No. 4.] FRUITS FOR TIIF IIOMK (iAHDEX. 387 



responsive to the caretiil attention of an enthusiastic amateur. 

 The}'^ should l)e inchided in every private collection where 

 grapes are nuich ])ri/ed and carefully niana<i-ed. 



Jilacl-herries, — BlacUherries and other small fruits should 

 always he cultivated in the home liardcn. Blacklx'rries should 

 be i)lanted in rows six to eight feet apart, and four feet a[)art 

 in the row. The rows will naturally fill in more or less by 

 the growth of suckers, and after mid-season the rows would 

 soon fill u}), unless cultivation is practised. It is a good 

 plan to follow a rotation of about six years with l)lackberries 

 on ordinary soil. The same rule a})plies to ras})I)erries. 

 After this length of time plantations are inclined to run out, 

 and the crops are not so good. It is best then to set a new 

 plantation on fresh soil, and as soon as that comes into bear- 

 ing pull up the old one. The blackberries which seem to 

 do best in this State are Agawam, Snyder, Eldorado and 

 Ancient Briton. 



liaspbem'es. — This fruit ought to be planted and managed 

 in much the same wa}'^ as blackberries. It requires system- 

 atic })runing, wdiich means chiefly the cleaning out of old 

 wood and shortening back the new wood to the height of four 

 or five feet. The varieties mostly grown in this section are 

 the following : — 



Cuthbert : This variety is grown much more than any 

 other, and is probably, all things considered, the most desir- 

 able. The fruit is red. ^ 



Gregg is a late black variety, which succeeds a(lmiral)ly in 

 some situations, and which when it does succeed is one of 

 the best of its class. 



Kansas is another good black-cap variety, ripening in mid- 

 season. It is preferred by some growers. 



Shaffer and Columbian are two varieties difierino^ consider- 

 ably from those previously mentioned, and new in cultiva- 

 tion. The color of the fruit is purplish, and not attractive. 

 The ([uality, however, is excellent, and the fruit is very 

 valuable for home use. 



Loudon : A medium-sized, hardy and fine quality ; red ; 

 not quite so productive as Cuthbert. 



Currantfi. — These fruits are especially desirable for jelly 



