STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 61 



your time in relating to you my likes and dislikes of each kind which I 

 might name. But I will give some little history of my own success 

 and of others in the immediate vicinity of Ripon, Wisconsin. The 

 culture of the blackberry has become one of the first, and within the 

 last twelve years the cultivation has extended from half an acre, till 

 at the present time you can see something over fifty acres now in full 

 bloom promising a large crop of this delicious fruit. The Briton or 

 Ancient Briton which is the variety cultivated here with unparalleled 

 success, was first sent here from Wales to an amateur horticulturist 

 and after eighteen years' trial in different localities we place it at the 

 head of anything that has been disseminated from any part of the 

 country as a shipping berry or as to productiveness, and as to hardi- 

 ness it will compare well with anything yet introduced. 



It may be called the king of the blackberry; 4000 to 5000 quarts in 

 about an average yield per acre. 



The treatment required by the blackberry can best be understood 

 by observing where, in its requirements, it differs from the raspberry 

 and kindred fruits. It seems to do the best on light soils that are 

 warm and well drained. The question is often asked, shall we manure 

 the ground? Most certainly, as the blackberry luxuriates in a good 

 rich soil as much as a crop of corn or any other crop. 



More room should be given the blackberry than the raspberry. In 

 planting for field culture, plant in rows eight feet apart and three or 

 three and a half in the rows (some 8 by 4 in row) which will enable 

 you to cultivate easily. They need to be cared for by cultivating and 

 hoeing, the same as a piece of corn. The season being favorable, you 

 will likely find that with a few exceptions you are progressing towards 

 a foundation or start in blackberry culture, but after the first year 

 is passed and you have every hill well established, comes the time 

 which is of vital importance to the fruit grower. It then stands you 

 in hand to look after and take care of the new wood, which is your 

 promise for the fruit crop the next year. At this stage of growth 

 they require support and may be staked or be supported by setting a 

 strong stake at each end of the row, and at equal distances along the 

 row smaller stakes opposite each other, and stretching a wire on each 

 side kept at the proper height by a nail which answers for a support to 

 the young bearing plants and for the new shoots, which, without sup- 

 port, are liable to be broken with wind. 



The ideal treatment of the blackberry is management rather than 

 culture. More can be done with thumb and finger at the right time 



