252 SUCCESS WITH SMALL FRUITS. 



are much more liable to be injured by frost. They need 

 high and expensive supports. Such branchless canes are 

 by no means so productive as those which are made to 

 throw out low and lateral shoots. They can always be 

 made to do this by a timely pinch that takes off the termi- 

 nal bud of the cane. This stops its upward growth, and 

 the buds beneath it, which otherwise might remain dormant, 

 are immediately forced to become side branches near the 

 ground, where the snow may cover them, and over which, 

 in the garden, straw or other hght litter may be thrown, on 

 the approach of winter. It thus is seen that by early sum- 

 mer pinching the blackberry may be compelled to become 

 as low and bushy a shrub as we desire, and is made stocky 

 and self-supporting at the same time. Usually it is not well 

 to let the bushes grow over four feet high ; and in regions 

 where they winter-kill badly, I would keep them under three 

 feet, so that the snow might be a protection. It should be 

 remembered that the Kittatinny is so nearly hardy that in 

 almost all instances a very slight covering saves it. The 

 suckers that come up thickly between the rows can be cut 

 away while small with the least possible trouble ; but leave 

 the patch or field to its own wild impulses for a year or so, 

 and you may find a " slip of wilderness " in the midst of 

 your garden that will require not a little strength and 

 patience to subdue. By far the best weapon for such a 

 battle, and the best implement also for cutting out the old 

 wood, is a pair of long-handled shears. 



