CHAPTER IV 



THE BLACKBERRIES 



As a cultivated plant the blackberry is an American 

 fruit. All the varieties have been developed from 

 native wild plants within the latter half of this century. 

 Like the raspberry, it is, therefore, a new fruit ; but 

 raspberries have long been grown in Europe, whereas 

 blackberries have not. It will not be surprising, there- 

 fore, if we are not yet able to give complete advice on 

 ail points of blackberry cultivation. 



SOIL 



Considerable diversity of opinion exists among 

 growers regarding the soil best suited to the blackberry, 

 a diversity which is no doubt due, in part at least, to 

 the fact that a blackberry is hard to kill. It is likely 

 to make a partial success wherever it may chance to be, 

 for it possesses a genuine courage which knows no 

 failure, and bravely sets out to make the best of existing 

 conditions. 



Many hold that only a comparatively light and 

 poor soil is suitable, in order that the plants may 

 not make too great a growth of wood at the expense 

 of fruit production. On the other hand, growers in 

 the prairie states, where the land is naturally rich, do 



