No. 4.] BUSH-FRUITS. 347 



Methods of Propagation. 



Propagation of the brambles is simple. The suckers which 

 are freely tlirown up by raspberries and blackberries are most 

 frequently used for planting. Plants may also be produced 

 by root cuttings, when necessary. It is sometimes claimed 

 that root cuttings make better plants, but I have never been 

 able to verify such claims. 



While generally planted in spring, as one-year-old canes, 

 they may also be moved in summer when growing, in the 

 same manner that tomato plants would be handled. The 

 blackcaps re(j[uire some attention if many plants are to be 

 obtained from them. The canes take root readily from the 

 end when growing in their natural habitat, among weeds and 

 grass ; but in the cultivated field they are often kept in such 

 constant motion by the wind that they do not have an oppor- 

 tunity to root. When the canes begin to thicken and assume 

 a snake-like appearance, they should be buried deep enough 

 to hold them in place, when they will readily root. Pinch- 

 ing the growing canes early, while still low, thus inducing 

 the formation of low branches, will make it possible to obtain 

 more plants than otherwise. 



Afier-culture. 



The same tillage which would be given a cornfield is suit- 

 able for a bush-fruit plantation. A cultivator which runs 

 shallow and leaves a fine earth mulch should be chosen. It 

 is important that this mulch should be kept in perfect con- 

 dition, since so much of the success of the crop depends on 

 an adequate moisture supply during the heat of summer, 

 when the fruit ripens. For the early spring cultivation in 

 subsequent years a heavier cultivator may be needed. In 

 some cases a plow is used, but this should be avoided when 

 possible, and if needed should be run very shallow. 



The introduction of a cover-crop, as is now so frequently 

 done in orchards, possesses some advantages among bush- 

 fruits, the chief difficulty being in destroying the crop the 

 following spring. In our experiments here a plat which was 

 sown with a cover-crop in August gave decidedly better 



