Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-04-01
Small Fruits For Profit


Frank Crowley read valuable Paper on
A II Is too long for publication IN one issue
we give 1t in installments. This week con-
cludes the article.l
THE RASPBERRY.
Thus fur the local markets have not
been supplied with rRspberries and there
hns been ready sale for both the black
and red varieties, at good prices. The
Denver growers have found that tue de-
mand in the markets is largely in favor
Of the red varieties and they have almost
abandoned the Black Gaps. In that
section all kinds OF cane traits must be
covered in winter but with us the black
varieties OF the raspberry pass the winters
without protection, while the red ones, 81,
far as tested, must be laid down and
covered with earth to insure crop, which
il one point in favor OF the Black Caps,
even il the crop must be sold ut a smaller
price. The work OF covering the canes
Is much less than many suppose; two
men can do from 80 TO 100 rods OF row
in day ordinarily, thinning the plants
and pruning Mt the same time.
OF the varieties tested here, in the
Black Caps; the Tyler is the earliest and
a very heavy yielder. The SOughegan
comes next in season and resembles the
Tyler, both being only medium in size.
The Gregg is latest and largest, but has
not proven as profitable owing to smalleI
Weld. or the red ones; the only one We
have found worthy of planting for market
is the Marlboro, which is large berry
and an immense yielder. Ithandles well
and is attractive in appearance. The
Louden has been tried at Canon City and
is recommended by Judge FELTON,. This
sort is nearly like the Marlboro in aP-
pearance and bearing qualities but is
claimed TO be harder in the east, when
planted quite extensively. The Turner
Ia good home berry but too soft for
market. The Cuthbert Ii large and snowy
but crumbles badly and canes grow too
dwarfish to give much OF n crop.
In the plantation the rows should be
8 feet apart, with plants OF red varieties
4 feet and black ones 6 to Z feet in the
row. To set out plants; plow good deep
burrows, then set plants in center pulling
the loose earth around with tho hands,
spreading the roots in natural position
plants too deep nor too shallow but set
lust about as they grew before taking
mp. half an inch or an inch deeper would
be all right, but never any shnllower. Let
small stream OF water follow down each
furrow md around each mound, then
when the surface gets dry enough to
work we'll, cultivate the soil in from each
side until tho furrow is filled. Furrow
out on euch side Of the row after irri-
CATION, renewing the furrow each time.
Cultivate often and keep the soil mod
erately moist.
Where the canes must be covered in
winter the work can be done at any time
after the wood is ripened in the fall and
before the ground freezes. This will
generally be from the first to the middle
OF October. When ready to proceed, one
man takes the shovel while another, wear
ing pair OF heavy gloves, bends the
canes over and holds them in place while
few shovels full OF earth are placed on
the tipa to hold them down. Commence
at one end bend the first bunch length
WISE Of the row, follow the same course
with all, tapping toward the last one COW
time to uncover, they must be raised
from the opposite end OF the row first.
After laying all down, with just enough
dirt to hold thom in place, both men can
finish tho covering with shovels, merely
making ridge that will hide the wood
and take tho frost out gradually after
freezing during winter. The plow can
be used to some advantage in this opera
ton il care is exercised not to go too deep
nor too near the row.
Tho raspberry like nll other fruits,
needs moisture in winter, but does not
appreciate having the water stand around
the roots. In spring the covering shonld
not be removed until the buds begin to
start, for 1t is at that time that much in
| jury is often occasioned by the cold snaps
that frequently follow tho warm spells in
early spring. 10 uncover the rows,
take four tined hay fork, run this
under the bunch of canes near the ends
and by lifting gradually they are brought
to nearly their original position, which
they will assume in short time. Then
most Of the ridge OF earth is sboveled or
raked back to where it belongs, and that
among the canes is very readily scratched
ont with the hands and the ground left
as level and III better shape than before
disturbing in tho fall.
Judge W. b. Osborn, of Loveland,
who is member OF the State Board
OF Horticulture, has suggested good
method of applying manure to the
ground planted to fruits that must
be covered in winter, He digs all
the dirt needed for covering, from one
side of the row. The hole thus made,
then turns the water in upon it. A great
deal of the fertilizing properties soak into
the soil about the roots and in the spring
when the row is uncovered the dirt is
replaced on top of the manure. The
following season the earth for covering
is taken from the opposite side of the
row and the same operation repeated.
The Leslie quait and also the pint
boxes are used for marketing the rasp-
berry.
THE BLACKBERRY.
There is much loom for experiment
with the blackberry as but little has
been done with it. The Snyder may be
said to be the only variety that has been
fully tested. While the most productive
of any, in most places, 1t is avery spind-
ling grower here, the canes much sub
ject to sunscald and the fruct is very
small. On heavy soil, with summer
mulch, and by pinching back frequently
to make it stocky it may do all right.
The Early Harvest has been fruited the
last two seasons and bids fair to be a
profitable variety to plant. Although
more hardy then the red raspberries the
blackberry should be given protection in
winter, for even if the wood is not killed
the fruit buds are liable to be more or
less injured if left uncovered.
THE DEwBEHRY.