Propagation 45 



PROPAGATION 



Propagation of the common varieties of red raspberries 

 is a simple matter. Most kinds sucker so freely that the 

 grower is more concerned with destroying the plants than 

 with increasing them. These young plants may be taken 

 up and re-set at almost any time during the year. In 

 commercial work, where plants are to be shipped, the best 

 time is early in spring. The shoots of the previous year 

 are then moved, while they are still dormant. This should 

 be done early for best results. 



For re-setting on the home grounds, the young shoots 

 of the current season may be lifted when six to eight inches 

 high, and replanted much as tomato or cabbage plants 

 are handled. With ordinary care this practice will prove 

 entirely successful and may often give opportunity to 

 hasten the time of starting a plantation. If plenty of 

 plants are available so that their destruction by summer 

 tillage is unimportant, early autumn is an excellent time 

 to do the work, the first part of September being pre- 

 ferred. The plants are then mature enough to handle 

 readily and have time to become well established before 

 winter. 



Some of the purple-cane varieties propagate by tips, 

 after the manner of black-caps. Others, which throw up 

 suckers, do so very sparingly. With these, root-cuttings 

 or root injury may be needed. If a root is broken or in- 

 jured, it will naturally put out a sucker at that point. 

 Cutting or bruising the roots may therefore be desirable 

 at times. Root-cuttings, in the manner described for 

 blackberries, may be used. These are commonly made 



