20 The BuLLETI^'. 



growers. They think all that is necessary is to keep the field free 

 from weeds. The field, of course, should be kept free from weeds, 

 but this is a secondary matter, compared with the importance of re- 

 taining moisture. 



If cultivation is continued late, it is important to see that as little 

 of the fruit as possible is torn off. Another important matter is to 

 keep the cultivator and singletree from injuring the fruiting vines. 

 Often .canes that are broken in this wav fail to mature their fruit. 

 The fruiting dew^berry vine is quite slender, brittle and easily brokeii. 

 Every precaution should be used to prevent injury. The singletree 

 should be as short as is possible to use it ; no projections of any kind 

 should be on the harness or sides of the cultivator. Usually the 

 greatest amount of injury is done with a long singletree. The culti- 

 vator should not be handled by a shiftless, careless laborer. If one 

 expects to go into the dewberry business with the idea of giving it no 

 supervision and leaving the care of the field to the average careless 

 laborer, my advice to that man is to invest his money in some other 

 crop or business. One of the best cultivators is the Planet Junior, 

 although there are a number of others which are very satisfactory. 



ANTHRACNOSE AND ITS CONTROL. 



At present, anthracnose is the most dreaded disease of the dew- 

 berry. The disease is characterized by Lodeman* as follows: 



"This fungus attacks the young canes of raspberries, blackberries 

 and dewberries. The affected parts are circular, but later oval in 

 outline ; the central part is gray in color, and this is surrounded by a 

 distinct purple rim. These areas are sunken, and when several run 

 together they may cause the cracking of the cane, or even its death. 

 The leaves are also attacked to a limited extent, but with no such 

 serious results. When the fruit stems are diseased, the berries are 

 frequently 'prevented from ripening, and consequently they dry up 

 on the bushes." 



Spraying is of little value in treating this disease. It can be held 

 in check only by cultural methods. The old canes become badly 

 infested with the disease, and must be destroyed immediately after 

 l^icking. They are of no further value to the plant, as they soon die 

 after the fruit is picked. If they are left in the field for some time 

 the fungus spreads rapidly from old to young canes, and the follow- 

 ing year the plants are again seriously infested with the disease. 



The common practice at present is to cut off and burn the entire 

 plant, both old and new canes, immediately after picking. (See 

 Plate VIII.) This keeps the disease in check, although it does not 

 eliminate it. The disejlse is always present, but by practicing this 

 method it is checked to such an extent that it seldom becomes serious. 



♦The Spraying of Plants, page 355. 



