152 FRUIT GARDEN. 
strongest are left, which are shortened about a third. As 
the stalks are too weak to stand by themselves, they are 
sometimes connected together by the points in the manner 
of arches, so as to antagonize and mutually support each 
other, and sometimes they are attached to stakes. Perhaps 
the best support is obtained by fastening the points of the 
shoots to a slight horizontal rail or bar about four feet high, 
and placed a foot and a half on the south side of the rows. 
By this means the bearing shoots are deflected from the 
perpendicular to the sunny side of the row, and are not 
shaded by the annual wood. The ground between the rows 
should be well digged in winter, and kept clean. Fresh plan- 
tations of raspberriesshould be made every six or seven years. 
The double-bearing varieties, which continue to bear during 
autumn, require light soils and warm situations. It may 
be mentioned that the crop of any of the varieties ‘may be 
retarded by breaking off the points of the bearing shoots at 
an early period in spring; but, like all other fruits, the 
flavor of the raspberry ‘is highest when it is allowed to 
ripen at its natural season. 
Although several varieties of this fruit are found growing 
wild in the United States, some of which are exceedingly 
fine flavored, as for example, those abounding in the north- 
ern states and British’ provinces, still the best cultivated 
kinds have been brought from Europe. Nichol enumer- 
ates twenty-three varieties, among which are the American 
red and black, the Long Island, the Virginia, the Ohio 
ever-bearing, and the Pennsylvania. Some of the Ameri- 
can varieties may be propagated by layers, so as to pro- 
duce fruit the second year. New kinds of choice qualities 
from the seed of the best European, often hybridized with 
native American varieties, are produced in the United 
