JAN.J SMALL FRUITS. 205 



the leading shoots and branches at the distance of 

 nine or ten inches from each other : Thus keeping 

 the plant free and open in the heart, and fanning it 

 out regularly, on all sides. Suckers often rise from 

 the roots of these plants, which should all be clear- 

 ed away. 



Of pruning Raspberries. 



Raspberries may now also be pruned. They pro- 

 duce their fruit entirely on the shoots of last year, 

 a supply of which rise from the roots of the plant, 

 each summer, in great abundance. The old shoots 

 being now of no further use, are to be removed, and 

 three or four of the best of those produced last sea- 

 son should be retained in their places ; at the same 

 time clearing away all the rest of the young shoots ; 

 never leaving more than three or four of the strong- 

 est, otherwise the plant would become quite a bush 

 next summer, and get out of all kind of order. 



The most simple method, and perhaps the best, 

 of supporting them, is, to twist or plait the shoots 

 loosely together, and tie them at top with matting, 

 pack-thread, or spun-yarn. If the shoots be pretty 

 strong they will require no stake, unless the situa- 

 tion be very much exposed to the wind. Previous 

 to tying, the shoots may generally be shortened a 

 few inches. 



A fanciful, and indeed a very sensible method of 

 dressing raspberries, also, is to tie or plait. the points 

 of one-half of the shoots on the stools, respectively 

 with each other, so as that each line may form a row 

 of festoons, or arches; by which means they are per- 



