102 HJ Bush-Fruits 



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" : tfi^ . ; double: ;wiirer v-epsists in nailing cross-pieces to the 



posts and fastening the wires to these, 18 or 20 inches 

 apart. The canes are then trained up between the wires, 

 being thus supported without tying. 



Trailing varieties are trained like dewberries except those 

 of the evergreen type (Rubus laciniatus) . The canes of 

 this class do not die each year, after fruiting, as do those 

 of our common varieties. Old wood continues to live and 

 bear fruit from year to year if allowed to do so. The 

 plants should therefore be trained in much the same man- 

 ner as grapes, for young canes produce the best fruit. 

 Pruning away surplus wood is delayed until winter in 

 order not to stimulate the growth of laterals. 



The old canes of ordinary varieties are best removed as 

 soon as through fruiting, while they are more easily cut, 

 thereby disposing of whatever fungus spores and insects 

 may be harboring about them. 



HARVESTING AND MARKETING 



Despite the thorny character of the bushes, black- 

 berries are among the easiest gathered of any of the small- 

 fruits. The fruit when well grown is large, and easily 

 and rapidly picked. A word of caution may be needed 

 in regard to two things. The first is never to leave the 

 fruit in the sun after being picked, as a few minutes' 

 exposure to hot sunshine will turn it red and render it 

 more or less bitter and unpalatable. The next point is not 

 to pick it until ripe. The cultivated blackberry has been 

 greatly misjudged in the matter of quality because the 

 fruit of many varieties turns black before it is ripe. The 



