272 Cutting Away the Old Wood of Blackberry Bushes. 



The^ circulation of the sap has all been towards the leaves. The roots 

 are so exhausted at this period — when the fruit is fully ripe — that 

 they are poorly prepared, after having produced a crop of fruit, to de- 

 velop a new system of canes for the following season, if the old wood 

 were cut away. As soon as the fruit is gathered the circulation of the 

 sap is reversed, so that all the remaining energies of the bushes are 

 directed to the strengthening of the roots. The leaves on the old canes 

 play an important part in this operation, as the sap in them goes down 

 into the roots before the leaves are cast, to aid both in strengthening the 

 roots and in developing new canes. Hence, if the old canes are cut 

 away before the leaves have fallen, the hardiness of the bushes will be 

 more or less injured. But as soon as the leaves on the old canes are 

 so much faded that they are about to drop, the old canes may be re- 

 moved without any injury to the future productiveness and hardiness 

 of the bushes. 



It must be remembered that the canes of blackberries and raspberries 

 are biennial^ while the roots are perennial. Dame Nature, therefore, 

 has provided that the fruit-bearing canes of the present year must re- 

 main where they grew until the canes which are to yield a crop of 

 fruit next season stand by their side fully developed, and ready to receive 

 the mantle of their progenitors. As soon as the bushes have ceased 

 to grow the old wood may be cut away without injury. Yet in locali- 

 ties where the bushes are exposed to deep snow, if the bushes are not 

 laid down during the cold weather, the old canes will aid in keep- 

 ing the new ones erect. The o-ld canes should always be removed 

 very early in the growing season. 



