SMALL FRUITS. 331 



Mrs. Kennedy: Well, the Stone's Hardy killed at the 

 ground with me; we didn't cover them. 



Mr. Cook: I have reference to root protection and not top 

 protection. The Snyder killed with me last winter and bore a 

 partial crop only. Any variety will kill out, if there is not 

 something done to protect the roots. 



Professor Green: Do you mulch them? 



Mr. Cook: Well, I do not very much, because I depend upon 

 the snow, but if we have no snow I mulch them. 



Mr. Wyman Elliot: I would like to ask Mr. Plants to give 

 us his experience in raising blackberries, mulching them, etc. 



Mr. D. V. Plants, Long Lake: I have raised blackberries 

 for several years. I have raised Stone's Hardy and the 

 Snyder, and have had some little experience with the Erie. 

 The Erie is a good market berry but a shy bearer with me. 

 The first crop that the vines of the Stone's Hardy bore was a 

 very heavy crop. The Synder was a little bit shy, but since 

 that time the Stone's Hardy has almost failed, while the 

 Snyder has always given me a good crop, except the first year 

 that I fruited it. I would not attempt to cultivate blackberries 

 without a heavy mulch on the berries through the summer 

 season, bending the berries down in the fall, and using this 

 same mulch, that I used upon the roots in the summer to hold 

 moisture, to cover the tops with and protect the roots at the 

 same time. The Snyder has been a very profitable blackberry 

 with me, and the Stone's Hardy has almost failed. I have had 

 two very good crops and one extra one. The Snyder has 

 always done well. 



Professor Green: Have you the Ancient Briton? 



Mr. Plants: No, sir. 



Mr. C. L. Smith: Will you tell the society how much 

 mulching you use and how you put it on? 



Mr. Plants: I use marsh hay for mulching. In the fall 

 when I make the ground, I bend my berries over, loosening the 

 roots - a little so they will bend partially in the root and par- 

 tially in the cane, and so they will not break; then I throw 

 dirt on the tops to hold them there, and mulch at any time 

 after that, although it is better to mulch before freezing time, 

 because you can throw this marsh hay on them and put a 

 little dirt over it to prevent its blowing off. I should use on 

 an acre of blackberries from two and a half to three tons of 

 marsh hay for mulching. About one-third of this mulch will 

 be absorbed, it will rot and go off, and the next year you will 



