96 Bush-Fruits 



intersection of the mark and furrow, while the others set. 

 The roots should be well spread along the furrow, the soil 

 drawn in over them, and firmed with the hands or feet. 

 Ordinarily this is most conveniently done by working on 

 hands and knees on the opposite side of the furrow from 

 which the soil is thrown out, so that it can be quickly drawn 

 in with the hands. In fine, mellow soil, free from stones, 

 the planter may walk along the furrow, take the plant in 

 one hand, and do the covering and firming with the feet, 

 or at least enough of it to fix the plant in position and 

 protect it from drying out, leaving the balance to be done 

 with hoes. The furrows should be deep enough to admit 

 of setting the plants a little lower than they previously 

 grew, and of doing it easily. Filling in the furrow, beyond 

 what is required to insure satisfactory conditions of 

 growth for the young plants, can be left to follow as a 

 matter of course in the future cultivation. 



For row planting, rows eight feet apart, with plants 

 three feet apart in the row, will be found satisfactory; this 

 gives 1,815 plants to the acre. Occasionally a grower 

 prefers planting as close as two feet, and others as far apart 

 as four feet. The vigor of the variety and its suckering 

 habit may influence this. 



Intermingling varieties in planting to insure more effec- 

 tual pollination is not often practiced, for most varieties 

 are self-fertile. Varieties which have their origin in the 

 crossing of blackberries and dewberries, such as Rathbun, 

 Mammoth and Wilson, will be helped by pollen from 

 other sorts. Even varieties which are self-fertile may be 

 benefited by pollen from another sort. If more than one 

 variety is to be grown it is both safe and wise to plant 



