458 Transactions of the American Institute. 



of propagation, by raising young plants from only the tips of 

 young plants, and not from the old stools. We have tried the 

 experiment for a number of years, and have, thus far, failed to 

 notice any marked difference. We are inclined to think the whole 

 secret has been good cultivation. 



Soil and cultivation. — Different varieties require different soils. 

 Those varieties which have been raised from the rubus ideaus 

 require a rich loam or light clay, always provided that it is of suf- 

 ficient depth and well drained. The Blackcap does well on light 

 sandy soils, yet does better in a sandy loam; they also succeed well 

 on slaty soils. In manuring for the raspberry, a soil rich in vege- 

 table matter will need only a slight dressing of ashes or super- 

 phosphates. If a clay soil, a liberal dressing of bann^ard manure, 

 lime and salt, in limited quantities, on such soil will be found bene- 

 ficial. It will pay to manure, besides the fruit will have more 

 flavor when grown in good soil. In nine cases out of ten the 

 so-called failure of a variety results from the want of proper 

 fertilizers. 



Planting and field culture. — After the soil has been thoroughly 

 prepared by manuring, subsoiling, and harrowing down fine, the 

 ground may be marked off with a plough in rows five feet one way 

 and four another, similar to planting corn; for the Doolittle, if we 

 were not limited to space, we would prefer six feet. It is in good 

 ground a vigorous grower; and having a few thorns, it is apt to 

 make itself felt. The planting should be done as early in spring 

 as practicable, as the buds of the canes push forth quite early, and, 

 being tender, are apt to be broken; besides, if planted early, the 

 canes will get a good start, and be better able to withstand summer 

 droughts. We prefer spring to fall. If planted in the fall, they 

 will need protection during the winter, or they will suffer severely, 

 and the chances are that a large percentage of them will be found 

 dead in the spring. A single plant is enough in each hill, and this 

 should be cut back to about a foot above the siu'face of the ground. 

 If these show signs of fruiting, cut off the flower-buds, as they will 

 produce only a few berries, at the expense of the plant, which 

 needs all its strength to perfect its canes for the following year. 

 After planting, it must not be supposed they will nedd no further 

 care or attention. Much of the success of a good crop of fruit 

 depends upon keeping the ground clean, and cultivating between 

 the rows; and to insure this, we would recommend planting pota- 

 toes, cabbage, or some other low-growing crop, on the vacant 



