Planting 205 



suffer from lack of moisture; while in low ground a strong 

 southern exposure will be better as it will be somewhat 

 dryer than a similar position on a northern slope. 



Soils which are very rich in nitrogen produce plants 

 with very strong wood, but little fruit, as the energy is 

 largely spent in making wood growth, at the expense of 

 fruitfulness. On this account there will be more or less 

 winter killing of the shoots in the Northern localities. 



Preparing the Soil 



The land which is to be planted to blackberries should 

 be given very good preparation, especially if it is for a 

 commercial or local market plantation. Plow it deeply in 

 the fall and allow to lay rough all winter. The action of 

 the frost will break up the lumps and liberate a large 

 amount of the fertility. Then work it down smooth with 

 a disk harrow as early in the spring as it is in condition to 

 work, finishing up with a drag. Lay off the rows with a 

 diamond plow, about eight feet apart and set the plants 

 four feet apart in the row. 



Propagation 



Blackberries are propagated either from root cuttings 

 or from suckers which come up around the .parent plant. 

 Either can be used with success in starting the new planta- 

 tion, although if cuttings are to be used, they should be 

 grown for one season in the nursery row in order to get 

 established. 



Planting 



Spring planting is the best, as the plants start into 

 growth immediately. The young plants are set in the 

 furrow made by the diamond plow, and about four inches 

 below the surface. During the first year or two the cul- 

 tivation should be very thorough and frequent in order to 

 induce the roots of the plants to penetrate into the deeper 



