Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-03-07

warmth
prepared by the United States Depart
naent of Agricultural
Although the raspberry will sue
coed on q wide range Of soil types pro-
vided suitable moisture conditions pre-
vail, the best results will be secured
only by studying the peculiar require
ments of the different varieties. A
fine, deep, sandy loan is perhaps the
most desirable soil for growing rasp-
berries, because it is managed so cas-
lily. Equally good yields of some va
rieties will be secured on clay and on
sandy soils if they are well managed.
In general however, though the black
raSpberrieS seem to do best on sandy
soils, they are grown extensively and
succeed well among clay soils. Among
the red raspberries the Ranere does
best on sandy types, but the June pre-
fers a clay soil. Other varieties, such
as the Cuthbert and King, succeed on
wide range Of soil types. There the
soil requirements Of varieties are
known, they are Indicated in the char
acterizatons given on later pages Of
this bulletin.
Moisture Is important.
The most important, perhaps, Of all
the factors entering into the growing
of raspberries is the moisture supply,
and where there is the possibility of a
choice, the soil which will furnish an
ample supply of moisture at all times
should be chosen. At no time, how
ever, should there be wet places in
the plantation. Thorough drainage as
well as full supply of moisture is
essential.
Another important factor is air
drainage. Cold air settles to the low
er levels, and plantations situated on
land elevated above the surrounding
fields will not be subject to the eX-
IRENE cold of winter as plantations on
the lower levels. Winter injury to the
canes may often be avoided by chOOs-
ing a site higher than the surrounding
country. Furthermore, plantations on
the higher elevations are not as sub
ject to frost injury in late spring as
those not so favorably located.
In the Southern states, a fourth fac
tor In the selection of a site is of some
Importance. If raSpberrieS are to be
grown in those states, a northern or
northeastern slope is preferred for the
plantation, as humus and moisture are
retained better infields on such slopes
than on southern slopes.
For home gardens the chicken yard
is frequently a desirable place for the
raspberry patch. Poultry keep down
weeds and enrich the soil, and do not
often harm the berries.
Preparing the Land.
The same thorough preparation of
the soil should be given for q raspberry
plantation as fer corn or similar crops.
For the best results the plants should
never be set in q field which has just
been in sod, but should follow some
hoed crop. Land which produced q
crop of potatoes the previous year and
which has later been plowed and thor
oughly pulverized is in the best physi.
cal condition for settling the plants
and any field on which crops have been
grown which leave the soil in a similar
condition is prepared properly for rasp
berries.
Planting.
The time of planting raspberries var
ies in different parts Of the United
States, according to local conditions
In general, however, the plants should
be set in early spring in the Eastern
part of the United States, but on the
Pacific coast they should be set during
the rainy season. whenever it Is pos
sible to do the work.
Because better plants of the black
and purple varieties can be secured
in the spring, that is the best season
for setting them. Red raSpherries
however, may be set in the autumn
with good success in sections where
the winters are mild or where there is
a good covering of snow to protect the
plants.
Occasionally when growers wish to
set a new plantation they wait q month
after growth starts in the spring and
use the suckers that come up during
that month in their established plan
tation. If the season is favorable, this
practice may prove satisfactory. If,
however, a drought occurs soon after,
the young plants will suffer severely,
Only in sections where the climate is
favorable is this practice to be rec
commended.
Handling Nursery Stock.
1t must be remembered that the root
systems Of nursery plants of the diff
ferent varieties vary greatly, and wha.s
constitutes a good nursery piSnt Of
one variety may be poor plant lf an
other variety. Thus the Royal, {. pur-
pie variety. rarely makes as large a
GSrsery plant as does the Columbian.
Consequently good nursery plant