BUSH FRUIT PRODUCTION 



is thrust into the soil and pushed forward to 

 make an opening into which the root is placed. 

 The spade is then removed and the soil 

 tramped firmly about the plant. For large- 

 scale operations, three men make an efficient 

 crew, setting two rows at a time. Two men 

 with spades make the openings for the plants 

 while the third, walking between the rows, 

 places the plants. If the soil is dry particular 

 care should be taken to press the soil firmly 

 about the roots, for there is a tendency to 

 leave a hollow space at the bottom of the open- 

 ing. A three-man crew can set about three 

 thousand plants in a day, if the land has been 

 well prepared. 



Pruning at Planting Time 



As soon as planting is finished the pieces of 

 cane projecting above ground should be cut 

 back to leave only enough to mark the rows 

 for convenience in cultivation. Otherwise 

 many of the topmost buds will produce fruit- 

 ing shoots. The first task of the new planta- 

 tion is to grow plants enough to fill in the 

 rows and make a real crop possible. Any 

 fruit borne the first year is distinctly at the 

 expense of growth and later crops. In so far 

 as possible growth the first year should be 

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