66 Bush-Fruits 



feasible to do so. The tips from young bushes root more 

 readily and produce more healthy and vigorous plants. 

 A plant which has borne several crops of fruit, under or- 

 dinary methods of care, becomes weakened in vitality, 

 and this lack of vigor naturally extends to the young 

 plant produced therefrorn. Propagation from old planta- 

 tions is especially objectionable if the plants are affected 

 with anthracnose, or other fungous disease, as many old 

 plantations are. The tips should not be covered until 

 they begin to thicken and assume a leafless " snake-like" 

 appearance. This condition usually begins about the 

 middle of August, in middle latitudes. 



PLANTING 



Spring planting is to be preferred for black-caps, and if 

 possible, it should be done early. The new shoot which 

 springs up from the tip is very tender at first, and easily 

 broken. It is, therefore, much better to remove and set 

 the plant before growth begins. Failing in that it is well 

 to allow these shoots to become strong enough to bear 

 handling without being broken. If for any reason it 

 seems best to get plants in the fall, a good method is to 

 plant them close together in shallow furrows and mulch 

 them well for the winter. They are left in this position 

 until the young shoots have made a growth of several 

 inches in spring. They are then set in their permanent 

 place. By this means any poor plants may be weeded 

 out and a perfect stand secured in the field. 



The plants should be set deep under ordinary soil condi- 

 tions. Three to four inches is none too deep for best 



