CHAPTER IX 



BUSH FRUITS AND STRAWBERRIES 



Blackberry. — The l)laekl)errY is becoiuin.^- more i^opular every 

 year, but in many farms it is allowed to grow wild and produce 

 inferior berries. 



Location. — The canes should be planted where there is con- 

 siderable moisture during the growing and ripening season. 

 Never plant Avliere there is standing water in winter. The loca- 

 tion should be sheltered, protected from late frost and with good 

 air drainage. 



Soil. — Deep sandy loam Avith considerable humus in it. The 

 soil should be deep and capable of holding moisture. PIoav sod 

 land in the fall. If the subsoil is more or less stiff, subsoil plow- 

 ing is highly recommended. 



Planting. — Plant early in the spring. Set slightly deeper 

 than planted in the nursery. Remove all bruised roots and cut 

 the top back to five to seven inches. Rows eight feet apart and 

 l^lants four feet in the rows, 1,361 plants per acre. 



Fertilizing. — The blackberry is a gross feeder and should have 

 from fifteen to twenty tons of stable manure per acre. Coarse 

 bone meal mixed with the manure will add the needed plant food, 

 but commercial fertilizers are not usually recommended. Legu- 

 minous crops such as coAvpeas, clover, etc., if ploAved under each 

 spring, Avill add the necessary plant food, as Avell as humus. 



Cultivation. — CultiA^ate early in the spring, as soon as the 

 soil is fit to Avork. Surface cnltiA^atlon should be frequent. Keep 

 down all suckers and Aveeds. Keep a dust mulch over the sur- 

 face. CultiA^ate shalloAV, and discontinue at least one month 

 before freezing, and apply the mulch of manure. 



:\". y. state Coll. of Agriculture 



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