44 



poses, one firm of preservers alone having 

 in the season purchased some ten tons for 

 this purpose only. Other manufacturers 

 are planting large acreages to supply their 

 own future requirements. The fruit is 

 also largely used for jam, the preserve 

 being very popular; it has shown a tend- 

 ency, however, to become candied after 

 keeping some time, but this can probably 

 be rectified with experience in the boiling 

 and prepairation of the preserve. 



As a dessert fruit the logan is delicious, 

 being sharper and more refreshing in 

 flavour than the raspberry, but for this 

 purpose the berries must be allowed to 

 become perfectly ripe on the canes. In 

 its half-ripe and firm state it is rather 

 acid, and for this reason, if the fruit is 

 cultivated for dessert purposes, a market 

 fairly close at hand is desirable. It has 

 become especially popular in its fresh 

 state among mining populations, where a 

 fruit with some acidity is much appr:^,- 

 ciated. 



_ The loganberry has only been commer- 

 cially cultivated on any large scale in 

 this country during the past fifteen years. 

 Several growers now have areas of five 

 acres in full bearing, and as these yield 

 up to four tons of fruit per acre, an appre- 

 ciable quantity is now available, and the 

 loganberry may be said to be fairly estab- 

 lished in this country as one of the hardy 

 British fruits. In some instances hop 

 growers have utilised their hop yards for 

 the cultivation of logans, the poles and 

 wires being adaptable for the purpose. 



The period of fruiting of the canes is 

 a lengthy one; the writer from his own 

 plantations picked fruit in prime condi- 

 tion from the middle of July to the end 

 of August. Pickings should be made two 

 or three times a week, according to the 

 weather. 



Cultivation. — The canes (which should 

 be strong and well rooted, and for pre- 

 ference only one year old) should be ob- 

 tained from some source to be reiieu upon 

 as to purity and genuineness of stock. 

 They must be planted, if possible, in 

 November. (In the case of rooted "tips," 

 the planting may be done in April). The 

 rows should not be more than 80 to 100 

 yards in length, 8 feet apart, and plants 8 

 feet from plant to plant; thus 650 to 700 



canes or rooted tips are required per 

 acre. 



"Tips," or rootlets, are obtained by lay- 

 ing the tips of the canes of established 

 stock plants in the soil and allowing them 

 to root. When rooted they are severed 

 from the parent, and transplanted either 

 into permanent plantations or into a bed, 

 where they develop into canes, or 

 " yearlings," as they are termed in the 

 trade. No system of wiring is necessary 

 the first year, though some experienced 

 growers prefer to put up their wiring be- 

 fore planting; this, however, is not abso- 

 lutely essential, as the old and young 

 canes may both conveniently be tied to a 

 stout stake. Where canes have been plan- 

 ted in the autumn, some fruit may be 

 expected the summer following; many 

 market growers, however, adopt the same 

 method as with raspberries, and cut the 

 original canes back within a few inches 

 of the ground shortly after planting in 

 order to concentrate all the strength in 

 the new growth. 



The first year after planting, a crop 

 such as potatoes, peas, beans, or tomatoes 

 may be planted between the rows; the 

 spaces between the logans in the rows may 

 also be utilised if desired. After the first 

 year a thorough system of wiring is abso- 

 lutely essential to success. The posts at 

 each end of the row should be stout (rail- 

 way sleepers do very well) ; they must be 

 well tied down to blocks under the soil 

 and well strutted. All timber used should 

 be well creosoted or tarred. All posts 

 should be six feet out of the ground, with 

 two or three feet underground, and there 

 should be six wires a foot apart, the first 

 one foot off the ground, the sixth at the 

 top of the post; holes should be bored 

 through the posts when in position, and 

 the wires should run free so that they may 

 be strained with some system of strainers 

 from one end. The posts should be 15 to 

 20 feet apart. 



The whole work must be thoroughly and 

 strongly done, the weight of fruit and 

 foliage being very heavy when in full 

 bearing, and the wind resistance very 

 great. 



The old canes should be cut out and 

 burned immediately after the fruit is 

 gathered, and the new canes tied up to 

 ripen. It is advisable, if possible, to 



