PLANTING THE BLACKBERRY 113 



are no records . of accurate experiments, comparing- the 

 two methods and giving the resulting yield and profits. 

 One of the most enterprising fruit growers in the 

 country, J. H. Hale, of Connecticut, says: "I have 

 seen the largest yield in quarts, the finest fruit and 

 the most satisfactory results, from planting blackberries 

 in hills seven to eight feet apart each way." Nor does 

 he stand alone in recommending this practice, for there 

 are many other progressive and enterprising growlers 

 who are adopting the same method. The advantages 

 of the plan are larger and finer fruit, obtained with less 

 expenditure of hand labor. With the cultivator run- 

 ning both ways, little hand -hoeing is required. It 

 is of especial advantage in growing fruit for a critical 

 market, and where wages are high, and help hard to 

 get. The general impression prevails that the yield is 

 less. If so, it is not so well adapted to high-priced 

 land, where the greatest possible return per acre must 

 be had. If, as its advocates assert, however, the 

 yield is as great, or even greater than by hedge -row 

 planting, there seems to be no good reason why 

 the plan should not replace the hedge -row method 

 entirely. 



Having decided upon the method to be emploj-ed, 

 mark out the land to correspond, plowing good, deep 

 furrows in one direction to receive the plants. In set- 

 ting, time will be saved if three or four men can work 

 together. Let one carry the plants in a pail of water, 

 and drop them at the intersection of the mark and 

 furrow, while the others set. The roots should be well 

 spread along the furrow, the soil drawn in over them, 



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