186 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
Baumforth, of Pontefract, who states tliat he 
■was led to select it from a batch of North¬ 
umberland Fillbasket Seedlings, from its being 
of a most remarkably vigorous constitution, and 
producing very large, dark-coloured foliage. 
The two sorts were grown together by him for 
several years, and he always found the seedling 
to be about ten days earlier than the parent, 
and to continue bearing later in the season. 
During this period he had ample proof of its 
being not only a distinct variety, but superior 
in all points to Northumberland Fillbasket. 
Our figure shows that it is both handsome and 
prolific, and from having seen and tasted it, 
we can endorse what has been said above 
respecting its size and quality.—T. Moore, 
RASPBERRY GROWING. 
f HIS native fruit has such a delicious 
aroma that one could tell of its presence 
in the fruit-room even though blind¬ 
folded. In the various combinations, with 
sugar, vinegar, &c., in which it is met with 
in every day life, it needs no recommendation, 
being so thoroughly well-known. Here, in 
Manchester, it is usually brought to market 
in cabbage-leaves, and, being gathered without 
the core, is the worst fruit to change hands that 
comes to market, so much so that I have had 
to buy a jar to put my purchased Raspberries 
in, for their own weight pressed the juice out 
of the fruit. This, however, is easily remedied 
if we only leave the core in its place till 
the fruit is side by side with the preserving- 
pan. Yet I have little faith in ever seeing 
this method of marketing the fruit adopted, 
so difficult is it to root out old customs, 
although the change would benefit the buyer 
as well as the seller, there being then no 
more guessing, but honest weight and measure. 
The goods, too, being exposed for sale in the 
ordinary fruit-baskets (punnets) could be easily 
carried from town to town. Where, the fruit is 
grown in one’s own garden, the cabbage leaf 
will do very well, because there would be little 
handling ; but the Raspberry differs from most 
fruits in its management after it is ripe and 
ready for the still-room. I am not sufficiently 
well up in kitchen lore to say who takes 
credit for being author, or more likely 
authoress, of that sage remark, the text of all 
genuine cookery, “ First catch your hare,” and 
that being done consult the cookery-book for 
the next step towards dining on hare soup ; 
but in like manner, it may be said, first get 
fine fruit, and then preserve it. 
If one accidentally happens to take up a 
treatise on fruit-growing, we shall find such 
instructions for Raspberries as the follow¬ 
ing :—“ Dig about them.’’ This is sufficient 
to mark the value of the advice, for the next 
year’s crop is borne upon the young wood* 
and, therefore, the plants must not be “ dug 
about” as the young shoots grow snugly 
under the surface, unlike the Strawberry, 
which is all exposed in its travels. The 
suggestion of Mercy pleading for the unfruit¬ 
ful Fig-tree, does not admit of a literal 
application to the Raspberry, to “ dig about it 
and dung itfor although the manuring would 
be just what is wanted, the digging would be 
ruinous to its creeping stolons and its fine 
fibrous roots. In an ancient burial-ground at 
Tor Abbey, Devon, the graveyard of the 
community was in my time planted with the 
smooth-cane, double-bearing Raspberry, and it 
grew to a fishing-rod size, but whether from 
the fine climate of Torquay, or from the native 
guano of the monks there returned to dust, I 
know not; but such canes and such clusters of 
large fruit I have never seen equalled. Barnet 
was once famous for fine plants of Raspberries, 
as a nurseryman there made them a speciality. 
It was only the other day that I saw some 
drains opened, and where the drainage was 
shallow and worked sluggishly the Raspberry 
plants languished, showing that a water-logged 
medium w r a3 not suited for them. 
In planting, the rows should be wide apart, 
because the bearing wood must- be tied to 
stakes or wire rods upright, while the young 
shoots for next year straggle and must be con¬ 
fined within bounds, yet so as to have plenty 
of air and light. Although the small kinds 
may be propped with stakes 4 ft. high, the large, 
smooth caned sorts will reach 6 or 7 ft. The 
Antwerps, red and white, attain as large a size, 
and often bear a crop in autumn in good situa¬ 
tions. Plant on raised ridges, so as to have 
depth enough; lay plenty of old dung on the 
line of ridge, and on the top of that place the 
plants to your satisfaction, and cover in lightly 
say 4 in. of soil, and as the plants are cheap, 
put in plants for immediate effect. 
There are only some five or six sorts worth 
