446 Blackberries. 



ing unproductive. This is owing to a neglect of summer pruning. 

 As soon as the new shoots have reached two and a half or three feet 

 in height, the ends should be pinched off with the thumb and finger, 

 which will cause the protrusion of laterals. These in turn are to be 

 pinched off when they have grown from twelve to eighteen inches. It 

 will be necessary to pass along the rows every two weeks in doing 

 this work, as new shoots will be constantly thrown out during the 

 entire summer. The plants being thus kept within bounds, will 

 present the neat, compact, and productive bushes shown in Fig. 

 487, instead of the unproductive stragglers, if left untouched, repre- 

 sented by Fig. 488. 



COVERING BLACKBERRIES. The following mode of covering is 

 described in the Country Gentleman , by Amos Fish, of Bethlehem, 

 N. Y., and is adapted to cold regions : 



" At the approach of winter remove the stakes and lay the bushes 

 at right angles from the rows, flat on the ground, and cover them 

 two or three inches deep with earth, as follows : Cut off the limbs 

 within one and a half inches of the canes, at the right and left hand 

 sides of the row, making flat bushes. ' Shorten-in ' the remaining 

 limbs by cutting off the slender ends ; then, with a digging or dung 

 fork, loosen the earth about the roots, and remove some, laying the 

 roots loose on one side, so that in laying down the roots shall be 

 bent instead of the canes being broken. When laid down use 

 bricks to hold them down while covering, and remove the bricks 

 when in the way. The bushes should be raised up and the stakes 

 replaced as early in the spring as the frost is out of the ground, 

 which can be easily done with a fork if the rows are laid down singly 

 instead of lapping over one another." 



VARIETIES. 



DORCHESTER. Rather large, oblong (sometimes an inch and a 

 fourth long), nearly sweet, color shining black. It bears carriage 

 well. Vigorous, hardy and productive, ripening at the north the 

 first of August. Mass. 



KITTATINNY. Large, sometimes an inch and a half long, oblong 

 ovate, glossy black ; flesh moderately firm, nearly sweet, rich, 

 excellent. Canes very vigorous, quite hardy, very productive, 

 ripening at the north early in August. The best family black- 

 berry. The berries become duller in color after picking and less 

 showy in market. 



Missouri Mammoth. Large, black, firm, sweet ; hardy, produc- 

 tive. New. Missouri. 



