138 



SMALL FEUIT CULTURIST. 



the stronger growing kinds tlie rows should De at least 

 six feet apart, and the j)lants four or five feet apart m the 

 rows. 



In planting the smaller growing kinds, two plants may 

 be set in a hill, placing them about six inches apart ; for 

 in this way we doable the cliances of securing a uniform 

 plantation, because one may die and the other live; and 

 if both should grow, a Large stool will be secured in less 

 time than if the plants were placed singly. The first cost 

 of the plant is not usually of so much importance as the 

 loss of a crop, or of a year in time, which Avould be the 

 result wherever the plants should die and have to be re- 

 placed. Sj^ring is the usual time in the Northern States 

 for planting the Raspberry, and the fall for sections where 

 the ground does not freeze very deeply. 



Select plants that have plenty of small fibrous roots, 

 and set them no deeper than they were before removal. 

 The upper tier of roots is usually about four inches below 

 the surface, but in some instances tliey will be at a far 

 greater depth. It is not advisable, however, to plant 

 deeply, because the suckers which sprmg from the stem 

 below ground, or from the lateral roots, will not come up 

 so freely when the plants are set deep as when shallow. 

 At the time of planting, cut the canes down close to the 

 surface of the soil, because if they are left entire, it will 

 require nearly, if not quite, all the strength of the root to 

 force the buds on them into growth. These will produce 

 a few weak shoots, and perhaps some fruit, and then the 

 canes will die down to the root and no farther. 



The entire forces of the plant are required the first sea- 

 son to produce canes, if anything like a crop of fruit is 

 expected the next. 



In some sections of tlie country the soil is naturally 

 very poor, and it may also be very difficult to obtain suf- 

 ficient manure to enrich the whole of it before planting. 

 Under such circumstances, the plants may bo manured in 



