WINTER MEETING. 169 



Lecture by Prof. Schweitzer. { Will be found in " Miscellaneous 

 Papers." ) 



The Society gave Dr. Schweitzer a vote of thanks for his able 

 lecture, and requested a copy for publication in the annual report. 



TEE BLA.CKBEKRY. 



JOHN E. MOHLER, WARRENSBURG. 



The blackberry ia indigenous to Missouri. Along our streams and scattered 

 over wooded upland the native vines grow and bear profusely. The blackberry 

 season is a gala day for many of our city children as they roam the country over 

 for the toothsome fruit. The demand for blackberries has for some years exceeded 

 the supply, and our State Society has frequently advised more extensive planting. 

 Many are seeing the wisdom of this advice and are engaging in blackberry culture, 

 and few are relinquishing it. While over- production may result in local markets, 

 the careful grower may expect a profitable market for good fruit for some years to 

 come. Such profits, however, will not likely be so large as to justify careless or 

 expensive methods of culture, if, indeed, such are ever justifiable. The success- 

 ful fruit-grower will ever employ those methods which will most certainly secure 

 the largest possible returns for all expense in culture. 



THE SOIL 



For the blackberry should be deep, moderately rich, with a porous sub-soil, 

 although it will grow on almost any well-drained iand. A north or northwest 

 slope is preferable, except for early kinds, which should be planted on an east 

 slope, to hasten ripening of the fruit. The land selected for blackberries should 

 have clean cultivation the season previous to getting the plants. Before planting it 

 will pay to pulverize the ground deeply. This is done by plowing once six inches 

 deep, then harrowing this as deeply aa possible with any harrow that will thor- 

 oughly fine the soil. Now cross-plow with a Hartzell plow, running sixteen inches 

 deep, or a few inches below the soil if the land is thin. Harrow thoroughly again , 

 and then drag or roll the ground sufficiently to firm, but not so much as to pack it. 



SETTING THE PLANTS 



Should be done in the fall, if you can mulch them, to prevent heaving during the 

 winter. Otherwise set them in the spring. Open furrows seven feet apart and 

 four inches deep, with a wide shovel-plow. The plow should go just ahead of 

 planting, so as to bring fre&hly stirred soil in contact with the roots of the plant. 

 Dip a bunch of plants in water, then, while carrying them in one hand, with the 

 other hand place them one by one, two feet apart in the bottom of the furrow, and 

 with a slight movement of the foot cover the roots lightly with loose soil. Soon 

 afterward the plants should be covered even with the top of the furrow. A still 

 day is much to be preferred for planting. 



SELECTING THE PLANTS 



Is an important item, and one worthy of more attention than it usually receives. 

 The foundation of a good berry plantation depends as much upon the plants as 

 upon the condition of the soil. We want vigor in our young plants, but more 

 than that, we want bearing qualities. These are secured, first, by setting strong 

 plants grown from root cuttings ; sucker plants make poor yielders. Second, by 

 obtaining plants propagated from good, bearing bushes; this is a point which is 



