40 



THE PRACTICAL GARDEN -BOOK 



Shears for cutting out 

 old canes 



ing season. It is usually found best to plant in the fall, 

 earthing up slightly around the plants. The distance be- 

 tween the plants should be regulated by the variety. The 

 smaller-growing kinds fas Early Harvest and Wilson) may 

 be planted 4x7 ft., the rank-growing varieties 

 (as Snyder) 6x8 ft. Thorough cultivation 

 throughout the season will help in a material 

 degree to hold the moisture necessary to per- 

 fect a good crop. The soil should be culti- 

 vated very shallow, however, so as not to dis- 

 turb the roots, as the breaking of the roots 

 starts a large number of suckers that have to 

 be cut out and destroyed. 



Blackberries, like dewberries and raspber- 

 ries, bear but one crop on the cane. That is, 

 canes which spring up this year bear next year. 

 From 3 to 6 canes are sufficient to be left in each 

 hill. The superfluous ones are thinned out soon 

 after they start from the ground. The old canes 

 should be cut out soon after fruiting and burned. 

 The new shoots should be pinched back at the 

 height of 2 or 3 ft. if the plants are to support 

 themselves. If to be fastened to wires, they may 

 be allowed to grow throughout the season and be 



cut back when tied to the wires in winter or early 

 spring. Tools for the cutting out of. the old canes 

 are well represented in the pictures. Shears are used 

 for shortening- in the canes. 



Blackberry plants are sometimes laid down in cold 

 climates, the tops being bent over and held to the 

 ground by earth or sods thrown on their tips. 



Snvder is the most popular commercial variety: 



Knife hook 



for cutting out but Agawam, Ancient Briton, Taylor, and others are 

 better in quality. A new patch should be planted 

 every five or six years. 



Blue Bottle. See Centaurea 



Shears for heading- 

 in bushes 



