26 



RASPBERRIES AND BLiCEBERRIES. 



Fig. \7.—A, Blackberry cane 

 'properly pinched. B. Black 

 berry cane grown wilhont 

 summer pinching. 



Tlie blackberry well repays careful cultivation. It requires 

 the same soil and methods for planting, summer pinching, mulching 

 and winter protection as the red raspberry. It should always be 

 protected in winter. In the spring, 

 however, the plants should not be 

 pruned until the flower buds can be 

 plainly seen, when, if in too great 

 abundance, a part of the canes may 

 be pruned enough to thin tne fruit. 

 {Fig. 17.) Never trim blacKberries 

 until the flower buds can be seen, 

 for it often happens that the flower 

 buds which are formed the year pre- 

 ceding that when fruit is produced 

 are near the ends of the canes, and 

 in pruning all of them are cut off. 

 This is a frequent cause of failure 

 with blackberries. 



The insects and diseases affect- 

 ing the blackberry are nearly the 

 same as those injuring the raspberry, and are subject to the same 

 remedies. 



Varieties.— There are only a few varieties of special interest 

 to planters in this state. About twenty-five hills of blackberries 

 will be found sufficient to supply the ordinary family. They are as 

 follows : 



Ancient Briton.— This is probably the most valuable for gen- 

 eral planting of any blackberry grown. The plant is hardy, 

 healthy and productive; the fruit is large, sweet and of fine 

 quality. The variety next described is often substituted by deal- 

 ers for this variety. 



Snyder.- In some sections, generally on clayey land, this vari- 

 ety is most highly esteemed. It is very early, hardy, productive, 

 and of good quality. 



Dewberries.— The Lucretia and Windom are the best known 

 varieties of dewberries. They seem to do best on sandy loam, but 

 while some growers are very successful with them, others in differ- 

 ent locations, who appear to take the best of care of them, fail most 

 completely. Where they do well they are very desirable, as they 

 produce their fruit earlier in the season than the tall kinds. As 

 the vines lie on the ground they should be heavily mulched at 

 fruiting time to protect the fruit from dirt, as weU as the roots 

 from dry weather. 



