176 FRUIT CULTURE. 



It consists in nipping the tips of the new shoots 

 when they have attained about three feet in 

 height. The effect is to cause laterals to be 

 thrown out in the form of a little tree. These 

 become the fruiting branches of the following 

 year. In this way the shoot is made stocky and 

 often self-supporting. This is a good way to 

 treat the Black Cap family, since they are hardy 

 and do not require winter covering. But such 

 bushes are manifestly more difficult to lay down 

 and cover, and, more than this, the laterals make 

 a late growth and are very liable to be immature 

 when the frosts overtake them. In the Northern 

 States at least it is better to let the canes grow, 

 and to cut back heroically in the spring. The 

 shoots which start low down on the cane wiU be 

 most vigorous and the fruit will require less 

 support. 



An annual dressing of stable manure will keep 

 a plantation in good heart for a score of years. 

 With this simple, yet systematic care, perhaps 

 more certain, abundant, and satisfactory results 

 are obtained than with any other family fruit. 

 Many new varieties are offered for sale, with 

 high praise. It is best, however, to rely upon 

 those which have been tested, while cautiously 

 trying the novelties in a limited way. 



Franconia, Fastolff, Knevett, and Fillbasket 



