Middletown transcript., 1877-03-17
9oritnltural.
cnltIvntInR Raapberries.

1.-The raspberry succeeds 10 any or
binary loan Of good depth, but the bes
in deep, dark, unctuous loan, on a coo
moist bottom. It is not naturally |
deep-rOOting plant, but if the soil il
very dry, it is well to trench deeply il
order to admit Of portion Of the rooti
finding an easy way to some depth be-
yond the reach Of extreme drought il
summer when the fruit is in process o.
swelling. In hot, thin soils, spot
somewhat shaded from the midday sur
should be chosen for them indeed, in
any soil the benefit Of little shade will
show itself in the Superior size and lus-
ciousness Of the fruit; SO that, if pos
sible, somewhat shaded place should
be selected. October is the best month
in the year in which to plant the rasp,
but it may be planted successfully any
time during the winter months up till
March. Planted later than the latter
month, they do little good the first sea-
son without much care and attention,
especially if the weather proves dry
throughout the remainder of spring =
When planted 50 late, the plants should
be cut over close to the ground they
will not bear any fruit fit for use even
If the canes are left the usual length,
and as the leaving Of the canes would
only for time be a source of weakness
to the roots. it is better to remove them
as soon as they are planted.
''Lst the ground be we'll manured
both in the upper and lower sPits with
good sound stable or COW manure, not
very much decomposed in the bottom,
but better rotted in the upper spit
When the ground is well trenched and
prepared-and this should be dene if
possible a month beforeband-mark if
Of into squares four feet apart each way,
and fix a stout stake in the corners of
each square. The stakes should be
about four and half feet above ground
after being fixed sufficiently deep to
make this firm support to the canes.
On one side of each stake hole should
be dug about a foot wide and nine
inches deep, scattering the earth re-
moved over tho surface equally. A
quantity Of compost Of fresh loan, leaf
mould, and old farm dung. well rotted
and equal in bulk to the size of each
hole, should be prepared in equal pro-
portions well mixed together This
should be laid down beside each hole
before selecting the canes and planting
them are commenced The best canes
to select are the strongest If only
weak ones can be obtained, cut them
over as soon as they are planted Three
canes should be planted together in each
hole, filling in the compost to within
three inches Of the surface only at pre-
sent. and making all firm with the foot
When all are planted lay a mulchiDg Of
good fresh manure in the hole, 10 the
space left untitled, and water over that,
after which gil in the rect Of the com
post and dress the surface, and make it
level with the spade
''In erder to have what is called an
autumn crop Of rasps, any variety may
be selected for the purpose In spring,
the canes Of last years growth must Be
cut over. The growth of new canes
will, 10 consequence, be very rapid, but
in plants that are treated il this way
there will be many weak canes These
must be carefully thinned out, leaving
only the matter Of three or four Of the
very strongest to grow and bear fruit
These may be allowed to grow till they
attain the height Of four or FIVE feet,
when they must be cut back to about
three feet from the ground This will
induce them to start the lateral buds,
which would, in ordinary treatment,
remain dormant till next year. But
though thus started prematurely, they
are none the less fruit-bearers, and will
bloom and carry fruit which 4nay he IN
use in October November, or in
exceptionally dry seasons they may be
H~use even later than that, though
Ehat With diminished heat and light.
hey are, it must be admitted, rarity
u the way Of fruit Of rather a doubtful
Iuality, very pretty to look at, but not
Iuits 50 pleasing to the palate as to the
'ye
In the general routine management
+ the rasp. the principal points are
running and thinning out the canes
he latter process is too often delayed
i'll too late 10 the season 1t should be
lone in summer when the growth is
resh, and as soon as the leading canes
how themselves by their extra strength.
four, or al the most. FIVE, of the strong
st should be selected aud tied up care |
llly; the rest should be cut away en- I
rely The pruning or cutting away
( the Worn-Out shoots that have borne
ruit the current season should be done
arly in the autumn. aud the shoots I
bat are to bear fruit next year should |
ben be shortened and tied to the ]
lkes . i