REMOVING THE CANES 73 



Miller, of Missouri, reports repeatedly getting two 

 quarts in a season from single canes. 



When the fruit has been gathered, cut out all old 

 canes, gather and burn them, to destroy all insects 

 and fungi harboring thereon. The work is easier done 

 at that time than at any other, and it gives a good 

 opportunity for thoroughly cultivating and cleaning 

 out the plantation. The argument that the old canes 

 serve to protect the younger ones during the winter, 

 and, therefore, should be left till spring, has little 

 weight. Whatever protection there may be is un- 

 doubtedly fully offset by the injuries due to whip- 

 ping together and consequent wounding in windy 

 weather. 



When it has been decided to discontinue a planta- 

 tion, it will be found an advantage to the bearing 

 canes to go through the field and pull or break away 

 all the young shoots about blossoming time. This 

 has a slight tendency to hasten the ripening, and may 

 enable the plants to carry the fruit through in better 

 shape and increase the yield considerably, especially in 

 a dry season, when every drop of water that can pos- 

 sibly be obtained from the soil is needed by the fruit 

 itself. 



There is always a temptation to leave too much 

 wood and allow the plants to overbear the first year 

 after setting. They are but partially developed at 

 that time, and should only be allowed to produce a 

 partial crop. The canes are usually long and strag- 

 gling, and need to be -severely cut back. If left long 

 they may produce a comparatively heavy crop, but it 



