I04 TKANS ACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



by personal observation and experience within the past few years, and 

 now think that growing these and all kinds of small-fruits on the same 

 ground for an unlimited time will result in pecuniary loss and vexation 

 of spirit. 



But, Mr. President, there is another cause of failure in growing 

 small-fruits, especially blackberries and raspberries ; that is in attempting 

 to do too much. How much better to be able to say, I have succeeded 

 in little, than failed in a great deal. Let the motto be, " better quality" 

 rather than "greater quantity." 



It is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when a compara- 

 tively small amount of land, which at the present may seem insignificant, 

 will be considered all-sufficient ; then we will see less of glutted markets 

 and poor fruits, for the simple reason that the fruit grown will be tempting 

 to both eye and palate. 



In regard to the rust in the blackberry, in particular, it is possible 

 that in the near future we shall find a prevention, if not a cure, for this 

 disease ; if not, we may be able to look upon it as a "blessing in disguise" 

 and console ourselves with the idea that for extraordinary labor we may 

 expect extraordinary pay. 



"What everybody can do never benefits anybody much." 



There are not nearly as many blackberries grown here as there were 

 some years ago, and there is but little, if any, increase in raspberries. 



The most profitable and popular varieties of Black-caps are the 

 Doolittle and Mammoth Cluster ; and of Red varieties, the Turner and 

 Brandywine. There are others, that have dealers' projnises to be good, 

 that are not yet tested. The "Gregg" will, I think, come up to expec- 

 tations and prove an acquisition to the black-caps. The Ganargua and 

 Rochelle are good in quality, but their color will prevent them from 

 becoming a popular market fruit. 



Time of Planting. — In my own experience I find, as a general thing, 

 the fall to be the best time to plant; the young shoots start at that time 

 and are more safely handled then than in the spring. As a rule, there 

 is more time to do it in the fall than in spring. The red raspberries, 

 when planting soft-wood plants, are, however, an exception to this rule. 

 I much prefer to plant young plants of these later in the spring, and have 

 been very successful, rarely losing a plant. There is another thing in its 

 favor, it is an expeditious way, and of course this is worth considering 

 at a time when every moment counts. 



Distance. — Much may depend upon circumstances. If plants are 

 scarce I should set five feet apart in the row, and the rows about seven 

 feet apart; but if plenty, and fruit is the only object, the best plan I have 

 yet found is, when the plantation is large, to have every third and fourth 

 rows ten feet apart, to allow an easy passage for a team ; the other rows 

 may be six to seven feet apart, and I then plant three feet apart in the 

 row, by this means I am sure of a good stand in less time. 



Pruning. — The young canes ought to be cut back to three feet, or a 

 little less, and it will be necessary to go over them, at least, once a week. 

 There can be no certain time specified for this work, as location, soil 



