TuE Bulletin. 23 



tions. The great danger is in not using enough, because it is rather 

 ditticult to obtain. The writer wouhl recomnund using as much as 

 could possibly be obtained. Ten large loads per acre per season is a 

 fair amount to use. Twenty loads every other year will about an- 

 swer the same purpose. The best time to apply stable manure is 

 during the winter months. It is impossible to do this, because the 

 vines at this time of the year are lying prostrate all over the surface 

 of the ground, and if one attempts to haul in or carry in manure 

 many of the vines will be badly broken and injured ; hence, the man- 

 ure must be applied either in early spring, immediately after tying 

 up the plants, or in summer, immediately after cutting off the canes. 

 Spring is probably the best time, since the crop will receive the benefit 

 of the humus and the plant food in the manure, especially the nitro- 

 gen, which will become available in the early part of the summer and 

 can be taken up by the plants about the time the canes are cut off. 

 This is when it is most needed by the plants, as this is the season for 

 cane growth. 



FERTILIZERS. 



The subject of fertilizers is one of the most important connected 

 with dewberry culture. The soil is usually poor, and large quantities 

 of plant food must be supplied. Commercial fertilizers are rather 

 costly ; hence the importance of using them economically. 



Usually two applications are made during the year — one in early 

 spring, immediately after tying up the plants, and another in sum- 

 mer, immediately after cutting off the canes. These two applications 

 will be discussed separately. 



Spring Application.— This application is largely for the purpose 

 of making the fruit. The canes have already been made during the 

 previous season, and cane growth during the early part of the season 

 is of secondary importance. The fertilizer added should be such as 

 'will give the largest amount of fruit. It should consist largely of 

 potash and phosphoric acid, the two principal compounds in the mak- 

 ing of fruit. More nitrogen than phosphoric acid is required by the 

 fruit, but on our soils we find that in nearly every instance larger 

 applications of phosphoric acid than nitrogen give better results. 



The amount to be used depends somewhat upon the distance apart 

 of the plants and the intensity of culture. The more plants per acre 

 and the more intensive the culture, the larger the amount of fertilizer. 



The kinds and amounts of fertilizers used for dewberries in this 

 State vary considerably. It is impossible to say what kind and 

 amount would be best for all conditions. In fact, there is no fer- 

 tilizer that is best for all conditions, as this is so largely influenced 

 by the character of the soil and the treatment it has received in pre- 

 vious years. Each grower must experiment for himself, to a certain 

 extent, to see just what his soil requires. If the writer knew nothing 



