230 The Canadi-an Horticulturist 



THE CULTIVA'IIOX OF BLACKBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES. 



r is not an agreeable sight, after a winter of heavy snows, to find 

 our small-fruit gardens giving no promise of a crop for the year. 

 Really, this is unnecessary. My raspberry canes have come 

 through in almost perfect order ; the loss from breaking is not 

 one per cent. This is accomplished by tying the canes, in 

 bunches of three or four, above or below a wire which extends along the row. 

 The variety I mainly grow is Cuthbert, which does well in solid rows. These 

 rows, before I learned to tie them, were often flattened to the ground under 

 drifts. In the spring much labor was needed to put them in order. I adopted 

 the plan of cutting low ; but, while the breakage was less, the crop was also 

 diminished. I now grow canes five or six feet high, and tie them with stout, 

 coarse hop twine. Our only cultivation is in the spring, when the ground is 

 mellowed as soon as possible, and kept mellowed until the cultivator will break 

 the growing shoots too badly. After that nothing is done except to manure the 

 ground in the fall. 



The object of running the cultivator closely in spring is not so much to 

 destroy weeds as to cut up the sprouting bushes and throw all the strength of the 

 new growth into canes in the rows. If left alone the ground between rows 

 would be absolutely filled with young shoots. In spite of the cultivator, I am 

 obliged in the fall to dig out superfluous canes. These are heeled in till spring, 

 and then sold. Every grower of small fruits should have his surplus bushes and 

 vines in shape to be disposed of at some profit. Until last year I grew my rasp- 

 berries even higher than at present, and the advantage was in shading the 

 ground, as well as making it more convenient to pick ; but I have changed my 

 plan somewhat, because the tendency was to shade too heavily the young shoots 

 and weaken canes. The wall of berries presented on solid rows of canes, tied 

 as described, is a picture. 



In growing blackberries we are compelled to take into consideration the 

 style of growth, for some of our standard varieties send up invariably erect canes 

 with few side shoots, while others are spreading and sprawling. Of the former 

 kind are Snyder and Wachusett's ; of the latter, Minnewaska, and between the 

 two, Erie, Agawam and Taylor. There is a decided advantage in the upright 

 growers if you insist on cultivating between the rows. But this, after the berries 

 have taken full possession of the soil, I abandon. They will smother weeds 

 and grass and no hoeing is necessary. After the second year I do nothing but 

 cut out dead canes and shorten the tops, either in the fall or spring. The main 

 point with blackberries is the soil. This, if possible, should be cool, loamy and 

 rich, but I never allow any application of barn manure. Fertilize with soil, rotted 

 chip soil, or whatever will mulch and cool the soil. 



Our chief danger with blackberries is a dry spell when the berries are reaching 



