26 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



BLACKBERRIES. 



D. B. WiER (Lacon) — There was a time when I thought blackberries 

 should be cultivated and kept clean, but I have changed my mind; but I 

 have had neglected patches do better than any cultivated ones. My plan 

 for starting a plantation would be this : cultivate for two years, and then 

 sow to clover. It might be well to cut out the weeds between the rows, 

 but I do not know that even that would be of any benefit. As to varie- 

 ties, I would advise to plant the Kittatinny and Snyder, if you can get 

 them pure. The Kittatinny is the most profitable, and is the best, all 

 things considered. The Snyder may stand the winters better. The sea- 

 son of the Kittatinny is long — say six weeks — and the crop does well in 

 both wet and dry seasons ; the berries do not dry up and get small ; the 

 last picking is as good as the first, which cannot be said of some other 

 varieties. The Snyder, for example, will not last for more than two 

 weeks, according to ray experience. 



Mr. Gaston (of Normal) — Mr. Wier speaks of the shortness of the 

 season of the Snyder. I commenced, the past season, to ship Snyder 

 blackberries on the 15th of July, and we continued to ship for six weeks ! 

 I have the Kittatinny and the Snyder growing side by side — or I did have 

 them so growing ; I have now, from my experience, been led to dig up 

 the Kittatinny and throw them away, and I have put in their place the 

 Snyder. I now have nine acres of Snyder berries ; I have picked, the 

 past summer, 450 bushels of this blackberry, and sold them in Chicago 

 for $1,600. I would differ with friend Wier in regard to non-cultivation ; 

 I would cultivate by shallow plowing. In the case of the Snyder, it is sure 

 to overbear unless cut back ; I therefore recommenced cutting back, other- 

 wise the tendency to overbearing will make the berries average smaller 

 than is desirable. But cut back and cultivate and you will have fine berries 

 and satisfactory crops. It bears shipping to Chicago very well, although 

 considered a soft berry. I have also shipped to Clinton, Iowa, and heard 

 no complaint. 



Mr. Scofield — Do you cultivate in hills or in hedge rows? 



Mr. Gaston — I cultivate in the hedge fashion. The thorns on the 

 bushes are not so abundant as on other varieties. The laterals are not 

 so long. I cut back and keep in a row two feet broad, and they give me 

 satisfaction. 



Voice — Give us a history of the Snyder. 



Mr. Gaston — This variety originated with a man, now living in 

 Indiana, by the name of Henry Snyder. He found it growing wild. 



