THE BLACKBERRY. 



II HERE is scarcel}^ a more wholesome fruit than this, and 

 11 yet the majority are depending upon a precarious supply 

 from the woods, extemporized into a jam by the grimy 

 hands of unknown pickers, when for six weeks together 

 they might have abundance of large, luscious berries near their 

 own doors. There is no fruit more easily raised. A Kitta- 

 tinny blackberry bush will grow where a burdock would languish, 

 and yet there are thousands of burdocks to one blackberry bush. 



Its culture is verj^ simple. Select land that is not very moist 

 or rich. I have succeeded well with it on high, gravelly knolls, 

 but unless well mulched it is apt to suffer from drouth. Light, 

 warm land, however, is preferable to that which is heavy and 

 damp, for upon tlie latter-named soils there is too much growth 

 of wood which does not ripen fully, and therefore is killed by the 

 winter's cold. But deep plowing in preparation is always of 

 advantage, as it gives the roots a wide range, and prevents the 

 plants from suffering from drouth. 



Fall is the best time for planting, but it does very well when 

 set in spring. I succeeded satisfactorily with Kittatinny plants 

 {uit out late last spring, in spite of the severe drouth that fol- 

 lowed. Indeed, onl}^ utter neglect can prevent success with 

 blackberries where they are not winter-killed. 



For field culture let the rows be eight feet apart, and the 

 plants three feet dist.-int in the rows. If the soil is poor and 

 light, scatter a liberal dressing of muck compost, or any fertilizer 

 that is not heating, down the furrow in which they are to be 



