Small Fruits for Colorado 
By E. P. SANDSTEN 
Small fruit growing is rapidly becoming an important indus¬ 
try in many sections of Colorado. The numerous mining towns 
and camps in the State afford an excellent market for the fruit, 
and since most of these towns are not surrounded by arable land, 
there is practically no local competition. An excellent market in 
many of the large cities in the Mississippi and Missouri Valleys 
is awaiting the Colorado growers, as these centers consume large 
quantities of berries, and since the Colorado berries ripen much 
later than the home-grown and southern fruits, there is little or no 
competition. With a large and growing market for these fruits, 
the Colorado growers should take advantage of their opportunity 
and supply this demand with first-class fruit, packed and handled in 
the most approved manner. 
Soil Requirements .—All the small fruits, such as strawberries, 
red raspberries, black raspberries, currants, and gooseberries, re¬ 
quire a well drained, loamy soil. While heavy clay or adobe soil 
will grow these fruits, the best results are obtained on soils that are 
more open or porous. The subsoil must be open to permit per¬ 
fect drainage; otherwise the plantations will be short-lived. The 
land should have sufficient slope to insure perfect surface drainage. 
Preparation of the Soil .—New land should not be planted to 
small fruits. At least two years should be allowed to subdue the 
land, meanwhile growing such crops as require deep cultivation 
and irrigation. Land on which alfalfa has been growing for a few 
years is generally in fine condition for a small fruit plantation, es¬ 
pecially if the last crop or cutting is plowed under instead of har¬ 
vested for hay. 
The land should be plowed to the depth of 8 to^ io inches in 
the fall and cross-plowed to the same depth in the spring, after 
which it should be thoroughly pulverized and brought into a fine 
silt. Poor preparation of the land is often the sole cause of fail¬ 
ure. 
Red Raspberry. 
' Planting .—The planting should be done in the spring as soon 
as the soil is in workable condition. Strong yearling plants are 
better than older plants and will make more satisfactory growth. 
The plants should be set in rows six feet apart and four feet apart 
