THE DEWBERRY 



As a cultivated fruit the dewberry is of such recent introduction into American 

 horticulture that it can scarcely be said to have a history. As late as 1884 the dewberry 

 was not cultivated for sale by nurserymen. It was not until the introduction of the 

 Lucretia, which was brought into general notice about 1886, that the dewberry began 

 to occupy any prominent place in American horticulture. 



The dewberries are distinguished from the blackberries chiefly by their trailing habit 

 of growth, their early ripening and the method of propagation. There are important 

 differences also in the flower cluster which need not be discussed here. The dewberries 

 propagate by means of tips, while the blackberries propagate by suckers, a point of much 

 practical importance in cultivation. 



The market of the dewberry is limited by the short life of the berry in transit. It 

 cannot be shipped any great distance, but should be on the market within thirty-six 

 hours after picking. The value of the dewberry lies in its early ripening. 



A cool climate and a high elevation seem to suit the dewberry best. Lower eleva- 

 tions are not so well adapted to the culture of this fruit on account of the extreme heat 

 of summer, the berries being short and seedy as compared with the long luscious berries 

 grown at higher altitudes. The fruit seems to develop best where the maximum tem- 

 perature is not above 90, and probably maximum temperature is a better guide than 

 elevation. However, severe, drying winters may prove too trying for dewberries in 

 localities otherwise well adapted to their culture. 



SOILS AND LOCATIONS: The dewberry will grow well on a variety of soils, but con- 

 sidered from the standpoint of both ease of culture and adaptability, light sandy soils, 

 free from rock or gravel, are best suited to its culture. As the dewberry seems to favor 

 a cool climate much may be gained by choosing a cool, northern exposure. 



PLANTING: Spring setting is the usual method, but there seems no reason why the 

 plants should not be set in the fall if they are protected during the winter. Planting in 

 the fall should be done in September, and spring planting as soon as the ground can 

 be worked. 



The question of the distance apart at which they are to be placed will be largely 

 determined by the method of training to be employed. If to be trained to single stakes, 

 four feet apart each way will be found satisfactory; if to wire trellises, six feet by 

 perhaps three feet in the row will be more convenient. If the plants are to be allowed 

 to grow practically prostrate, which is the natural method of growth, they will need to 

 be set five feet apart each way. The objection to this method is that more space is 

 demanded for training the plants than is needed for their maintenance. 



CULTIVATION: The cultivation of the dewberry patch should not be unlike that for 

 any other bush fruit. Cultivation stops at the opening of the picking season and is 

 resumed again at its close, continuing until the end of the growing season. Since deep 

 cultivation, which disturbs or breaks the roots, tends to start objectionable plants in 

 the middles, the early cultivations and possibly the later ones should be shallow. If 

 the plants are allowed to run for the purpose of being trained on a trellis, cultivation 

 must be in one direction. 



HAEDINESS: The inherent hardiness of the dewberry may not be equal to that of 

 many varieties of the blackberry, yet its prostrate habit of growth tends to afford it 

 protection, which enables it to withstand the cold of winter, in most cases, as well as 

 blackberries. The older canes will naturally be cut away before winter and the younger 

 canes, which lie directly on the ground, are in the most convenient position possible 

 for being covered with soil or mulch if such protection is necessary. 



VARIETIES: The Lucretia is the best known of all the dewberries. As sent out, this 

 variety has been greatly mixed, but the true type is a large fruit, productive, of good 

 quality, and gives satisfaction wherever the dewberry succeeds. 



Another variety, Mayes, seems to be one of the most promising varieties now grown. 



Aughinbaugh is one of the best known varieties of the western dewberries, and is 

 especially noteworthy as being the parent of the Loganberry, which has attracted so 

 much attention in the west of late. 



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