GROWING BLACKBERRIES 41 1 



at the dormant period of the plant. One summer's growth gives 

 good plants for setting out. 



The Mammoth and Crandall are propagated by rooting tips of 

 canes or by layering canes. 



Planting Out Blackberries. Blackberries should be planted in 

 rows far enough apart to admit of the use of the horse and culti- 

 vator. As the constant tendency of the plant is to extend itself in 

 the growth of new canes, the rows should not be less than six to 

 eight feet apart, and the plants about three feet apart in the row. 

 The plants soon occupy the full space in the row, and cultivation is 

 only possible between the rows. Some growers plant blackberries 

 as they do grapevines, seven or eight feet apart both ways, and then 

 cultivate with the horse both ways. Planting in rows is usually 

 thought better. The number of plants to fill an acre at different 

 distances can be calculated as described in Chapter XXVI for 

 grapevines. 



D. Edson Smith, of Orange County, who had much experience 

 with small fruits, described his method of laying out and planting 

 on a large scale, with a view to irrigation, as follows : 



Plow deeply and harrow thoroughly several times before setting out. 

 Lastly, open a trench with your plow where the row is to be, twenty in- 

 ches deep; go along with a basket of plants, a four-foot lath and a shovel, 

 and set a plant in this trench every four feet and fill the dirt around it with 

 the shovel. If this trench is too deep in places for the length of the plant 

 root, fill in with a little dirt; if not quite deep enough in places, scoop 

 out a shovelful. Aim, in preparing the ground with plow and smoother, 

 to leave it dishing each way toward the row of young plants, so that ir- 

 rigating water turned in at the upper end will run alono- the row of plants 

 as in a trough. Aim to have the ground around the set plants a few 

 inches below the general level of the land. After the plants are all set 

 in a row, go along with a rake if there are but a few plants, or with a 

 horse-hoe if there are many, and fill in the trench between the plants. It 

 is a pleasure to set out plants in this way, and such deep, rich, well- 

 stirred soil delights the plant roots, so that they grow rapidly in every di- 

 rection, and the plants throw up their heads in a manner entirely satis- 

 factory to all concerned. If the ground is dry, or there is no rain soon 

 after setting out the plants, irrigating water should be turned down the 

 row or at least a quart or two of water poured around each plant; then 

 before the soil hardens, stir it well with cultivator and hoe. All future 

 care resolves itself into frequent waterings and frequent stirrings of the 

 soil. Allow no weeds to appear, and keep three inches of surface soil 

 well loosened with the horse and hoes. These small fruits require frequent 

 waterings, especially when forming fruit and during the fruiting season. 



Cultivation. Thorough cultivation of the surface soil is essen- 

 tial for retention of moisture. After the plants attain size, cultiva- 

 tion should be secured with as shallow-cutting tools as possible so 

 as to prevent injury to the roots, which not only weakens the plant, 

 but increases the growth of suckers between the rows. A horse- 

 hoe with a long knife running horizontally, or with duck-foot teeth, 

 well sharpened, answers well in keeping the ground clear of weeds 

 and suckers, and the surface loose. Due regard must, however, be 

 paid to securing sufficient depth in this surface layer to prevent 

 the soil beneath baking hard and drying out, as discussed in the 

 chapter on Cultivation. 



