Small Fruits 213 



the others should be cut off or they will weaken the 

 productiveness of the plant. 



Blackberries are about the cheapest dessert, re- 

 quiring no cream, which would really spoil the 

 berry, and very little sugar. 



After blackberries have fruited, the canes which 

 have borne fruit should be cut off and burned, for 

 their mission has been fulfilled and the space which 

 they occupy is needed for the new canes. 



Five to seven canes should be left for the next 

 year's fruit when pruning blackberries. 



All broken and diseased canes should be taken 

 from the blackberry bushes in the spring just after 

 growth starts and the tips of all branches which 

 have been injured by the cold should be removed. 



A site for the blackberry vines is of the utmost 

 importance, and the moisture of the soil is an im- 

 portant consideration. The best land is a deep, 

 fine, sandy loam with a large supply of humus and 

 abundant moisture at the ripening season. The 

 berries will then be large and luscious. If water 

 stands on the ground surrounding them during the 

 winter the plants are often killed. 



