove the mulch from the earliest 

 varieties and let it remain on the late sorts as late as possible, so as 

 to retard the ripening of the fruit aud extend the season. I have 

 found an increase in the crop by removing the mulch a few rows at a 

 time; give a dressing of good fertilizer, cultivate lightly, and replace 

 the mulch to keep down weeds, preserve moisture, and keep the fruit 

 clean ; the result will be larger and finer fruit. When the plants have 

 matured a crop they are in an exhausted condition, and are iu a 

 dormant state ; if they are to be kept over to bear another crop the 

 mulch should be cleaned off at once, narrow the row a little, apply a 

 dressing of fertilizer, cultivate, and hoe out all weeds ; the plants will 

 soon send out a new set of feeding roots and at once begin to lay up 

 stores in the crowns for a crop the following season. Varieties : 

 Beder Wood, Haverland, Eureka, Bubach, Warfield, Leader. For 

 special culture : Parker, Earle, and Belmont. The Marshall for trial. 



The Raspberry is a profitable fruit to grow for the market. When 

 of good quality it commands good prices. The raspberry succeeds 

 best in rather moist soil ; plant in rows six feet apart, three feet in 

 the row ; when planting cut off the cane to within six inches of the 

 ground. When the young calies have reached the height of two or 

 two and one-half feet nip out the top, this will cause the canes to 

 throw out laterals, these should be cut back to ten or twelve inches 

 the following Spring. Another method much practiced is to let them 

 grow at will all Summer, drive down stakes in the row, stretch a wire 

 each side to give them support ; after the fruiting season is over cut 

 out all the old wood and thin out the young canes if too thick, leav- 

 ing wood enough to bear a crop the following season, this will give 

 the bearing wood a better opportunity to ripen. Varieties : all things 

 considered, the Cuthbert stands at the head of the list, the Marlboro', 

 Thompson's Early, Prolific, and Golden Queen. 



The Blackberry. Plant eight feet between the rows, three feet in 



