70 Bush-Fruits 



dust mulch and conserve moisture for fruit development. 

 Fine fruit is a compound of carefully filtered water, with 

 delicate fruit flavors. The more water the product con- 

 tains the finer the product and the better it pleases the 

 customer. Careful attention to the moisture supply is 

 therefore one of the prime essentials in successful fruit- 

 culture. 



Opinions differ as to how late tillage should continue, 

 but if tips are to be put down for propagation tillage will 

 need to stop when that is done. On average soils there is 

 little danger of forcing too much late growth by con- 

 tinuous tillage. 



PRUNING 



The first pruning in the life of a black-cap plant is to 

 cut off all but a few inches of the old cane from the tip 

 when it is set, as explained under the head of propagation. 

 The next step, in ordinary commercial practice, is to pinch 

 back the young shoot when it reaches a height of not 

 more than eighteen to twenty-four inches. The younger 

 or weaker the plant, the lower should be the point at which 

 it is stopped. The object of this pinching, or clipping, is 

 to stop the growth of the main shoot and cause the forma- 

 tion of strong, lateral branches near enough to the ground 

 to form a sturdy, self-supporting bush. This shoot will 

 increase in height considerably after it is clipped, if done 

 at the proper time. It is therefore important that it be 

 nipped low. It is also important that it be done when 

 the shoot reaches the desired height. If neglected until 

 it has grown taller and then cut back to the desired 

 height, the buds which are left will be slower in starting 



