SOIL FOR BLACKBERRIES 107 



not recommend their poorer soils. A strong, well- 

 drained clay loam meets with the most general ap- 

 proval, though light, warm land, having a porous clay 

 subsoil, may give excellent results. On these stronger 

 soils, plants have frequently passed the winter un- 

 harmed when parts of the same field on more sterile 

 soil were badly winter -killed. 



A soil that is retentive of moisture is imperative, 

 this being the prime essential in blackberry growing. 

 For this reason a cool, northern exposure is generally 

 preferable, because such a location will help to mitigate 

 the severity of drought, the arch enemy of the black- 

 berry. Deep working of the soil before planting, and 

 natural or artificial drainage, are essential both to con- 

 serve the necessary moisture and to prevent over sup- 

 ply. None of our cultivated brambles can make satis- 

 factory terms with a wet, heavy soil, and any attempt 

 to compel them to do so will surely result in failure. 

 Land with a high and hard subsoil, therefore, should be 

 tile -drained before planting. 



FERTILIZERS 



Do blackberries need fertilizers ? Some say no ; 

 others yes. There must be a reason for this difference 

 of opinion. On strong, moist soil blackberries may 

 produce such a rampant growth that they nearly forget 

 to bear fruit. These overgrown, poorly matured canes 

 are then likely to suffer from the cold of the succeed- 

 ing winter, and to be left in a condition to repeat the 

 same behavior the following season. It is a signifi- 



