CHAPTER III 



SLACK EASPBERRIES 



The black -cap raspberries are more homogeneous 

 in character than the red varieties. They, are all true 

 American fruits, being developments from the common 

 wild black raspberries. 



SOIL FOR BLACK -CAPS 



Black -caps succeed on a wide range of soils, but 

 thrive best on one which is rich, deep, moist and well 

 drained. Sandy or clay loams are preferable. A loca- 

 tion where water stands for any length of time is never 

 permissible. Let the grower who has ever gathered 

 wild black raspberries recall how luxuriantly they 

 grow in newly- cleared land, abounding in leaf -mold, 

 and take a lesson therefrom. Virgin soil filled with 

 leaf -mold is no longer available, but it is possible to 

 greatly add to the humus in the soil which is to be 

 used, thereby approximating the conditions found in 

 the forest clearing. It should not be forgotten that 

 humus greatly increases the drought -resisting quality 

 of soils, a point of the utmost importance in berry- 

 growing. A soil rich in humus will do much toward 

 supplying the elements of plant-food needed, by 

 rendering available plant -food which is already in the 

 soil and preventing its loss. In Kansas, the uplands 



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