35 



that number of the " ever-bearing" sorts will supply the table frbm the time Black- 

 berries are gone until the ground freezes. 



This fruit is also proving very profitable to dry, and for those who live too far from 

 large markets or access to the railroad, the growing of Raspberries for drying purposes 

 will prove very remunerative indeed. We give on another page a plan for a drying 

 house. Those having a hop house will find it very convenient for this purpose, and to 

 those having hot-bed sash, we would say, make a shed about six or eight feet high, 

 having a passage through the center, and each side filled up with drawers to be pulled 

 out from the outside, over this put your sash, and in it put a cheap sheet iron stove. 

 Those varieties that are the firmest will prove the most profitable for drying purposes, 

 as it takes less quarts to make a pound of fruit, — for instance,- 2 quarts of the 

 Golden Thornless or Golden Cap will make a pound of dried frurt — 2$ quarts of 

 the Black Cap, and about 3 quarts of the Red. The more general cultivation of this 

 fruit has been greatly deterred by so many worthless and tender sorts being dissemi- 

 nated over the country. We have lost thousands of dollars by these tender sorts^ — 

 having tried all varieties of any note, have discarded all but those named in our list, 

 and we would here say that it includes all of the best sorts now known or grown in 

 this country. We are yearly testing new varieties of not only Raspberries, but all other 

 kinds of small fruits, and shall give our opinion of the same in The Fruit 



Recorder from time to time. The 



PROFITS OF RASPBERRIES. 



Depend greatly on the culture given them and the market. We usually average from 

 10 to 15 cents per quart through the season. In some markets the red sell better than 

 the black, and others vice versa. In many of our large cities the larger red raspber- 

 ries, such as Hornet, Clark and Pranconia, sell readily for 10 to 15 cents per pint, 

 while the black and smaller red sell for 8 to 12 cents. It is better for any party to 

 make himself acquainted with a market and its Wants, before setting too largely of 

 certain kinds. The yield varies with different sorts ; for instance, the Mammoth 

 Cluster will easily yield on an average 100 bushels to the acre with ordinary cultiva- 

 tion, while the other black sort3 run from 60 to 80, and yet it is desirable to plant 

 both, in order to have early fruit — as the Mammoth Cluster is very late. Some sea- 

 sons an early sort, that yields but 50 to 60 bushels per acre will bring more profit than 

 a later sort that will yield 100 bushels, and vice versa. The Kirtland, for instance, a 

 medium sized red variety, yields its entire crop of 50 to 60 bushels per acre, very early 

 — in two or three pickings, and if sent into a market where early raspberries are com- 

 manding a high price nets more money to the producer than the Philadelphia, that 

 yields from 100 to 150 bushels per acre. One will see at a glance that the last costs 

 twice to three times as much to pick and market, and selling for only about half the 

 price in many markets, does not really bring as much profits. We simply refer to 

 these facts here, to show the necessity of planting out an assortment of early and late 

 sorts. For distant markets this fruit should never he shipped in a tight box or crate. 

 We always prefer to ship them in fruit baskets, set on slat divisions, as shown in the 

 first part of this work. Great care should be exercised in picking the fruit, not to 

 have it wet when gathered, and not to allow it to get over ripe. If it is thus it will 

 quickly mould and spoil. We alternate on our plantation in picking, going over half 

 the plantation every other day. We have a great many inqujries as to the compara- 

 tive profits of Strawberries and Raspberries. We desire to answer all such here, by 

 saying, that for perhaps the two first years, on the same soil, Strawberries will prove 

 the most profitable, (although if vegetables are grown between the Raspberries the 

 first year or two, as much money can be realized from the ground, as it is not desirable 

 to plant such between Strawberries.) When, however, we take into consideration the 

 longevity of a Raspberry plantation — standing on the same soil 6 to 8 years — if well 

 cared for,' the little band work required to keep them clean and their certain bearing 

 every year, we should say, Raspberries, in the long run, on the same piece of ground, 

 have proved the most profitable with us. Space will not allow us to go further into 

 this subject, but we shall speak more fully on it in Thb Recorder from time to time. 



CULTIVATION. 



There are different methods of cultivation, some using stakes. This we consider 

 an expensive and use'ess practice, unless it be for garden planting, where very close , 



