334 GRAPHS, STRAWBERRIES, BUSH FRUITS 



of the brambles. Tillage should cease about the first of 

 August to ripen up the canes. At that time, a cover crop 

 of rye, vetch, oats, or some other suitable crop may be sown. 



Fig. 177. A sturdy row of blackberries in bloom. 



Pruning. When the new canes are about two and a 

 half to three feet high, the ends should be pinched off to 

 induce branching. If these canes are allowed to grow, they 

 become unmanageable and produce few lateral branches. 

 Usually larger crops are produced from the branched canes, 

 although in some localities black raspberries and blackberries 

 seem to produce more when they are not topped during the 

 summer. Directly after harvesting, all of the old canes that 

 have borne fruit should be cut close to the ground. This con- 

 centrates the energy of the plants into the new canes which 

 are to produce the crop the following season. Early in the 

 spring, the plants should be pruned again and all small, 



