220 The Fru it-Growers Guide-Book 



cannot be easily handled, then it will be necessary to head 

 them back, and take a fresh start. The usual systems of 

 training grapes provide for this condition, and, in fact, the 

 usual systems are dependent on this one thing for their 

 foundation. 



Time to Prune 



The grape can be pruned at any time during the dormant 

 season, although it is important to do it sufficiently early 

 in the spring to avoid the excessive bleeding which will 

 sometimes occur. Tender varieties should be pruned in the 

 fall in order that they can be bent over and covered with 

 soil to prevent their becoming winter killed. Some definite 

 system should be followed in the pruning, and if the 

 grower is outside of a grape-growing community, it will be 

 advisable to learn some system of pruning that is adapted 

 to his conditions. This can be obtained from books treat- 

 ing of the subject of pruning or of grape growing. 



In sections where the grape is a commercial crop the 

 system of pruning which gives the best results will usually 

 be pretty thoroughly worked out, and will be the best sys- 

 tem to follow. 



Raspberries 



The raspberry is one of the most popular small fruits, 

 although its area of successful commercial production is 

 limited to the northern half of the United States and the 

 Pacific Coast. Over this area, however, it is one of the 

 most popular of the bush fruits, the blackcap being the 

 most extensively grown for the commercial market. This 

 is on account of the soft fruits which are produced by the 

 red varieties, and the ease with which such kinds are dam- 

 aged in transit. 



Soils 



Soils such as are adapted to the blackberry are best for 

 the raspberries. Red raspberries do better on a light soil 

 than do the blackcap varieties. Soils which are very heavy, 



