THE RUSHIRE FRUIT FARM, IONIA, MICH. 
17 
PRUNING RASPBERRIES 
AND BLACKBERRIES. 
Our object of pruning is to secure a 
larger, richer and better flavored fruit 
as well as to prevent exhaustion of the 
plant. The pulp or that part we 
call fruit does not devitalize the plant, 
and were it not for the seeds the more 
wood the better, and the next season there 
would be no diminution of the crop; as al- 
ready explained, the formation of seeds is an 
exhaustive process, and if allowed to over- 
bear heavily will so deplete the plant's ener- 
gies that in most cases a large crop will not 
be secured again in two or three years, if 
ever. There are as many seeds in a small 
berry, and they are almost as large, as in a 
big one, and the plant will give its whole 
life and energy to bring it to maturity. 
Now if we relieve the bush of a part of this 
burden the seeds in the balance will be 
more vigorous and the pulp much larger and 
take on a richer and higher flavor. To 
determine just how much wood we shall 
remove is a nice point and will require 
much skill and experience. The bush 
should be allowed to bear all it can bring 
to the highest perfection. Some varieties can 
be cut much shorter than others. Soils rich 
in nitrogen have a tendency to grow much 
wood and little fruit and should be pruned 
longer to secure the proper number of buds, 
while land rich in potash and phosphorous 
and poor in nitrogen will make less wood 
and set many more buds, hence must be 
pruned shorter. 
The work can be done at any time after 
growth has ceased in the fall. Many of our 
most successful growers prune long in fall 
and winter and then after the fruit has set 
go over it again and cut away where they 
require it. If a plantation of raspberries is 
properly pruned it can be maintained in 
strong fruiting vigor seven or eight years, 
and blackberries ten to twelve years; but if 
not properly pruned will often cease to be 
profitable in three or four years. The en- 
graving, with these suggestions, will give a 
correct idea as to how the work should be 
done. 
The Planet Jr. Manufacturing Company 
of Philadelphia, manufacture one of the 
finest tools I ever saw for cultivating in rasp- 
THE PLANET JR. RASPBERRY CULTIVATOR. 
berries, blackberries or grapes. The teeth 
are so arranged as to lift up and ajrify 
the soil, and the fining attachment at 
the rear breaks up every lump and 
leaves it perfectly level to act as a 
mulch and at the same time cuts of? 
every sucker or large weed, which is an ex- 
ceedingly difficult thing to do with the ordi- 
nary cultivator teeth. These teeth never 
dive down into the roots. It is easily adjusted 
either as to width or depth, it being done 
instantly by a lever right by the hand. 
The plants lierein ottered are large 
roots from young pedigree stock and must 
not be compared with plants sent out by 
the ordinary nurserymen who contract with 
Tom. Dick and Harry out of old, worn- 
out patches. They are dug with greatest 
care, packed at once in abundance of moss. 
Order early so as to have them ship- 
ped by freight and save express charges. 
The Coni-ath. Discovered near Ann 
Arbor, Mich., in 1886. No black raspberry 
is now attracting more attention nor has any 
variety ever received higher encomiums from 
horticultural stations and fruit growers gen- 
erally. At Ann Arbor where anthrachnoose 
and rust had nearly ruined their plantations 
it stood entirely free from its ravages and 
produced the finest crops. In that vicinity 
where it is best known, it is being more 
largely set than all others combined. The 
demand for plants is sure to exceed the 
supply for several years. The photograph 
engraving shows the exact size of fruit 
which is jet glossy black, and the most 
beautiful in the box of any berry I have 
ever seen. It has never been injured by 
cold nor ever received protection in winter. 
Season medium early to very late. I am 
