THE RASPBERRY. 



Next to the strawberry, the raspberry is the most popular bush fruit grown 

 in Ontario, and as it follows the former in season the consumer is well supplied 

 with these two fruits most of the summer. The raspberry being- a native of On- 

 tario, is hardy in almost all parts of the Province, hence it is cultivated over a 

 very wide area. 



Like the other bush fruits, the raspberry does best when grown in a cool, 

 moist, but well drained soil. While this soil should be of good quality, if it is 

 very rich in nitrogen the growth may be too rank and in some localities the canes 

 on this account are more liable to winter injury. The best success is usually 

 obtained with a good clay loam, although the raspberry will do fairly well in 

 most kinds of soil. The preparation of the land should be the same as for other 

 bush fruits. The plants may be set either in fall or spring, although if young 

 growing suckers are used they may be planted successfully any time in the early 

 part of the summer where the soil is moist. Red raspberries are usually planted 

 in rows six feet apart with the plants three feet apart in the rows, although they 

 may be cultivated longer and better if grown in hills about five feet each way, 

 and for the amateur this is the best way to grow them. The cultivation of the 

 raspberry should be thorough to retain moisture, as in the fruiting season a good 

 supply of moisture is very important. Some growers prefer pinching back the 

 canes in summer when they are from eighteen inches to two feet in height, be- 

 lieving that they get a better crop by so doing, but this system is not recommended 

 as it has been found by experiments that red raspberries succeed better when the 

 growth is not headed back in summer. Sometimes, also, the pinching is delayed 

 and the laterals which are made do not ripen thoroughly and the canes are in- 

 jured by winter. It is best to let the canes make full growth in summer and if 

 they are very tall they may be headed back to three or four feet in height before 

 growth begins in the spring. Black raspberries are planted most successfully in the 

 spring. They should be s^t rather shallow, as if planted deep they will not grow. 

 Stockier plants will be obtained if the plants are set in a furrow and lightly cov- 

 ered with soil, applying more soil as the plants grow until the field is level. 

 Pinching back in summer is a good practice with black raspberries, as it makes 

 the plants stockier and better able to withstand storms. The thinning out of 

 the canes may be done in fall or spring. Seven or eight of the strong canes of 

 red raspberries to a hill and three or four of black raspberries are sufficient to 

 leave. If the raspberries are grown in a hedge row the weakest canes should be 

 removed, leaving those which are to fruit about six inches apart. The rasp- 

 berry plantation should be kept well supplied with plant food, but a too liberal 

 use of nitrogenous fertilizers, as previously stated, should be avoided. 



In the colder parts of the country it is a very good practice to bend the canes 

 down in the fall for better protection in winter, the canes being held in place by 

 covering the tips with soil. By adopting this plan serious winter Injury rarely 

 occurs. » 



Varieties Recommended. 

 General List, Approved by the Board of Control. 



Black: Hilborn, Older, Gregg, Smith Giant. 

 Purple: C-olumbian, Shaflter. 

 Bed: Marlboro, Herbert, Cuthbert. 

 White: Golden Queen, 



Ti.'JTRicT Lists, Recommended by the Experimenters. 

 Lake Huron District: By A. E. Sherrington, AValkerton, Ont, 

 Cfimmercial and Domestic : 



Black: Hilborn. Conrath, Older, 



Purple: Columbian, Shaffer, 



Red: Marlboro, Herbert, Cuthbert, 



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