BUSH FRUIT PRODUCTION 



set the rows may be marked off and the plants 

 set with a spade. If the spade is thrust into 

 the soil at an angle and pushed forward, an 

 opening is made behind it for the plant. After 

 the spade is withdrawn the soil should be 

 tramped solid over the roots. This is the most 

 important part of transplanting and it should 

 be done thoroughly. There is no danger of 

 injuring the root system but there is danger 

 of leaving air spaces next to the roots, especi- 

 ally with this system of planting. 



It usually is easier and quicker to furrow 

 the land at the proper distance and set the 

 plants in the furrow. Place each plant and 

 draw a little earth over the roots with the 

 foot, tramping it solid. The covering may 

 be finished by running a plow along the row, 

 and the land may be smoothed then with a 

 cultivator. 



Planting Systems and Distances 



Blackberries are usually grown in solid rows' 

 — the so-called hedge row system of planting. 

 With plants so thorny and difficult to work 

 among, the rows should never be allowed to 

 become wide, for pickers will not work their 

 way in very far to harvest the berries in the 

 middle of the row. The more narrow the rows 



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