RAPISTRUM. 
_ tank, is to apply it by means of a water-cart to 
the rows where the seed has been already drilled, 
or some time before it is put in. Where flax is 
to be sown, this mixture applied a few days be- 
fore the seed is sown, so as to allow it to sink 
into the soil, is considered in Flanders as next in 
value to the emptyings of privies, which with 
them hold the first rank, for producing fine crops 
of flax. When a crop appears sickly and not 
growing as it should do, owing to poverty in the 
soil, a top-dressing of rape-cake, dissolved in 
water if no urine is at hand, will generally ex- 
cite the powers of vegetation; and it is highly 
probable that it may greatly assist the effects of 
saltpetre or of nitrate of soda, where these salts 
are applied.” 
RAPHANUS. See Ravisu. 
RAPHIOLEPIS. See Inpran Hawznorn. 
RAPISTRUM. <A genus of yellow-flowered 
herbaceous plants, of the cruciferous order. It 
takes its name from the similarity of its leaves 
to those of the turnip. Two annual species and 
a perennial one, all hardy and less than two feet 
high, have been introduced to Britain from ©on- 
tinental Europe and the Levant; but they pos- 
sess little interest. 
RAPUNCULUS. See Bretirnrower and Ram- 
PIONS. 
RASPBERRY. The Rubus deus of Linnzus, 
belonging to the order Rosacee of Jussieu, is in- 
digenous to the moist woods of many parts of Bri- 
tain. The styles being persistent, the fruit has a 
bristly appearance, from which the name raspis or 
rasp has been given. The fruit is very desirable 
both for the dessert, and for making jam, tarts, 
and sauces. Eaten fresh with cream and sugar, it 
makes an excellent supper-dish, and may be had 
from July to November. 
The varieties chiefly cultivated are the follow- 
ing: the common red and common white, the 
large red Antwerp, the large yellowish-white 
Antwerp, the cane or smooth-stalked, also called 
reed raspberry, the twice-bearing white, the 
twice-bearing red, and the Barnet or Cornwall’s 
seedling,—“a variety,” says Rogers, “ which being 
raised from seed, will no doubt be the forerunner 
of a host of others.” Some still prefer the common 
kinds of red and white, thinking that an increase 
of size in the larger varieties has been purchased 
at the expense of flavour; but the new varieties 
are, upon the whole, to be accounted preferable. 
The second crop of the twice-bearing kind is in 
general deficient both in flavour and size ; but, 
_ by means of it, the raspberry season is prolonged 
till the beginning of November. It is to be par- 
ticularly noticed, however, that the fruit should 
be regularly gathered as it ripens, and should be 
almost immediately used after being gathered ; 
it will remain good on the bush for a few days 
after being ripe, but a dish of raspberries kept in 
the house for two days, will generally be found 
to have lost flavour, and to be tainted by mag- 
- gots. 
Sucker-shoots rising abundantly afford plenty 
of plants; but they should always be taken from 
stools in full bearing. They are planted any 
time from October to February. The distance is 
seldom less than three feet between the plants, 
and the quincunx order is generally adopted, 
five feet being left between the rows. If the 
larger varieties be planted, the distances are in- 
creased. A raspberry plantation continues good 
for six or seven years; but after the lapse of that 
period, it should be entirely renewed ; it is gene- 
rally in perfection the third year after planting ; 
so that a new raspberry quarter should be pre- 
pared two years before the old one be grubbed up. 
During summer raspberry-plants receive little 
attention. The ground is repeatedly hoed, and 
a few of the superfluous suckers are sometimes 
removed. Before winter, the ground is com- 
monly dug and left rough. In some places the 
stools are dressed at this season (November); and 
a slight crop of coleworts is put between the 
rows. If this be not done, the general pruning 
is: deferred till February or March, when the de- | | 
cayed stems of the former year are cut out, and 
the new ones regulated and tied: for there is. 
this peculiarity about raspberry-bushes, that the 
stems which bear fruit in one year die in the 
following winter ; leaving in their place a suc- 
cession of new stems, which have been produced 
during the summer. Where the stools are very 
strong, six or eight stems are allowed to remain ; 
but in young or weak plants, only half that num- 
ber are suffered to carry fruit. At the same 
time, the tender tops which have been injured 
by frost and hang down, are eut off. Plants 
pruned or dressed before winter, it may be ob- 
served, sustain most injury from frost ; the old 
stems, when left, affording a degree of protection 
to the young shoots. In exposed situations 
stakes are found necessary for supporting the 
stems; but.in general it is thought sufficient to 
twist the shoots loosely together, and to tie them. | 
Sometimes, — 
at top with a strand of bass-mat. 
the tips of half the shoots on one stool are tied 
to half the shoots of the next; and in this way 
a series of festoons or arches is formed, producing 
a very agreeable appearance, and at the same 
time affording security against the highest winds. 
The raspberry-bush grows freely in any good 
garden soil; but it is the better for being slightly 
moist, Although the place be enclosed by trees, 
and even slightly shaded, the plant succeeds. In 
an enclosed and well sheltered quarter, with ra- 
ther a damp soil, containing a proportion of peat- 
moss, we have seen very great crops of large and 
well-flavoured berries produced. Sometimes a 
few plants are trained against a west wall, or a 
trellis or rail, and the fruit here comes more: 
early and of larger size. By training against a. 
north wall, the crop is proportionally retarded. 
New varieties of raspberry are easily raised from 
the seed; and they come to bear in the second: 
year. 
