33 



conveniently done by plowino^ a fnrrow where the row is to be and set- 

 ting the plants Avith the hands in this furrow. Only enough earth to 

 fully protect the plants need be thrown into the furrow, leaving the 

 remainder to be tilled in by subsequent cultivation. 



The selection of varieties is largely a personal and local matter. Each 

 grower should take the fniitof his choice if it will thrive in his locality. 

 Some varieties are generally successful, while others thrive only in lim- 

 ited areas. Varieties of blackcaps have changed more than those of 

 the other classes, and those sorts which were most prominent fifteen 

 years ago are little grown now, except, perhaps, in the evaporating in- 

 dustry. Kansas and Nemaha are two which have done well in our 

 trials, one being early, the other late With red raspberries, Cuthbert 

 is still the leader This is a late l)erry, too dark in color, but as yet I 

 have looked in vain for an earlier and brighter berry which is equally 

 good In some parts of New England I am told that the Phoenix is giv- 

 ing good satisfaction as an earlier berry, but there is no well tested kind 

 that can rank with Cuthbert. In blackberries, Snyder is the hardiest 

 sort, but not of good quality Taylor is a much better berry and nearly 

 as hardy. Early Cluster is a fine early variety which has given good 

 satisfaction with us but which is not uniformly popvilar 



Some varieties of brambles are greatly helped by being, planted in 

 proximity to other kinds, so that inferpollinatiou may take place. This 

 may be more important than we think, even with varieties which do not 

 absolutely need it. It is a simple thing to do in anj- case and is a point 

 always worth considering All these fruits often show small and imper- 

 fect berries, due to the fact that too few of the pistils of a given bloom 

 have been fecundated. 



Methods of Propagation. 



Propagation of the brambles is simple. The suckers which are freely 

 thrown up by raspberries and blackberries are most frequently used for 

 planting. Plants may also be i)roduced by root cuttings when neces- 

 sary. It is sometimes claimed that root-cuttings make better plants, 

 but I have never been al)le to verify such claims 



While generally planted in s])ring 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 require 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 a cultivated field they are often kept in such 

 constant motion by the wind that they do not have an opportmiity to 

 root When the canes begin to thicken and assume a snake-like ap- 

 pearance they should be buried deep enough to hold them in i)lace, 

 when they will readily root. Pinching the growing canes early, while 

 still low, thus inducing the formation of low branches, will make it pos- 

 sible to obtain more plants than otherwise 



Aj'ter-mlture. 



The same tillage which would be given a cornfield is suital)le for a 

 bush-fruit plantation. A cultivator which runs shallow and leaves a 

 fine earth nudch should be chosen. It is important that this mulch 

 should be kept in perfect condition, since so much of the success of the 

 crop depends on an adequate moisture supply during the heat of sum- 

 mer, when the fruit ripens. For the early spring cultivation in subse- 

 quent years, a heavier cultivator ma>' 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 fre(|uently done in 

 orchards, possesses some advantages among bush-fruits, the chief tlilfi- 



