SMALL FRUITS. 187 



are properly spread out and earth worked among 

 them, they will grow if received in good condition; 

 but if stuffed into a hole, with no earth in contact 

 with any but the outside roots, those in the center 

 will soon mould and heat and, of course, die. 

 There is another great cause of failure to get the 

 plants to grow. There is left on all plants of the 

 black cap family a part of the old cane from which 

 the tip grew merely for the purpose of a handle 

 for bunching, etc. It is not necessary and is only 

 left on for convenience in handling. This is, per- 

 haps, 8 inches long. Many planters presume this 

 is to make the future plant and set the stolon 

 proper so deep that the new plant which is to grow 

 from the crown down in among the .fine roots will 

 never get through to the ground surface. They 

 must be planted deep enough so they will not dry 

 out, and at the same time not so deep that the 

 buds, which will always show at the crown, cannot 

 readily force their way through. 



The canes will usually make quite strong bushes 

 the first year and give something like one-fourth 

 to a half crop the succeeding season. 



They are also apt the first year to run on the 

 ground and not form the bush habit. No stolons 

 should be allowed to take the first summer, as it 

 weakens the plant too much. The first fall cut the 

 canes back to about a foot all around from the 

 crown, and the next summer, as the new canes 

 grow up stocky and thrifty, pinch off the ends 

 when at about 2>< to 3 feet high, and keep up this 



