OF RASPBERRIES. 225 



Some prefer pruning Raspberries in Autumn, a 

 practice which I by no means approve. As they 

 bear the fruit on the wood of the preceding year, 

 they are very liable to be killed by the frost in 

 severe winters ; but, by deferring the pruning till 

 the month of February, you will have great choice 

 of fine wood for bearing the following Summer : 

 remembering to root out, or cut down, all the 

 w^ood that bore fruit the preceding year, which 

 generally dies 5 selecting only from five to seven 

 of the most vigorous and strong shoots from the 

 last year's wood, to bear fruit the ensuing season. 

 These shoots may be pruned to the length of 

 three or four feet, according to their strength, if 

 they are of the Smooth Cane Double-bearing sort 

 (which generally bears a second crop in Autumn, 

 and will in fine seasons continue bearing from 

 June to November) ; but, if the large Antwerp, 

 the shoots should be left five or six feet long. 



The Early White, which never grows so strong 

 as the above sorts, should be shortened to two 

 feet and a half, or three feet. These should be 

 planted in rows about three feet distant from 

 each other, and two feet from plant to plant in 

 the rows ; always remembering to keep them clear 

 of suckers, and to cut out the dead, or last year's 

 wood, as before directed ; making choice of the 

 strongest shoots for bearing wood. But be careful 

 not to cut off the little spurs on the sides, which 

 bear the fruit. 



Raspberries will continue in bearing five or six 



Q 



