132 SUCCESSFUL FRUIT CULTURE 



times during the summer, especially during dry weather 

 when the fruit is ripening. By frequent cultivation the 

 roots are kept deep in the soil, which produces the cool 

 condition under which they succeed the best, and plant 

 food is being rapidly developed by the frequent exposure 

 of the soil to the air. Late cultivation is generally 

 to be avoided, but in seasons when there is but little 

 moisture in the soil during August, it may be best 



Pig. 70— Blackberry Canes Pruned and Unpruned 



to keep up cultivation till the middle or the last of 

 September, or until there has been a considerable 

 fall of rain. 



Pruning — Success in the growth of this crop will 

 largely depend upon pruning. The first year, at plant- 

 ing, the canes are cut back to within five or six inches 

 of the ground, and from each of these canes will grow, 



