Cutting Away the Old Wood of Blackberry Bushes. 271 



reason I take such positive grounds in my opinion of the dwarf is^ that 

 I am abundantly satisfied that it is not the sort for profit, as others, no 

 doubt, will find from time to time. It will do well where it can be 

 nursed, and a large amount of time expended upon it, and whei-e a 

 scarcity of space exists ; but I would not advise any to plant the dwarf 

 for profitable orchard culture. 



Another fact, which is not all the fault of the dwarf, is its tendency to 

 split the stock, especially in the fast growing varieties, unless below the 

 surface of the grovnd; and if the tree has been grafted some distance 

 above where it should be, to cover it with soil necessitates a deep place 

 being made for its reception ; and veiy often the roots are put into the 

 cold clay subsoil, and the tree, if at all weakly, is almost always sure to 

 die, to the chagrin of the planter. And I may here state that many of 

 our nurseiymen, who claim to be first class, do not pay sufficient atten- 

 tion to the grafting of their trees, not knowing, or not caring — I know 

 not which — how much trouble, vexation, or loss of time, patience, or 

 money they cause to the purchaser, their only aim being to sell their 

 trees at a fair price, without any regard to their fitness to produce j'f?'^/- 

 class bearing trees. 



CUTTING AWAY THE OLD WOOD OF BLACKBERRY 



BUSHES. 



By Sereno Edwards Topd, Brooklyn, N. Y. 



I HAVE noticed the recommendation of some of the pomological 

 authorities around about New York city, to cut away all the old black- 

 berry and raspberry canes close to the ground, as soon as the fruit is 

 gathered. Such authorities assume to know far more than all the out- 

 side world ; yet I think such a recommendation is an egregious error, 

 and if put in practice, the productiveness of the bushes thus treated 

 will be seriously impaired. Let producers of blackberries and rasp- 

 berries adopt such a practice, and they will soon perceive the injurious 

 effects on the hardiness of their bushes, and in the production of inferior 

 crops of fruit, for the reason that such a premature removal of the old 

 wood interferes with a very important habit of the bushes. From the 

 commencement of the growing season until the fruit is fully ripe all 

 the energies of the bushes are concentrated to the accomplishment of 

 this one object — the perfect development and maturity of the fruit. 



