164 AGRICULTURE FOR COMMON SCHOOLS 



The Blackberry. — This fruit is cultivated only in America. 

 Our varieties are all American. The soil and treatment for 

 blackberries is almost entirely the same as for raspberries. In 

 pruning new canes it is well to wait until the blossom-buds 

 appear in the spring, otherwise the crop may be cut short by 

 pruning off the very parts which would produce fruit. The 

 old canes, of course, are removed in autumn. Early varieties 

 are to be preferred on account of danger that dry weather will 

 cut the crop short. Some of the best varieties are Snider, 

 Erie, Agawam, Eldorado, and Ancient Briton. 



The Dewberry. — The fruit and plant of the dewberry look 

 very much like the blackberry. The plants have a trailing 

 habit of growth. There are few flowers in a cluster and the 

 middle one opens first, while in a blackberry the outer flow- 

 ers open first. Dewberries ripen their fruit earlier in the sea- 

 son than do blackberries. Dewberries increase their plants 

 by taking root at the tips of the canes; blackberries produce 

 new plants from suckers or root cuttings. 



The Lucretia is about the best variety. The Windom, 

 Mayes, and Bartel are also good in certain sections. 



The Strawberry. — The strawberry is a small fruit in a class 

 by itself. It is found wild in Europe, in North America, and 

 in South America. Our cultivated varieties are derived from 

 the mixing of varieties from all three sources. Strawberries 

 will grow on any good soil. It should be deeply plowed and 

 worked down to a firm seed-bed. Autumn plowing is best. 

 Leave the soil rough and harrow it in spring. The plants 

 should be set early in spring and should not be allowed to 

 bear fruit the first year. In selecting plants, only young ones 

 should be used. Young plants always have bright yellow 

 roots. They are usually planted in rows. For large patches 



