NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



119 



CULTIVATION OF BLACKBERRIES. 



In the days of our boyhood, thousands and thou- 

 sands of brier bushes impeded the progress of the far- 

 mer as he labored to bring the forest into a fruitful field. 

 On removing the forest growth, the brambles suc- 

 ceeded, and were eonsidercd no small nuisance, 

 though they often yielded bushels, nnci eomctluius 

 cartloads, of fine fruit, beyond the consumption. At 

 that time, we did not dream of ever cultivating, or 

 recommending the culture, of this then obnoxious 

 bush, as many barelegged and barefooted urchins 

 could testify. 



But now our natural or wild fruits have disap- 

 peared, and large cities and towns have created a 

 demand for fruits, and those of the highest order com- 

 mand a high price ; and among the very best and 

 dearest fruits is the high bush blackberry, so common 

 in Maine, and it may abound in other parts of New 

 England, but in this region, the low bush or running 

 blackberry prevails, which, in Maine, is called the 

 sour blackberry, being far inferior to the high bush, 

 both in size and quality. 



In Maine, the blackberrj' grows in all soils, from 

 those that are tolerably moist and very rich, natu- 

 rally, to the dry and poor. But on light, poor soils, 

 the fruit is smaller and much inferior. The larger 

 the fruit, the better the quality. This fruit abounds 

 in new lands ; and after the land lias been long cleai*ed 

 up, it flourishes well by the side of walls and fences, 

 among logs, and in and around stone heaps, when it 

 is not molested by more thorough culture and regard 

 to neatness than usually prevail where land is com- 

 paratively new and cheap. 



From the natural habits of the blackberry, we 

 must infer the mode of culture, in the absence of 

 experiments on this subject ; and perhaps some of 

 our readers can give information on the garden cul- 

 ture of this fruit. There is no doubt that it will 

 flourish best in lands that arc now, or comparatively 

 so. If cultivated in old gardens, or on lands that 

 have been long under tillage, apply as manure leaves 

 from the forests, also wood ashes and charcoal. 

 liCaves, straw, old hay, and other litter used as 

 mulching, would be excellent, especially on dry soils, 

 and save the fruit from the efi^ccts of extreme heat 

 and drought. 



Wc recommend the culture of the blackberry in 

 the garden or field, as a matter of trial, both for sup- 

 plying the family and the market ■\^■ith fruit. A3 so 



little has been done in this way, we cannot say 

 ■whether it wUl be profitable ; but we think it will, 

 for the raspberry, thimblebcrry, and other wild fruits, 

 flourish well in the garden. 



A few amateurs raise fine blackberries in this 

 vicinity, and we have seen some sold at a dollar a 

 quart box, which were no larger nor better than we 

 have seen in Maine of spontaneous growth. These 

 gentlemen have a particular kind, that are held in 

 high estimation, and we have obtained some of them 

 to try by the side of some which we have procured 

 from Down East. In our native place, we have picked 

 a pint of blackberries from a single bush ; and wc 

 have stood in one spot, without moving our feet, and 

 picked a quart of as fine fruit as we have ever seen 

 of this, or any other kind of fruit, from the highest 

 cultivation. 



The blackberry is a valuable dessert fruit without 

 preparation, or, like many other delicate fruits, it 

 may be used with sugar, cream, &c. In cooking, it 

 iiiaj be used in a great variety of ways, in puddings, 

 cakes, pics, tarts, &c., &c. It is the very finest of 

 fruits for vinegar, and in new countries, before 

 orchards are established, and where farmers have not 

 learned to avail themselves of the sap of the maple 

 for vinegar, the blackberry is used for this purpose. 

 We now have some fine blackberry vinegar, which 

 we made a few years ago, from some fruit that was 

 becoming too soft for other purposes. It is of a beau- 

 tiful rich color, and it retains the peculiar aroma of 

 the fruit. It far excels common vinegar. This fruit 

 may be saved for future use, by making it into jelly 

 or jam. 



SETTING FRUIT TREES. 



Great care should be taken in selecting fruit trees, 

 in order to procure those that are vigorous and hardy, 

 of good form, and suitable size ; and for this northern 

 climate, they should be raised in the north, or in 

 nearly the same latitude. It is of great importance 

 that the trees should bo taken up with the greatest 

 care, and well packed. In many cases trees are 

 wrenched forcibly from the ground, with a loss of no 

 small portion of their roots ; and sometimes there is a 

 negligence in packing, so that the roots become dry 

 and nearly dead. 



Trees should be taken up early, before vegetation 

 commences, and secured by packing or laying in by 

 the heels ; and then it may be well to delay setting 

 till the soil is dry enough to be worked conveniently. 

 If any roots are broken, they should be cut off 

 smoothly and the top should be reduced even more in 

 proportion. Even if no roots are lost, it is best to 

 prune off a part of the top, especially when trees aro 

 moved in the spring. 



Dig large holes 18 or 20 inches deep, unless the 

 land is wet, and first fill in with loam and decom- 

 posed sods, to a suitable height, and then plant tho 

 tree with the roots extended in their natural position, 

 so that they will be covered only a few inches deep 

 when the earth is levelled. Scatter the subsoil from 

 tho bottom of the hole on the surface. Make a basin 



