44 BUSH-FRUITS 



growth not only tends in itself to decrease produc- 

 tiveness, but the wood is usually not sufficiently dense 

 and well ripened to stand the winter. A stiff, hard 

 clay is equally unfavorable, and any soil which is wet 

 and soggy during -any considerable portion of the year 

 is sure to result in at least partial failure. The rasp- 

 berry is one of the first of all fruits to suffer from 

 excessive moisture in the soil. On the other hand, it 

 quickly suffers from drought at ripening ; hence the 

 demand is for a soil which, while never surfeited with 

 moisture, is at the same time sufficiently retentive to 

 be able to supply it in sufficient quantities throughout 

 the season. 



The variety has something to do with the choice of 

 soils. The more vigorous the variety in habit of 

 growth, the lighter and drier the soil 'best adapted to 

 it, as a rule, and vice versa. The Cuthbert is one of 

 our most vigorous growers, and usually succeeds well 

 on upland, while some of the more feeble growers, 

 like Hansell, may do better on lowlands. 



LOCATION 



The cooler the spot the larger and finer the berries. 

 This is the rule with wild berries. Hence a northern 

 exposure which will, in so far as possible, mitigate the 

 scorching sun and excessive heat likely to occur at 

 ripening time, is the one to be sought, particularly in 

 the mid -continental regions. A location which is too 

 hot may be much alleviated, however, by thorough- 

 going tillage. 



