234 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



different habit. There appears to be no doubt 

 that hybrid Rubi have been raised in gardens, 

 but some of the so-called hybrids between the 

 Raspberry and others are seedling forms of 

 B. Idceus simply. " Seedling Raspberries from 

 the Yellow Antwerp produce, for the most part, 

 yellow fruit with but little variation, except 

 that a few will give red fruit. It is rare to 

 find any variety worth perpetuating among 

 them. Seedlings from the Red Antwerp and 

 Fastolf also vary but little. The latter is said 

 to have produced both the Yellow and Red 

 October Raspberries, which reproduce them- 

 selves from seeds with but little variation " 

 (T. Rivers, 1863). 



There is a variety of the Raspberry which is 

 found wild only in Britain, and is known to 

 botanists as Rubus Idceus Leesii. This is also 

 said to have been raised artificially by crossing 

 the Strawberry with the Raspberry. 



Soil and Situation. — Raspberries succeed in any 

 garden soil that is not too stiff, but preferably 

 in one that is rich and rather moist. They grow 

 well in sandy alluvial ground, also in peat and 

 soils that are mixed with peat ; but those which 

 are heavy and compact, becoming hard in dry 

 weather, are not suitable. The ground should 

 be trenched at least 2 feet deep and a good 

 dressing of manure added, placing it between 

 the spits of soil as the trenching proceeds. An 

 annual mulch of farmyard manure should also 

 be given. 



Planting. — Raspberries are usually planted in 

 rows, and their canes tied to stakes. In this 

 way the distance allowed between the rows 

 may be 5 feet, and that between the plants in 

 the row 3 feet. In very rich soil, 3 feet between 

 the rows, and 3 or 4 feet between the plants in 

 the row, would be more suitable distances; or 

 the rows may be 8 feet apart, so that other 

 crops may be sown between. Care should be 

 taken that the soil is kept well manured and 

 sufficiently moist. 



Raspberries are sometimes planted for arched 

 training, in rows 4 feet asunder, and the same 

 distance between the plants in the row (fig. 

 1031). When planted to be trained against an 

 espalier, they may be 2 feet apart (fig. 1032). 

 The best time to plant is October or early in 

 November. If one-cane suckers are used they 

 should be planted in triangular groups of three 

 about 9 inches apart. They should be planted 

 firmly. The canes should be cut to within 

 6 inches of the ground as soon as they show 

 signs of growth. 



The Raspberry sends up shoots or canes in 



spring which lose their leaves in autumn, and 

 from these canes branchlets push in the fol- 

 lowing spring, on which fruit is produced in 

 the course of the summer and autumn. The 

 branchlets diverge in all directions, so that in 

 the natural state they cannot be overcrowded. 

 Whilst these are bearing the fruit new canes 



Fig. 1(13]. —Raspberry— Arched Training. 



spring from the base, and suckers frequently 

 spring from the roots, at a distance from the 

 plant. These bear in the following season, 

 forming a succession to those which are bear- 



Fig. 1032— Raspberry— Espalier Training. 



ing, and which die back to the ground before 

 winter. 



Pruning and Training. — When the plants are 

 intended to be fastened to stakes in the usual 

 way, the pruning and training are very simple: 

 especially with a new plantation, where one, 

 two, or three canes have been planted to be tied 

 to a single stake. Stakes are not necessary the 

 first season, as the canes require to be cut down 

 as advised, although, if strong, and fruit be de- 

 sired the first season, they should be shortened 

 more than the bearing shoots of an established 

 plantation. The object of cutting back the 

 year-old canes is to invigorate the young ones. 

 When these push, three, four, or five of the 

 strongest of them should be encouraged; the 

 others ought to be rubbed off, or destroyed by 

 means of the suckering-iron. 



In October or November the plantation should 



