Propagation of the Blackberry 91 



Since potash has been shown to increase the sugar con- 

 tent of fruits, its use for the blackberry is especially de- 

 sirable. The greatest fault with the cultivated blackberry 

 as a dessert fruit is its acidity. Whatever treatment will 

 tend to reduce that acidity is worthy of trial. 



The blackberry is not particularly sensitive to soil 

 acidity. Lime is therefore seldom essential to best results. 



PROPAGATION OF THE BLACKBERRY 



The propagation of blackberries, by means of suckers, 

 as commonly done, is a simple operation. The plants at- 

 tend to the matter themselves, the cultivator need only 

 care for the product. Keeping down suckers, in fact, is 

 one of the most troublesome operations in blackberry 

 growing. When produced in large numbers, their effect 

 is to detract from the vigor and productiveness of the 

 parent plant. A plantation will soon become choked with 

 young plants if left undisturbed. Unless these plants are 

 wanted for sale or for planting, vigorous measures are 

 needed to hold them in check. If a market for them is at 

 hand, they may prove more profitable than the fruit. 



If many plants of a new and high-priced variety are 

 desired, the number of suckers may be increased by cul- 

 tivation which tends to disturb the roots. Thrusting a 

 spade into the ground in circles several inches apart about 

 the parent plant will sever many of the roots, practically 

 making root-cuttings of them, thereby causing a large 

 number of plants to spring up. Some careful observers 

 assert that close pruning also tends to increase the number 

 of suckers. 



