110 MAKING HORTICULTURE PAY 



helps to protect the canes from being broken by the 

 snow. The principal varieties of raspberries grown 

 are Gregg, Cuthbert, and Snyder. The Snyder is 

 not doing as well as formerly, so we are trying 

 other varieties with some success. 



" We find a great difference in the durability of 

 the different varieties of blackcaps, Gregg stand- 

 ing from six to ten years, while Eureka will last 

 but two to four. Blackcaps need good, new 

 ground, and blackberries will do very well follow- 

 ing blackcaps. We have Cuthberts 12 years old 

 as good as any we have. In fact, none of our Cuth- 

 berts have run out. We use a light dressing of 

 wood ashes nearly every year, and sometimes a 

 fertilizer containing phosphoric acid and potash. 



" Blackberry bushes are not trimmed as closely 

 as blackcaps, but enough for convenience in culti- 

 vating. Red raspberries are not trimmed until 

 spring. We get an average yield of perhaps a 

 quart to the bush, or 50 bushels to the acre, some- 

 times getting as many as 125 crates to the acre or 

 2^2 quarts to the bush. The crop is usually sold 

 on the local market, which we have tried to please 

 with fine fruit and fair dealings. We have been 

 rewarded with good prices and a growing demand." 



As to the pruning of raspberries and blackberries, 

 L. R. Johnson of Missouri says : " The one reason 

 for spring pruning is that the tender blackberries 

 and all the raspberries die back more or less 

 through the winter, and if pruned in the fall would 

 have to be pruned again in the spring to remove 

 dead wood. Some growers wait till the blossoms 

 open in order to measure by the bloom how much 

 wood to leave. And there is good reason in this, 

 for buds do not always form regularly along the 



