38 



Winter Covering. 



The canes of even the most hardy varieties are sometimes 

 winter-killed and the crop seriously injured or wholly destroyed. 

 This injury can be certainly prevented by covering the canes with 

 soil in the fall just before the ground freezes. Only a light 

 covering of soil is needed, just enough to hold the canes down 

 to the ground. In the spring the canes should be uncovered as 

 soon as the frost has come out sufliciently, for, if allowed to 

 remain on the ground, they start into growth too early, and will 

 not stand up as readily as if raised earlier. 



The Black-cap Raspberry. 



In a general way the black-cap requires about the same treat- 

 ment as to soil, cultivation, training, pruning and fertilization as 

 the red raspberry. It is considered less desirable for home use 

 and less profitable for the market than the latter, but is more 

 easily grown and produces a very much larger quantity of fruit. 

 It also grows in hills, and does not give any trouble from suckers. 



Planting. 



The black-caps are propagated by the rooting of the ends of the 

 canes in the fall, and should be set out only in the spring. Great 

 care should be exercised in planting them not to set the " tips" 

 too deeply, as the buds from which new canes will grow are liable 

 to injury by deep planting. A very large per cent of the black- 

 cap tips planted fail to grow from this cause. A mound or a 

 ridge between two furrows is made, the roots are spread out with 

 the bud on the highest part of the mound or ridge, the soil is then 

 pressed very firmly about the roots and only moderately firm about 

 the buds. The bud of the tips should not be covered with more 

 than an inch or two of soil, varying this with its character, but 

 the roots should be well down in the moist soil. Planted in this 

 way, every " tip," if in good condition, will be sure to grow. 



Pruning. 



Tlie pruning, training, cultivation and fertilization required for 

 the black-caps arc the same as for the red raspberry, and spraying 

 for insect and fungous pests should be the same. 



