14 Bush-Fruits 



fertility of the soil and the methods of the grower. Some- 

 times it is wise, sometimes unwise. 



The first year's cultivation is simple. The same care 

 which any other hoed crop should receive will suffice. 

 The better the tillage, the better the growth; the more 

 complete the dust mulch, the more moisture will be con- 

 served. 



The tillage of succeeding years is not so simple. Many 

 soils become very hard when not plowed, and weeds soon 

 gain a foothold. Here is a case where the proverbial 

 " stitch in time" is especially important. But even with 

 the best of intentions the stitch will sometimes be dropped. 

 Frost leaves the ground in excellent condition in spring, 

 loose and easily tilled. If the cultivator and hoes can be 

 started at once, and kept going, all will go well. Unfor- 

 tunately this soil condition is altogether too brief. Spring 

 rains, winds and sun soon change it. Often the ground is 

 not dry enough to work before the change has taken place. 

 Any good cultivator will do the work if it can be started 

 in time, but if delayed too long even a plow may be neces- 

 sary. This is undesirable, for even as shallow a furrow as 

 can be turned is likely to prove injurious, especially among 

 the groselles, where deep cultivation is always to be 

 avoided. The use of cover-crops may necessitate more 

 vigorous methods in the spring cultivation than would be 

 needed otherwise. In soils which are easily worked, a 

 scuffle hoe may do the work among the plants more 

 rapidly than an ordinary hoe. 



Maturity of cane and winter hardiness do not seem to 

 be coordinate among bush-fruits. Hence the common 

 advice to cease tillage in midsummer in order to ripen 



