Clearing the Ground 83 



pruned and uncared for than when given good care. The 

 point to determine is not how long they will live, but how 

 long will they pay. With ordinary good culture it is sel- 

 dom wise to harvest more than four crops. Of these, the 

 first crop is only a partial one. As a plantation grows 

 older, more labor is needed to keep it in condition. The 

 yields grow less and the fruit smaller. More profit is 

 therefore likely to result from tearing it out and replant- 

 ing, after a few good crops, rather than in trying to keep 

 it bearing longer. 



CLEAKING THE GROUND 



To rid a piece of ground of black raspberry plants, when 

 no longer wanted, is comparatively simple. Mow, rake 

 together, and burn the bushes, after fruiting. Then plow 

 deep and thoroughly, turning out all the berry stumps, and 

 the work is practically done. Some of the plants will 

 throw up shoots again when not thoroughly uprooted, 

 but they can be subdued with little trouble. This first 

 plowing is heavy and slow work, and many of the stumps 

 will drag out and interfere in a measure with the subse- 

 quent harrowing, but aside from that, there is little diffi- 

 culty. If the land is to be used for small or fine crops, 

 these stumps will need to be removed, but for potatoes 

 or corn they will cause little trouble. Raspberries seem 

 to leave the land in fine condition for other crops. One 

 may expect a good piece of corn to follow a raspberry 

 plantation when turned under. 



