1871 



THE WESTERN POMOLOGIST. 



81 



mt %t^ttMt anb Mloton mnttsm. 



Tbe Raspberry— Best Sorts and Cultivation. 



The raspberrj' is of the easiest possible produc- 

 tion, now that we have sorts hardy and otherwise 

 suited to the West. No fruit is more wholesome and 

 refreshing. It couies in on the tail end of the 

 strawberry — the warmest season of the year, and 

 when fresh, ripe frait is most needed and relished. 

 Strange it is, that so few farmers have a raspberry 

 patch. 



The raspberry does best in a moist and rather 

 shaded locality, as for instance, on the north side of 

 a fence, or what is better, on either side of a north 

 and south fence. If grown in such a situation, set 

 the plants in a line two feet from the fence and four 

 feet apart in the row. Parallel with the row of 

 plants, and at a distance of two feet, set stakes three 

 feet high ; to the tops stretch a wire, or fasten verj' 

 small poles, or narrow strips of boards. For gar- 

 den culture there is no better arrangement. The 

 canes and fruit are partially shaded, are protected 

 from wind and kept in place. For field culture set 

 the plants in rows six feet apart and four feet in the 

 rows. 



As to culture, if managed right — the soil well 

 worked, eight to ten inches deep, made rich 

 with manure and the surface mulched, large crops 

 of fruit may be expected, whether partially shaded 

 or fully exposed to the sun. The roots of the rasp- 

 berry naturally ramble about near the surface 

 hence the necessity of mulch to protect the plant 

 from the effects of drouth. 



Set the plants early in the spring, the earlier the 

 better, let them grow at random the first season, and 

 the following season they will produce quite a crop 

 of fruit. The new canes that spring up annually, 

 and upon which the next season's crop of fruit is 

 borne, should be pinched off when about three feet 

 long to induce a growth of latteral canes. As 

 soon as the crop of fruit is gathered, all the old 

 canes and the feeble new ones should be cut out at 

 the ground, and carefully removed to give the new 

 canc^ strength and firmness of growth. 



As to sorts, we regard the Doolittle, Philadelphia, 

 Purple Cane and Golden Cap best, and compara- 

 tively, in the order named. They are the only 

 varieties we can recommend for general cultivation 

 in the West. Clark, Mammoth Cluster, and Miami 



are receiving more or less attention, but in popular- 

 ity with Doolittle are yet in the back ground, We 

 regard the Doolittle among raspberries as we do 

 the Wilson among strawberries, the best and most 

 profitable of their classes of fruits for the market. 

 Purple Cane is the highest flavored berry, but too 

 small and tender for market. It is very juicy, sweet 

 and delicious, and should have a place in every 

 family garden. 



For tbe Weetern Pomologist. 

 Tbe Garden- 



Begin urork. 



By Prof. C. E. BESbET, Iowa Agricultubal Coixegh. 



Though now the ground is covered with snow, 

 and winter seems as strong as ever, it is b}' no means 

 too early for the farmer who intends raising a little 

 "garden truck," and the practical gardener, to be 

 looking about, and at least getting ready foi work. 

 There is nothing like going at anything with a 

 definite plan, and now that we cannot go out into 

 our gardens to work, we can employ our time profit- 

 ably in planning for the spring and summer's work. 

 Everybody is supposed to learn something from 

 year to year. Now let every gardener put down 

 what he learned from last year's work, and in 

 planning for this year take that into consideration. 

 Don't be too hasty however, in drawing conclu- 

 sions ; dont consider a crop a certain failure because 

 the drouth killed it last year. My celery didn't 

 come up until Aurjunt last year, but still my faith is 

 strong, and I shall try it again this season, and con- 

 fidently expect to be able to put on our table as fine 

 an article as may be found at any place in the East. 



But for our planning. How much of any particu- 

 lar crop was raised last year, and what was the 

 demand for it? Cabbages, perhaps, early in the 

 season were high; increase your number of early 

 cabbages for the season. Tomatoes, in your mar- 

 ket, maybe, were plenty, and consequently a drug, 

 decrease your tomato crop — and so on. But don't 

 rush from one extreme to another ; do not, because 

 of the high price of early cabbages last year, plant 

 your whole garden with early cabbages, and noth- 

 ing else. 



And then what of the insects ? Many of these 

 may be kept in check by moving crops about, that 



