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HOME FRUIT GROWER 



later ones should be pulled as they appear, thus throwing all the food 

 and energy into the chosen ones. 



Blackberries, like Raspberries and Dewberries, have a perennial 

 "crown" from which the best "canes" are developed. These canes 

 become branchy and woody by Fall (Fig. 83). A few varieties 

 occasionally produce some berries on these young canes late in the 

 season. I have had Kittatinny berries from such canes in October 

 two months after the older canes had finished bearing. The main 

 crop is not borne until the following season. 



In the Spring of each year the branches on the canes are shortened, 

 (Fig. 84), the amount depending on the fruit-bearing habit of the 

 variety. The branches of varieties that bear their fruit close to 

 the main cane may be shortened in rare cases to only eight or even 

 six inches. But to cut as closely as this, other varieties which bear 

 far from the main cane would be to destroy the fruiting parts. Until 

 the habit of the variety is learned the safest way is to leave the branches 

 15 or 18 inches long at first and make a second shortening a joint or 

 two beyond the outermost flower clusters when these appear. No 

 fruit can usually be counted upon the season the sucker and root 

 cutting plants are set and only a small amount the following year. 

 The third year is the first when liberal fruitage should begin. Trans- 

 planted plants bear the first year. 

 With proper care a plantation 

 should continue productive for 

 about ten years, but when the canes 

 begin to be spindly and the fruit 

 small a new plantation should be 

 started 



After the crop has been gath- 

 ered every old cane should be cut 

 close to the ground, because from 

 that time forward it is a menace 

 to the well-being of the younger 

 canes since it is prone to become 

 infested by disease and insects. 

 Besides, it will die anyway during 

 the Winter. So the sooner it is 

 removed the better. 



Tender varieties must be pro- 

 tected during Winter or the canes 

 may be killed back to the ground. 



Fig. 84. -Blackberry after Spring- Hard 7 ones ma y suffer more or 

 pruning less in their imperfectly ripened 



