66 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



cutting the roots into pieces some three or more inches in length and 

 planting tliem in trenches. It may be done by cuttings, or by taking 

 up the shoots that spring np near the parent stock. But these are 

 matters for the nurseryman to consider. If you have settled as to 

 the variety in your experimental grounds you can increase your area 

 by planting pieces of roots or by taking up shoots. By the first plan 

 you will get an abundance of plants but a crop of berries will come 

 one year later than when the latter plan is pursued. The plants 

 should be sot out in the field where you propose to cultivate for 

 berries as soon in the spring as the IVost is out of the ground. The 

 ^stalks sliould be cut off about six inches from the ground and the 

 jpore roots it has the better, although they will giow with few. 

 Tlie^' should be set a little deeper in the earth than they stood l>efore 

 Uiey were taken up and with the same side towards the south. 



The earth should be put carefully about the roots and they should 

 be extended in a natural position. Some set the plants in rows and 

 some in hills. I have tried both ways. I shall hereafter plant in 

 hills. 



Jt is my opinion that after a piece of land is properl}' prepared and 

 set to blackberries, it should be fertilized anew once in three years. 



Pruning is very important Success often depends upon timely and 

 proper pruning. It is asserted that blackberry canes will not bear a 

 temperature loyver than 1G° below zero. Perhaps many sorts will not, 

 but many can be,piade hardy enough to stand the severest cold, of this 



;latitude, at }Qf^^t, 'by pruning. Having attended to this properly, they 

 need no furtjier preparation for winter. The old canes may be cut out 



. ^iid burned^any time after the fruit is ofl". Some say the sooner the bet- 

 ter and quote the theory that a dying or dead branch is sustained with 

 i>o less tax on the root than a live one. I have yet to learn that the 

 time makes any ditierence as far as the vitality of the bush is con- 



.cerned. I should certainly remove them before the leaves show 



I themselves in spring. A curved knife with a handle three feet in 



.length is very convenient for this purpose. 



Where considerable quantities are raised for market, picking in 



• a careful and economical manner is ver^- important. There are 

 various plans, but the main thing is to have a SA'stem of some sort 

 and improvements will suggest themselves. Women are the best 

 pickei's. If children are employed they should be divided into squads 

 of three or four, each squad under the charge of a reliable person. 

 Each picker should receive a ticket as each basket is picked, if the 



