78 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



except that they may be grown with profit on land that is far richer 

 in nitrogenous matter. The red varieties may be planted either in 

 spring or fall, but the cap varieties or any propagated by layering 

 of the tips should alwa^'s be planted in spring. Ground should be 

 as thoroughly prepared as for strawberries. For years I have 

 planted in rows, seven or eight feet apart, according to the vigor of 

 the variet}', placing the plants two and one-half to three feet in the 

 row, but I am now satisfied that larger, firmer and better berries 

 can be grown by planting in check rows, five or six feet apart, 

 giving the plants more sunlight and air, and admits of more use of 

 the horse and cultivator, thus securing better culture at less cost, 

 while the yield of fruit is fully as large as from hedge rows. 



After the ground is properly' marked out it is best to take a light 

 one-horse plow and open furrows three or four inches deep, and for 

 late fall or earl}' spring planting of dormant plants of all varieties 

 that are propagated from the roots, the work can be done very 

 rapidly by having a bo}- to hold the plant in place while the earth 

 can be drawn over the roots with a hoe and trodden down with the 

 feet. No harm will be done eren if planted two or three inches 

 deeper than they had naturally grown, except that they will not 

 show signs of growth quite so rapidly. The canes should be cut 

 off even with the surface of the ground, as the only growth of value 

 is what comes directly from the roots. Often have I seen raspber- 

 ries and blackberries planted with one to two feet of the cane left 

 above ground, the awakening life starts the buds and leaves on these 

 and as it requires all the strength of the newly transplanted roots to 

 nourish this old cane there is little strength left to push the new 

 growth, consequently it takes two years' growth to bring the plants^ 

 into good bearing condition, while on the other hand if good strong 

 rooted plants are put out and tops all cut awa}- the first season's 

 growth will be strong enough to produce a perfect crop of fruit the 

 next season. The cap varieties and all those that are propagated 

 by layering of the tips must not be planted as deeply, the roots should 

 be carefully spread out and covered with fine earth, with the crown 

 of the plants not more than one-half inch beneath the surface, as 

 deep planting is sure death to this class of plants. If from any 

 cause we cannot plant very early in the spring while the plants are 

 dormant, it is not well to plant a little later when the new and ten- 

 der shoots are just sprouting from the roots as many of them are 

 likely to get broken oflT, but a few weeks later when the new growth 



