312 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



make it a rule to irrigate raspberries after each picking, 

 as this seems to hasten the maturity of the fruit and 

 develop larger and more salable berries. Black rasp- 

 berries do not demand as much shade or irrigation as 

 do the red varieties. In 0(5lober the canes should be 

 laid down and covered with earth for the winter, and 

 it is advisable always to irrigate the entire plantation 

 before the canes are uncovered in the spring, particu- 

 larly if the ground is dry at the time. 



Blackberries. — These canes should be laid down 

 in the fall before all the leaves have fallen, for if de- 

 layed until later the canes are likely to snap and break. 

 Irrigate generally the same as for raspberries, and give 

 heed to plenty of water during the fruiting period. A 

 safe rule at this time would be to irrigate the rows 

 once a week and keep off the water just as soon as 

 fruitage is over, in order that the wood may harden 

 preparatory for winter. Too much water during the 

 warmer da3^s of summer is likely to encourage the ten- 

 dency to rust, and this is amatter that must be guarded 

 against by the careful irrigator. Dewberries are a 

 species of vine blackberries that may be treated the 

 same as the cane fruits, only that they are capable of 

 taking more water throughout the season, but may re- 

 quire less, as their foliage is calculated to shade the 

 ground in such a way as to prevent loss of moisture by 

 evaporation. The dewberry will generally take care 

 of all the water that may be given it in moderate doses, 

 and the acftual condition of the soil should govern the 

 number of irrigations. 



Gooseberries. — This fruit is not grown so com- 

 monly as it might be, and may be called the neglected 



