80 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



spring, uncover, straighten up the plants, thin out and shorten in 

 the laterals from eight to fifteen inches as may be required to form 

 a well balanced bush. 



Thorough cultivation may be given up to blooming time, after 

 which it is not well to stir the soil till after fruiting. The 

 gathering and marketing of the fruit should be on the same general 

 plan as for the strawberries, except that half pint and pint boxes 

 or baskets should be used in place of quarts foi: the most delicate 

 varieties. 



BLACKBERRIES. 



Blackberries should next receive attention and as they are gener- 

 ally inclined to make too much wood growth, it is well to select land 

 of moderate fertility'. The high bush varieties may be planted 

 either in spring or fall, the latter being the best, planting the same 

 as stronger growing raspberries, while the dewberries or trailing 

 blackberries should always be planted in the spring in rows tea feet 

 apart, plants three to four feet in the row, and allowed to form a 

 matted row. Close [)runing and winter protection are essential to 

 the highest success in blackberry culture as with raspberries. 



GOOSEBERRIES AND CURRANTS. 



Gooseberries there is only a limited sale for. but for currants the 

 demand is still far greater than the supply. Strong, rich, fairly 

 moist soil is best for the latter. They may be planted at any time 

 after their leaves drop in the fall, or verj^ early in the spring, in 

 check rows four and f)ne-half to five feet apart. The growth is all 

 made the first two months of summer. It is therefore essential that 

 the cultivation be thorough and liberal earl^' in the season, if we 

 wish to stimulate the best wood growth. The first two years only 

 enough pruning will be required to form a broad open headed bush, 

 with bearing wood evenly distributed but in later 3'ears a pinching 

 back of all the new growth when two or three inches long will tend 

 to develop a wondrous formation of fruit-spurs and buds. This has 

 not been the general practice, but is practically a new plan that is 

 worth making a careful note of, even by those having only a few 

 bushes. 



GENERAL REMARKS. ^ 



In theory it is all very nice to aim to supply only varieties of 

 superior quality and educate the pjpular taste, but as a matter of 

 business it does not pay. Your efforts will not be appreciated, the 



