CULTIVATION AND CARE OF THE BLACKBERRY. 





Fig. 1566. — A clump of weeds in the corner 

 by the house— motherwort and Virginia 

 creeper. How pretty they are ! 



are also attractive. Bowers are always 

 interesting to children ; and actinidia 



(to be had at nurseries) is best for this 

 purpose. 



Plants for decoration. — Against these 

 heavy borders and in the angles about 

 the building, many kinds of flowering 

 plants can be grown. The flowers are 

 much more easily cared for in such 

 positions than they are in the middle of 

 the lawn, and they also show off better. 

 They have a back ground. Even a clump 

 of weeds looks well when it is in the 

 right place. .... 



While the main planting should be 

 made up of common trees and shrubs, 

 a rare or strange plant may be intro- 

 duced now and then from the nurseries, 

 if there is any money with which to 

 buy such things. Plant it in a conspicu- 

 ous point just in front of the border, 

 where it will show off well, be out of the 

 way, and have some relation to the rest 

 of the planting. Two or three purple- 

 leaved or variegated leaved bushes will 

 add -much spirit and nerve to the place ; 

 but many of them make the place look 

 fussy and overdone. 



CULTIVATION AND CARE OF THE BLACKBERRY. 



N starting to grow this favorite berry 

 'we must first consider its loca- 

 tion, as most varieties are too 

 tender to stand much exposure to either 

 severe frost or keen cold winds ; and 

 consequently a windbreak of some kind 

 is desirable toward the success of the 

 bushes, carrying them through the winter 

 without freezing down. This windbreak 

 should be on the west side. As it will 

 not only shield them from the cold 

 frosty air in winter, but will also protect 

 the bushes from the high winds when 

 they are heavily laden with fruit. 



Another important point towards its 

 success is the soil, as some soils would 

 not be suitable, such as hard clay, or 



wet ground. The Blackberry likes a 

 warm sandy soil. They grow splendidly 

 on a deep rich sandy loam, and will 

 stand the dry weather better than on a 

 light sandy soil; and perhaps grow rather 

 larger berries. 



But if it was possible to irrigate, I would 

 •choose the light sand as it is warmer, 

 and getting plenty of moisture they 

 would grow to perfection. 



Now as to fertilizers for the soil. 

 There is nothing better in my opinion 

 than plenty of good unleached hard- 

 wood ashes, stable manure well rotted, 

 and nitrate of soda. In first setting 

 the roots, and management of them 

 after, I differ from most growers, setting 



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