44 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



The rows for blackberries should be eight feet apart, and the plants should 

 be set three feet asunder in the row. For the few plants set in one's garden, 

 holes may be dug ; but for the field plant in open deep furrows. When we 

 have lots of plants we set them one foot apart in the row, and secure a good, 

 continuous fruiting row much sooner than where we set them three feet apart. 

 Set the plants as deep as they formerly grew, or so that the buds will be two or 

 three inches below the surface. If set in fall, bank up earth around the plant 

 to prevent it from being heaved out of the ground by frost. In the spring remove 

 the banking and practice level culture. It is essential that the soil be kept loose 

 and free from weeds. The continued use of the plow and cultivator causes the 

 roots to go down deep, and the plants soon establish themselves, so as to be little 

 disturbed by freezing and thawing. 



After the second year do not use the plow among them, as deep digging 

 breaks the roots, and each broken root sends up a sucker. Use the cultivator 

 shallow and mulch during the fruiting season with straw or any coarse material. 

 When the row of canes finally encroaches on the path, mow them off to leave a 

 place for getting through. Every spring trim back the canes to three feet in 

 length. The new growth will grow above and shade the fruit, which is most 

 desirable for the best results. 



There are two classes of blackberries as regards growth, the upright growers 

 and the half trailing. The former have stiff and unyielding canes, growing 

 straight up ; they are generally hardy, but even they were injured last winter. 

 To lay them down, the roots, opposite to the direction taken by the canes, must 

 be cut with a spade. The latter kind of blackberries bend over and half trail 

 on the ground. To lay them over and cover them with earth to protect them 

 from excessive cold is very easy work. The Kittatinny, Lawton, Erie, Minne- 

 waska. and Agawam belong to this class. The Snyder, Stone's Hardy, and 

 Wachusett are all upright growers. The Taylor is a sort of compromise between 

 the two classes. 



All my blackberries, excepting Taylor and Wachusett, were a failure this 

 year. While not frozen enough to kill the canes, the fruit buds were killed It 

 would have paid to give them protection, as wild berries were a failure too, and 

 blackberries sold here for ten cents a quart all through the season. 



The six best varieties are Snyder, Taylor, Agawam, Lawton, Erie, and 

 Minnewaska. 



Snyder ripens early, and is enormously productive. The fruit is round 

 and rather sour, but it ships well. 



Taylor is the latest of all ; the flavor is fine. Berries are long, and pro- 

 duced in great abundance. It is my favorite blackberry for home use. 



Agawam is called the sweet blackberry. I consider it equal to Taylor for 

 its season, except that it has the fault of turning bitter if left long without pick- 

 ing. It ripens at mid-season. 



