GROWING RASPBERRIES 
Select any well drained soil, preferably sandy 
loam or light clay or soil that will produce such 
crops as corn or potatoes. It is advisable to 
spread the land with manure before planting. 
Early spring planting is most satisfactory. For 
hill system the usual distance to plant is 5 ft. by 
5 ft. If the hedge system is desired, plant 3 ft. 
apart in rows which are 5 to 7 feet apart. Before 
planting, the tops should be cut back to 6 inches 
or less, and plants should be set 2 to 3 inches 
deeper than they grew in the nursery (soil mark 
is very plain). Cultivate frequently enough to 
retain moisture and kill weeds, but be sure not to 
cultivate over 2 to 8 inches deep next to plants. 
After the fruiting season remove all fruiting canes, 
cutting them close to the ground and burning them. 
This will help prevent disease and greatly aid new 
growth. Do not allow over 8 canes to grow to the 
plant. Remove all weak canes and suckers so as 
to throw all the strength into the young bearing 
canes. Topping canes in the early spring will 
strengthen the canes and aid in picking. Rasp- 
berries respond readily to fertile soil, and sufficient 
fertilizer or manure should be used to keep the 
soil in good fertile condition. A mulch of straw, 
hay, leaves, etc., helps retain moisture and takes 
the place of cultivation. 
GROWING GRAPES 
Plant in a well drained location six to eight feet 
apart. If set in rows the rows should be about 
8 feet apart. Before setting, vines should be 
pruned back so that only a few inches of stalk 
remain with two or three buds. Roots may also 
be trimmed to an 8 to 10 inch length. Be sure to 
dig holes large enough to spread roots well and 
set slightly deeper than roots grew in nursery 
(this is indicated by a definite soil mark). 
Stable manure is an excellent fertilizer. Nitrate 
of Soda at rate of 4 to 8 ozs. per bush is also 
widely used. 
Grapes may be trained along a garden fence or 
GROWING 
Asparagus grows best on light, loamy soil but is 
successful on practically any good garden soil. 
Before planting the soil should be worked well and 
furrows run out 6 to 10 inches deep, four to five 
feet apart. Roots should be set 12 to 18 inches 
apart down the furrows with roots well spread out. 
The crowns are covered firmly with three inches 
of soil when set and when cultivating the soil is 
gradually worked into the remaining furrow over 
a period of about 60 days or until level. Do not 
a regular arbor may be constructed to suit the 
desired arrangement in the garden. A_ simple 
method is to follow the practice of the commercial 
growers and settle posts from which three wires 
are strung with the lower wire supporting the 
vines as they grow from the main trunk and the 
middle and top wires to support the vine growth. 
This simple arrangement makes easy pruning as 
all that is necessary is to prune back to the main 
trunk branches along the lower wire in February 
or Mareh before signs of new growth. FULL 
PRUNING AND GENERAL CULTURAL DIREC- 
TIONS WILL BE SENT WITH YOUR ORDER. 
ASPARAGUS 
fill furrow too fast to prevent smothering. 
Cultivation should be thorough and at intervals 
frequent enough to keep down weeds, and conserve 
moisture. Shoots may be cut for two or three 
weeks the year following planting and thereafter 
as long as desirable and then let tops grow. 
Right after cutting season the field should be 
given a heayy application of stable manure or 
commercial fertilizer high in nitrogen, at the rate 
of 10 to 25 pounds per 100 feet of row. 
GROWING RHUBARB 
Plants should be spaced from 3 to 4 feet apart 
and the crowns set 4 inches below the surface so 
they will be covered with 2 to 8 inches of soil. 
Firm soil about the roots with the feet. Apply 
liberal quantities of manure or fertilizer on land 
before planting. Shallow cultivation often enough 
to control weeds is all that is required. Mulching 
is an easy method of weed control. 
GROWING BLACKBERRIES, BOYSENBERRIES 
Culture is very similar to Raspberries. Cut 
back the plants when set, leaving 3 inches and not 
more than 6 inches of cane. Set plants same 
distance as Raspberries. Dig holes large enough 
to spread roots well and just deep enough to leave 
the crown or new growth about one inch under the 
soil. Pack soil firm, but not too hard, over the 
bud so it can start growth without interference. 
Water well if ground is dry. Bush fruits do not 
need plant food the first year after planting. Well 
rotted stable manure makes a good mulch in late 
fall before the ground freezes. FULL PRUNING, 
MULCHING AND OTHER INFORMATION IN- 
CLUDED WITH YOUR ORDER. 
GROWING SWEET POTATOES 
Sweet potatoes are most productive and the 
tubers are better formed when grown on sandy or. 
light soils. Plants may be set as soon as all 
danger of frost is past. Set on wide ridges 32 to 36 
inches apart with the plants 12 to 18 inches apart 
in the ridge. On very light sandy soil the plants 
may be set level and ridges formed through culti- 
vation, but on average soils it is best to form the 
Tidges before planting. 
Plants should be kept moist and protected from 
sun and wind until set. Watering as the plants 
are set is a good practice. Cultivate until the 
vines practically cover the ground or tubers begin 
to form. Topdress with complete fertilizer, high 
in potash, a week to 10 days after planting at the 
rate of 4 to 6 pounds per 100 feet of row. 
When digging. if the potatoes are to be stored 
for later use. care should be taken to avoid bruis- 
ing and searring. Lining the containers with 
paper is a good practice. Store in a dry, warm 
place where the temperature will not fall below 
50 degrees. 
COMPLETE PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS SENT WITH EACH ORDER. 
Rayner Brothers offer you a complete service on planting, eare and future maintenance of | 
; 
your plants. Our “Better Berries’ 
seasonal information you may need. 
are mailed FREE 
40 
to Rayner Brothers’ 
bulletins are mailed on timely schedules to give you the 
There is never a charge for these extra services. 
customers. 
These 
RELY ON RAYNER BROTHERS 
