84 Bush-Fruits 



HARDINESS 



Black raspberries are among the hardiest members of 

 the bramble family. Even the more tender varieties will 

 withstand the winters of most localities in middle latitudes 

 without injury. In severe climates, and especially in the 

 Plains region, winter protection becomes necessary. Even 

 when not entirely killed, plants are often so weakened in 

 vitality that the yield is unsatisfactory. Under such con- 

 ditions, laying them down for winter is to be advised. 

 Much depends on the condition of the plant during 

 its season of growth. Plants probably "winter-kill" in 

 August as well as in January. Good tillage, and protec- 

 tion from insect and fungous injury during summer may 

 be as important as protection from cold in winter. 



YIELDS 



Some years ago a number of New York state growers 

 were asked to give their estimate of a fair average yield 

 of black-caps to the acre. The replies varied widely and 

 came from commercial growers and from those who only 

 grew a small number in the home-garden. Averaging 

 these estimates as best it could be done, gave about 2500 

 quarts as the amount to be expected from an acre. The 

 figures were worthy of confidence, because they came from 

 practical men who were in the business, but were only 

 estimates, not actual records. More recently Wilson has 

 found the actual yields in commercial plantations to be 

 considerably less than this. 1 He gives records from 134 

 1 The Cornell Reading-Courses, Vol. II, No. 36. 



