CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



which should be determined by personal observation of existing 

 small fruit farms before an important commercial venture is entered 

 upon.* 



It is often claimed that soil for small fruits should be deep and 

 rich, of the types generally called garden soils. There is an advan- 

 tage in this because of amount of plant food and retention of 

 moisture when well cultivated, but at the same time shallow soils 

 even when overlying hardpan, which may not suit deep rooting trees 

 or garden roots, can be profitably used for small fruits if water and 

 fertilizers are intelligently used. This will be stated more fully in 

 the discussion of the strawberry, but the general fact is pertinent to 

 the growth of other small fruits also. 



Preparation of soil for small fruits should be most thorough and 

 careful. Even more generous work than that commanded in Chap- 

 ter X for trees and vines should be done. It is the more necessary 

 to work deeply for planting because subsequent culture of small 

 fruits must be shallow. 



THE BLACKBERRY 



The blackberry is a great favorite in California markets. It 

 thrives in all parts of the State, and the plant is best suited of all 

 small fruits to yield generously without irrigation, though it relishes 

 sufficient moisture and repays it with fruit. There is a great differ- 

 ence in practice as to supplying water artifically. The growth of 

 cane, and the size and appearance of the fruit, will show the observ- 

 ing grower what should be the practice in his situation, and the 

 general suggestions as to irrigation in Chapter XV are applicable. 

 There are regions in which blackberries are irrigated weekly 

 throughout the summer, and others in which the berries are gath- 

 ered from June to November without irrigation. Of course, with 

 such wide local variations there can be no general rule for practice. 

 Let the grower simply bear in mind that if he -does not get good, 

 plump, and glistening fruit and good strong growth of new canes at 

 the same time, he should give irrigation. The requirements of the 

 plant during the fruiting season are great, and they must be met. 

 Many failures are due to lack of irrigation when needed. 



Propagation. Blackberry plants of upright varieties are secured 

 bv digging up the shoots which come late in the summer from old 

 stools ; securing therewith a bunch of fibrous roots with a portion 

 of the main root three or four inches long. To propagate on a large 

 scale dig up the roots entirely, and, cutting them up with pruning 

 shears into pieces about two inches long, plant them in a well- 

 prepared bed in the garden or nursery. Place the root cuttings 

 about two inches apart and cover about three inches deep with 

 well-pulverized soil, the depth being regulated, of course, according 

 to the nature of the soil, deeper in light than heavy soils. A light 

 mulch wil1 assist in retaining moisture. The time for this work is 



Fnrita'^r I'?""* M Cult . ure , in California," and "Irrigation Practice in Growing Small 

 Frmu m California '-circulars 154 and 164. California Experiment Station. Berkeley. 



