RASPBERRIES 63 
CULTIVATION 
An ignorant garden labourer can soon do a vast 
amount of injury to the raspberry plantation by digging 
over the soil during winter. Such a practice would 
inevitably injure by far the larger proportion of the 
surface roots at a season when new root formation 
is practically at a standstill. Dutch hoeing, hand 
weeding, or the use of a Planet Junior machine, are the 
only methods of cultivation necessary or desirable in a 
closely planted plot. Where, however, abundant room 
is allowed, manure may be lightly forked in the centre 
of the space between the rows, using a three-tined 
- fork. 
As soon as the old fruiting canes have been removed, 
and those to be retained are properly secured, give the 
raspberry plot a heavy dressing of half-decayed farm- 
yard or stable manure, laying it on two inches thick 
over the whole area occupied by the roots. Do not, 
however, use fresh cow manure, or any other wet and 
cold material for this dressing. I have found that the 
manure from spent hot-beds, so much of which becomes 
available at this season of the year in most establish- 
ments, is splendid material for a winter dressing ; but 
this only applies to private gardens. A useful winter 
dressing of chemicals consists of kainit and superphos- 
phate, mixed at the rate of two parts of the former to 
three parts of the latter, and applied at the rate of from 
2 lbs. to 3]bs. per rod, according to the condition of the 
soil. One or two light dressings of nitrate of soda in 
spring will improve growth and increase the size of 
the fruit. Where liquid manure can be spared, no 
mistake can be made in applying it fairly strong to 
raspberries during winter; and where this can be done, 
it reduces the necessity for heavy autumn manuring or 
the application of chemicals. Such a supply also admits 
