204 The Fruit-Growers Guide-Book 



CHAPTER IX 



Small Fruits 



Blackberries 



The blackberry is a native American fruit, growing wild 

 over a great portion of the eastern half of the country. 

 Until about 1840 no attention was given to it under culti- 

 vation, as the wild patches were abundant and fruitful, 

 but in 1841 the first cultivated form was introduced and 

 was followed in a short time by the Lawton, Kittitinny 

 and Snyder. These varieties are still the leading sorts 

 under cultivation, and, while they have many desirable 

 characters, they point to the neglect which horticulturists 

 have given to the improvement of blackberries. 



While the area of succcessful cultivation of the black- 

 berry does net extend as far north as the raspberry, it 

 reaches over a great portion of the South, in sections where 

 the other kinds of bush fruits do not succeed. The kind 

 of soil which is preferred by blackberry is indicated by the 

 soil in which the wild sorts are found to do the best. This 

 is a strong moist loam, in full sunlight. Where the soil 

 becomes water logged for any portion of the year the ber- 

 ries do not thrive, and if the situation is one which be- 

 comes excessively dry during a considerable portion of the 

 year, the plants do not do well. On this account, low- 

 ground or very sandy soil is not suitable for blackberries, 

 although if given very good care in such locations they 

 will produce some for home use. Where the plants are to 

 be set in sandy soil they should be placed on a northern 

 slope, as in such a position they will not be so liable to 



