90 MAKING HORTICULTURE PAY 



large scale, but as my three rows were only 115 

 feet long I did it easily after a rain, and felt repaid 

 for my work. 



" This garden plot slopes a little toward the 

 southeast, and is a gravelly loam, and quite rocky. 



1 apply a shovelful of dressing to each hill, keep the 

 weeds and grass down and raise lots of berries. 

 The Shaffer Colossal raspberries are set between 

 and under the plum, pear, and cherry trees, they 

 in turn being set about 20 feet apart. This plot of 

 ground outside the four rows of raspberries 140 

 feet and three rows of blackberries 75 feet long, I 

 find very profitable as well as a fascinating indus- 

 try, having made ready sales for all the fruit I could 

 spare." 



THE BLACKBERRY 



In no essential respect does the treatment of the 

 blackberry differ from that of the raspberry. The 

 plant is a more rampant grower and should have 

 more room. It also needs more careful pruning and 

 pinching to secure best results. Six to 8 feet is 

 the usual distance at which rows are made and 



2 to 3 feet between the plants in the row. Prefer- 

 ably, however, blackberries should be set in checks 

 6 by 6, so that cultivation may be given both ways. 



As to pruning, the young shoots should be 

 pinched when they reach a height of 3 feet to 30 

 inches. This can be done with the thumb and 

 finger during the summer. Shortly after the 

 pinching, lateral branches will appear. These 

 should be pinched when they are 12 to 18 inches 

 long, depending upon the variety. Some varieties 

 bear their fruit buds close to the main stem, others 

 farther out. This feature can be determined only 



