After-Culture

Keep them clean from weeds all summer by broad hoeing, giving an annual dressing in autumn, cutting down the decayed stems that bore the preceding summer. Thin the young succession bearers; clear away all intermediate suckers between those of the main stocks; and then point with a fork the ground between the rows.

Previous to the above-mentioned annual dressing of raspberries, observe that, as they produce a fresh supply of shoots or suckers every year for bearing the next, therefore the annual dressing be performed any time from October till March. First proceed to clear out all the decayed stems, being last summer's bearers, breaking them down close to the bottom; then examine the supply of young shoots for next year's bearing. In March select three or four of the strongest shoots on each stool, cutting all the others away close to the ground; shorten those left according to their strength, cutting them generally a little below the bend, at the top of the shoots, to about three or four feet in length, both to render them more robust, to support themselves more firmly upright in summer, and to promote a stronger supply of laterals for flowering and fruiting. Allow them a little rotten dung or leaf-mould once every other year, applying it in the spring. Make a plantation every four or five years in a fresh spot of ground; as, after that period of time, the plants, although they may continue shooting with tolerable vigour, yet are apt to be less fruitful, and the fruit smaller, than in younger plantations in fresh ground. - Abercrombie.

Autumn Crop

To obtain of the Antwerp, and other large varieties, Mr. Mearns recommends, "in May the removal of the young fruit-bearing shoots from the canes, leaving in some cases one or two eyes, in others cutting them clean off". Under either plan they soon show an abundance of vigorous shoots, frequently three or four from each eye, which produce plenty of blossoms in the beginning of July, and on these a good crop of fine raspberries is borne in August." - Hort. Trans.

Training

The earliest and finest are obtained from canes planted beneath a south wall, and trained against it in this form. (Fig. 143.) But in the open ground the best mode of training is round small hoops, thus. (Fig. 144.) The worst form is plaiting the canes together; and training in arches or other compact forms, excluding the light and warmth of the sun, is little better.

Fig. 143.

Fig. 144.

Forcing

Raspberries may be forced growing either in pots or in the borders of the house. They may be also planted on the outside of a pit, the bearing canes being introduced withinside and trained to a trellis, whilst the present year's shoots are left outside.