SMALL FRUITS. 



Much that has been said concerning the culture of orchard trees will 

 apply equally to small fruits. For the best results, the ground should be 

 deeply plowed, or spaded and heavily manured. In fact, intense culture 

 is the secret of success with nearly all small fruits. Place the ground, 

 then, in the best possible shape, always keeping in view the importance 

 of convenience in irrigating. If possible, water should be near at hand at 

 time of planting. 



Always set this stock, if in any quantity, with a view to horse culti- 

 vation, and use the horse freely, too. Spring planting is usually preferred, 

 although excellent results have been secured by fall setting of such fruits 

 as the raspberry, blackberry, currant, and even the strawberry, if not set 

 later than the 10th of September and well cared for. In all cases of fall 

 planting, mulch before winter sets in. Under a complete system of irri- 

 gation, with care in performing the work as it should be done, there is no 

 reason why many things may not succeed set at this season of the year. 



Small fruits, with scarcely an exception, should have constant and 

 uniform moisture during the period of fruit development. Some kinds 

 will need more than others, and this is true of soils. Once a week, during 

 the fruiting season, would be a fair average, perhaps, with all small fruits, 

 excepting the grape. 



.As will be seen by reading the correspondence elsewhere from fruit 

 growers of prominence in our own State, some of them water, after each 

 picking, "their berry vines and plants." This is probably the general 

 rule, and is often necessary; otherwise the crop would be cut short, and 

 the berries deteriorate in size and appearance, if not in flavor. If plants 

 have been well cultivated and heavily mulched, they will require less 

 water, and bear finer fruit, than those neglected in this respect. 



The small fruits, like the orchard trees, should be watered late in the 

 season, before they "go into winter quarters," and likewise should not re- 

 ceive much irrigation after September. 



