THE BLACKBERRIES 



New plantations usually are started by trans- 

 planting well-rooted suckers. Ordinarily 

 suckers are produced in such great abundance 

 that they are the worst weeds in the plantation 

 and vigorous measures are necessary to sup- 

 press them. 



Any disturbance of the root system tends 

 to increase the production of suckers and in 

 the rare cases when more new plants are 

 wanted than appear naturally they may be 

 encouraged by deep cultivation, which breaks 

 the roots, or by cutting the roots with a spade 

 a short distance from the older canes. 



Root cuttings two or three inches long are 

 often used by nurserymen in propagating 

 blackberries, and the method is equally satis- 

 factory for the gardener and fruit grower, 

 especially in emergencies when a large number 

 of new plants from a few old ones are desired. 

 It is best to dig the roots in fall and cut them 

 up. The pieces should be layered in moist 

 sand and stored until spring in a cool place. 

 Then they are planted two or three inches 

 deep in good garden soil, where they are 

 grown for one or two years before transplant- 

 ing to the field. 



If suckers are used, only vigorous, healthy 

 plants should be selected for transplanting. 

 Usually there are plenty of them. They should 



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