THE CANADIAA HORTICULTURIST. 



them much closer in the rows for the 

 purpose of making a thick shade over 

 their roots during ^the dry spells when 

 the berries are growing and ripening, 

 and helping to retain the moisture as 

 long as possible. The rows should not 

 be less than eight feet apart, and set 

 two feet apart in the row, and afterwards 

 allow them to thicken in the row as 



tion of the fruit spurs or stems that grow 

 out in the spring for the fruit to form on. 

 Some cut out the old wood as soon as 

 the crop is off, but I do not do so until 

 the next spring, as I thinks it assists to 

 protects the young canes and to hold 

 the snow and leaves to cover the roots 

 and keep the frost from doing them in- 

 jury. There is a great difference in the 



Fig. 1567 — Early Harvest Blackberries. 



close as convenient to hoe. After the 

 young canes get to a height of two or 

 three feet, they should be pinched back 

 so as to give them a stocky growth, 

 form a fine bushy top and harden the 

 the wood, so that it will 'stand our severe 

 winters without injury. When spring 

 comes do not cut them back a second 

 time as it will seriously injure the forma- 



hardiness of the different varieties ; I 

 have tried several kinds, but the Aga- 

 wam is only one that would stand our 

 cold winters without injury ; it has more 

 good qualities than any other variety of 

 which I have any knowledge. There is 

 one point in their ripening which is very 

 important, as it has to do with their size 

 and sweetness. Some think they are 

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