Tillage and Mulching 97 



them near together, so that whatever benefit may come 

 from interpolation may be secured. 



Intercrops may be grown between the blackberry rows 

 while the plants are young, and are to be advised during 

 the first season. Such hoed crops as potatoes, cabbage, 

 tomatoes and beans are excellent. Corn, owing to its 

 extensive root system and heavy demands upon the soil- 

 moistura is less suitable. Strawberries are sometimes used 

 for this purpose and should give good results the first 

 year of fruiting. The constant tillage needed to keep the 

 strawberry rows in place will help to push the young black- 

 berry plants along in the way they should go. After 

 fruiting, the strawberry plants may be abandoned and 

 torn out with the later cultivation. 



TILLAGE AND MULCHING 



Little need be said on the subject of cultivation in addi- 

 tion to what has already been said in Chapter I. Some 

 writers have advised no cultivation for the blackberry, 

 at least after the second year, on the ground that cultiva- 

 tion produces too rampant growth and consequent lack 

 of hardiness. While this may be true in part, the prac- 

 tice of letting them go without cultivating is open to an 

 equally serious if not more grave objection. The most 

 dangerous enemy to blackberry-growing in most parts of 

 the country is dry weather, especially if occurring about 

 the time of ripening. Tillage is the most available means 

 at command, in most cases, for overcoming this difficulty 

 A crop may easily be reduced one-half by drying up on the 

 bushes. While cultivation cannot entirely prevent this 



