BUSH FRUIT 



air. Finally, it should be bome in mind that the black currant 

 bush is a steong grower and therefore requires a good ^ 

 soil and heavy dressings of manure to enable it to pro- *°"c 

 duce fine fruit. 



THE RASPBERRY 



It is often said — though no reason is generally adduced for the 

 truth of the statement — ^that raspberries will thrive 

 well where black currants flourish, but that neither ° 

 raspberries nor black currants are productive where the cherry 

 thrives. Be this as it may, there is no doubt that the soil for rasp- 

 berry canes should be light and of sandy substance, while a yearly 

 dressing of manure is necessary to induce vigorous .. 

 growth. As with aU ground devoted to fruit trees and ^^^re 

 bushes, the digging should not be done with a spade, lest the roots 

 be cut or bruised, but the soil should be gently loosened with a fork, 

 taking care not to disturb the stools of the main plcints. Every 

 autmnn, before the manuring is done, the stray suckers . 

 should be removed and the pruning of the canes *** 



attended to. If the plants are growing well and vigorously there 

 will probably be many canes 5 or 6 feet high to each 

 stool, in which Ccise cut down, close to the ground, all tJ^^ 

 but four; but should the canes be weak, it will be wise ^ 



to leave only three, two, or even one. None of the canes, even if they 

 be strong and vigorous, should be allowed to exceed (say) 5 feet in 

 height, and the tops should be cut off accordingly and brought to a 

 uniform height for each stool. A strong stake should be used for 

 each stool, and the canes should be looped to it — ^with soft-finished 

 garden string — at the top and half-way down. In pruning it is 

 necessary to bear in mind that new wood is required each year, as 

 those canes which have bome fruit never do so a second time. It is 

 important, also, to remember that the stools should not „ 

 be crowded too closely together, so as to prevent the ^ '^^ 

 free access of sun and air. A radius of 3 or 4 feet should be allowed 

 to each stool. 



139 



