43^ The Canadian Horticulturist. 



BLACKBERRY CULTURE. 



F late years the cultivation of the blackberry has become a leading 

 branch of fruit growing. Throughout the United States hundreds of 

 acres of sandy soil have been devoted to its profitable culture. 



Culture. — A moderately rich, sandy soil, warm and moist, is best 

 adapted to the growth of the blackberry. The situation should be 

 as high as possible, as on the low land there is more danger from 

 frost. For garden culture set the plants four feet apart each way, 

 and six feet apart for field culture. Healthy young plants from root cuttings 

 are the best. When the young canes are three feet high they should be pinched 

 in, to encourage the growth of side shoots. Any suckers found between the 

 plants should be cut off as soon as they appear. 



Varieties. — Wilson's Early, Kittatinny, Lawton and Snyder are among the 

 best varieties. The Wilson is very early and large, and has a fine glossy appear- 

 ance that shows to advantage in the market. The Kittatinny is a good berry 

 for the family, and though not as firm as the Wilson, is perfectly ripe and sweet 

 as soon as it is black, which is not the case with the other varieties. The Law- 

 ton is an old and very productive variety. Though rather late for the market, 

 it is valuable as it remains bearing for a long time. The Snyder is a very pro- 

 ductive and hardy variety. The berries are not large but juicy. 



In order to protect blackberry canes during the winter, they shpuld be bent 

 over and covered with earth, first putting a little earth at the base of the canes, 

 where they are bent over. This will prevent them from breaking. The canes 

 should be pruned before being laid down, and uncovered in early spring. 



Tiverton, Ont A. H. Cameron, 



FePtilizerS for Grapes. — Some years ago I found that Delawares do 

 best on clay, or heavy clay loam. Later on I found that a fertilizer containing 

 potash induced a more rapid and vigorous growth. Now I use about 600 lbs. 

 per acre of a fertilizer containing eight per cent, phosphoric acid and 10 per 

 cent, potash. Every few years I apply from 15 to 20 bushels of water slaked 

 lime per acre. The result is, my Delawares have paid ten times over the amount 

 expended for material. The Concord grape does well on clay loam, while the 

 Catawba thrives best in loose, "gravelly, porous soils, with exposure to air and 

 sunshine. That is i^'hy the Catawba reaches such excellence in the Lake Keuka 

 region, and, as the soil is thin and poor, growers there find stable manure neces- 

 sary for the growth of wood. There is another point. All grapes succeed best 

 on lands well cultivated and thoroughly drained. As every grower knows that 

 grapes do not like " wet feet," they should be planted on lands where the heat 

 and air could go to the roots. — L. J. V., Chautauqua Co., N. Y. 



