31 



BULLETIN OF 



Massachusetts Board of Agriculture. 



BUSH -FRUITS. 



By Prof. Fred S. Card, Pi-o/essor of Horticulture, Rhode Island College of Agriculture 



and Mechanic Aril, 



The bush-fruits represent a type likel}" to be neglected, though one well 

 worthy of consideration in most localities. They ought, by all means, to 

 appear in every home garden, and in many places would prove desirable 

 market fruits. Many New England markets are poorly supplied with 

 these fruits, and where conditions are favorable to their growth, they 

 might prove a source of profit to numberless local growers. 



Judging from our experience at the Rhode Island Experiment Station, 

 some of them do not thrive well near the shore, being especially^ subject 

 to winter-killing 



Two general classes of fruits are included under the term bush-fruits, 

 differing in their botanical relationships and habits. The brambles, 

 which include the raspberries and blackberries, are the ones most likely 

 to suffer from unfavorable climatic conditions here in New England. 

 The groselles, which include the currant and gooseberry, are seldom 

 injured by cold, and generally succeed, though the English gooseberry 

 cannot be depended upon to thrive. Owing to their different character- 

 istics, it seems better to treat these two groups separately. 



Thk Brambles. 



Soil and Climatic dmcliiions. 



The brambles are not ])articular in their soil demands. It is chiefly 

 necessary that the soil shall not be wet, nor too dry. On heavy wet soils 

 they will not thrive and are verv subject to winter-killing. On a light 

 dry soil they suffer from summer drought and the fruit does not reach its 

 full size and flavor. With suitable moisture conditions the particular 

 type of soil is of only moderate imj)ortance. 



Medium fertility is best suited to their needs. This is ])articularly true 

 of the red raspberries and blackberries. While blackcaps will prosper 

 on a rich soil, the red raspberries and blackberries are likely to make a 

 rank growth, suffer from winterkilling and yield a small amount of fruit. 



The climate best suited to their growth seems to be one neither too 

 humid nor too dry. A humid climate a])pears to induce more winter- 

 killing. The same result jnay l)e brought about by an unusually dry 

 climate, such as we And on the plains of the west, to which is added the 

 injury from summer di'ought. Winter-killing is not governed entirely 

 by temperature. Our winter temperatures in Rhode Island seldom get 



