68 BUSH-FRUITS 



than those planted shallower, for the bottom of a 

 deep furrow in early spring is of necessity a less 

 favorable position for the growth of a young and 

 tender plant than one nearer the level of the surface. 

 Deep planting will not prove satisfactory where the 

 subsoil is high and hard. 



One point in connection with planting which 

 should not be neglected is pruning back the plants 

 closely when set. Experienced growers rarely neglect 

 this, but in home gardens, at least, plants are often 

 seen where long canes are left, apparently with the 

 idea of getting fruit at once. Any fruit obtained the 

 first year, however, is at the expense of the growth 

 and vitality of the plant, and will be charged up 

 against ensuing crops at much more than compound 

 interest. Plants which are not cut back nearly to the 

 crown when set do not readily throw up canes from 

 the root, but branch out from the old stalk. Especial 

 care should be taken to cut away the whole of the 

 old canes if they show any spots of anthracnose. There 

 is every advantage in keeping rid of such diseases and 

 enemies just as far as possible, rather than allowing 

 them to first become destructive and then attempting 

 to fight them. If a large proportion of these tips 

 have the anthracnose spots when planted, the disease 

 is transferred and reset with as much certainty and 

 under as favorable conditions for growth as are the 

 plants themselves, unless removed and destroyed. 

 Simply to cut off the tips and leave them lying on 

 the ground where the new planting is done, is to 

 miss entirely the end sought. These fungi are plants 



