

THE RASPBERRY. 



Rubus Idceus. Rosacece of Botanists. 



* 



A LOW deciduous shrub, found wild in the woods, both of this 

 country and Europe. The roots being permanent and the stems 

 biennial, they throw up a number of shoots, which produce fruit the 

 second year and die. Our present cultivated varieties have been pro- 

 duced by high cultivation of seedlings from a variety no better than 

 is to be found common in the fence corners of our slovenly farmers. 



PROPAGATION AND TRANSPLANTING. New varieties are produced 

 from seed ; the seedlings having a tendency to depart materially 

 from the character of the parent, as in the instance of the " Orange," 

 produced from seed of a crimson berry. 



Seedlings are easily grown by planting the berry when fully ripe, 

 about one inch deep, in light loamy soil, where it is a little shaded. 

 They will fruit the second or third year. Varieties are usually in- 

 creased by transplanting the suckers or offsets. They can be pro- 

 pagated by cuttings, which is done much in the manner of managing 

 cuttings of the rose ; the care and attention requisite, making it 

 only desirable in case of rare or new kinds. A few varieties, as the 

 American Black and English Red, sometimes propagate by their 

 branches bending over until the ends touch and become covered in 

 the ground. 



In transplanting, the root should be protected from drying winds 

 or hot suns, and the cane should be cut back one-fourth its previous 

 season's growth. 



The rows should be north and south, and three to four feet apart, 

 according to the vigor of the sort, and the plants placed one every 

 two feet. Some plant three in a hill, the hills four feet apart. We 

 think they become matted too soon in this way. 



SOIL. All cultivators agree, that while the raspberry may be 

 made to grow on gravelly loam, slaty soil, or stiff cold clay, it can 

 be relied on for a crop only when planted in a rich deep loam, where 

 there is moisture, but such drainage that water will not stand. For 

 those whose gardens are upon soils naturally unfavorable, deep 

 trenching, placing coarse barn-yard manure at the bottom of the 

 trench, and covering the surface with two inches of leaf-mould from the 

 woods, will often render the plants productive, especially in wet seasons. 



SITUATION. The situation should be open, fully exposed to light 

 and air ; to this end the advice to form rows north and south. 



CULTURE AND TRAINING. In large plantations the weeds are kept 

 down mostly with the plough and cultivator, hoeing where the culti- 



