Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-04-03
agricultural,
Small Fruits.

We copy from the circular of a leading
nurseryman the following remarks con-
corning small fruits:
RAs PBERRIEs.
After a series of unsuccessful attempts
to produce sat isfactory results with tender
raspberries, have come to the conclusion
that to raise raspberries so as TO be within
reach OF the masses, the tender varieties
must be discarded and attention confined
to the recently improved hardy sorts.
Hardy raspberries are of easy culture,
adapted to any soil suitable for growing
corn. The rows should be seven feet apart
and the plants three feet apart in the row;
any root crop may be raised between the
rows the first season, after which they will
require the whole ground. Be careful not
TO till too deep near the plants, as the feed
ing roots run near the surface, we have
found an appliance of fine bone, to be
worked in at the first tending in the spring,
to give very satisfactory results. The lat
ter part of winter. cut out the old wood
that has borne the year before, also be
careful to cut back, say one-third of the
previous years growth, which will reduce
the amount of fruit to about what the
plants will be able to bear. and so balance
the bush that it will not require any stakes,
as is the ease with the varieties whose
canes have been weakened by bending
down for winter protection
STRAWBERRIES.
The most productive soil for the straw
berry is good sand and clay loam but as
this soil requires more culture than sandy
soil, the latter are much more used in some
sections they also have further advan-
tage in ripening the same variety OF fruit
earlier, and when heavily MANFRED give
good returns. A. the crop is much short
ened by dry weather, all stiff clay subsoils
should be mellowed several inches below
the depth of ordinary blowing. As sub
selling heavy ground is essential for the
largest yield. it also requires winter mulch
ing 10 keep the plants from being disturb
ell by frequent thawing. Cornstalks, one
layer deep. have proved the best mulch for
(being careful TO keep clear of anything
containing grass or weed seed,) not more
than one inch deep. In some special eases
1t may be expedient to set from the mid
die of August to the middle of September,
but undoubtedly the best time is in the
spring. Guard against setting when the
ground is very dry, or on 4 windy day.
When plants are received examine
them at once; if they are heating, take
them out of the package and keep them
moist by trenching or otherwise, until you
are ready to set them; If any are quite dry,
trench them in moist soil, covering tops
and all in most cases ordinary garden soil
l. too dry, and as fast as the plants are
trenched ii should be literally wet:)
gradually uncover the tops after three or
four days. when they can be kept until
the ground is ready.
As a field crop set the plants in rows
four 10 five feet apart. and one foot apart
IN the row. Prepare the drills As for
planting turnips several days previous:
rake them down to the ordinary lcvel.n
'''9''i NHdd halltu, WHICH VIII furnish
moist earth to set the plant in which
should have the earth compressed around
i, SO that the plant can not be drawn mp
again by one leaf without it. Keep the
ground clear of weeds and use the cultiva-
tor frequently; the second season, if the
plants have made good growth. little can
be done except TO cut out the course weeds
with knife; the third season. in most
cases. will be the last crop of fruit which
natures 80 early, the ground can be pre-
pared for late veg etables or winter gram.
For garden culture: Set in hills fifteen
inches each way, cut all runners as fast ar
they appear; keep well mulched summes
ana winter. removing il to kill weeds and
replace again; use fertilizers freely and
'hey VIII give surprising results. This
KIND of bed may be kept four to five
years. not longer. Or set in rows one by
;wo feet; let them cover the ground at
once and destroy the bed the next season
after fruiting; to keep an annual supply
set fresh bed every season. This plan is
more economical than the former. and
gives better results with some varieties"