252, transactions of the amertiian institute. 



Blackberry Culture. 



Dr/Isaac M. Ward. — At our last meeting some remarks were made in 

 relation to the cultivation of the blackberrj'. " The best way I have ever 

 .found for training the Lawton blackberries is to plant them in rows four 

 feet apart^and three feet between plants, and then stretch .a wire between 

 posts at each end of tlie row, supporting the wire if necessary between, so 

 as to keep it about four feet high. In autumn I cut out all the old stalks 

 that have just done bearing; then I tie the new shoots in a bow over the 

 wire. I prune the side shoots to spurs about six inches long. This brings 

 nearly all the fruit in clusters along the wire, and the rows are so clear of 

 straggling vines, that ladies can v\^alk between them and gather the fruit. 

 I think this method of training also improves the fruit, it certainly increases 

 the quantity. It also occupies the surface sufficiently and yet leaves room 

 to pass between the rows with a wheelbarrow to carry manure, which 

 blackberry vines need in bountiful quantity to make them productive. It 

 is no matter how long your vines may be, when trained in this way they 

 are tied down to the wire, so tliat 'the top of the bow is not out of reach." 



Dr. Trimble. — My blackberries in the garden stand in a row along a 

 board fence, and I have drawn a wire along in front of it, over which I 

 train the vines in a m.anner recommended by Dr. Ward. It is certainly the 

 best way of training them for garden culture that I^have ever seen. 



Mr. A. A. Powell, Brooklyn, said that there was a practical difficulty in 

 growing this variety of blackberries in some parts of the country on 

 account of the severe cold in winter. He has seen this difficulty entirely 

 obviated by pruning closely, and then digging the earth upon one side of 

 the roots so as to lay the canes down and cover them slightly with earth. 

 I was present at the last meeting, and heard the remarks against the 

 Lawton blackberry. Some years sinco I purchased some hundreds of these 

 plants and set them out on my place, one hundred miles north of this, and 

 although I lost many of the plants, yet I must bear testimony of the value 

 of this berry. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn, Newark, said: Three years ago, I had a stool of this 

 variety of blackbei-ries, with five canes eight feet long. I cut the side 

 shoots to one foot in length, and I plucked that season twenty-seven quarts 

 of berries. 



Pruning Pear Trees. 



Mr. P. T. Qninn gave a discourse upon pruning pear trees, illustrated by 

 figures upon the blackboard, instructive to those present, but impossible 

 to report. He showed how the tree should be treated, from the bud, year 

 by year, to^produce a fine pyramidal tree. One of the great benefits of this 

 form is that it induces fruit spurs to start near the ground, and close to the 

 main stem of the tree. The reason why trees have been hei*etofore pruned 

 with bare stems is to carry the ^ops high up in the air so as to allow room 

 to plow and cultivate the ground. He does not believe that anytliing is 

 gained in the long run by growing other crops in a pear orchard. The 

 owner should rely solely upon the fruit as a remunerative crop. It is use- 

 less to plant a pear orchard until the ground is thoroughly pulverized eigh- 

 teen to twenty inches deep, made rich v/ith manure and dry by draining, 



