PRUNING BLACKBERRIES 261 



(6) The evergreen blackberries. The vines are clinging; the 

 leaves are evergreen or nearly so. The berries are large, black, 

 sweet, and ripen through a long period, sometimes lasting three 

 months. The Oregon Evergreen is a common variety of the 

 Pacific coast. 



Planting Blackberries. -The most common plan of planting 

 blackberries is to prepare the ground well as for corn and then lay 

 out the rows about six to nine feet apart. Set the plants about 

 three to four feet apart in the rows. This will leave room between 

 the rows for the use of a horse, or team in cultivating or harrowing. 



An inter-crop may be used between the rows to help maintain the 

 cost of the patch until bearing time. Use a crop such as cabbage, 

 beets, beans, or something which requires clean cultivation. Allow 

 room between this crop and the blackberry bushes for a one-horse 

 cultivator. The vines will begin to spread by means of shoots from 

 the underground stems or roots. These should not be allowed to 

 widen the row very much but the plants may become thicker in 

 the row. 



Pruning Blackberries. — The first year the canes may be allowed 

 to grow to the height of eighteen to thirty inches. The top should be 

 cut off and they will thus be forced to branch. Frequent pruning 

 is therefore necessary during the growing season. If the bushes are 

 kept low they will not require trellising. The fruit is borne on the 

 canes produced the previous season. The old canes should be 

 removed as soon as the crop has been picked. The easiest way to 

 do this annually is to mow down the entire growth with a brush 

 blade promptly after the picking is over. Very few young shoots will 

 then be up enough to be injured by the blade. The work is much 

 more rapid than trying to cut out and take away only certain 

 canes and leave the rest. There will be enough time during the 

 remainder of the summer for vigorous canes to be grown on which 

 the crop is to be borne next year. Another advantage of mowing 

 down the entire patch is the control of diseases and insects. 



The old canes may be removed and burned, particularly if they 

 are infested with borers and with rust disease. Canes started as 

 late as midsummer will need less heading back, but if the season is 

 favorable, attention to this must be frequent. Some heading will 

 greatly increase the crop next year. More tips for bearing fruit 

 clusters will thus be formed. The pruning of lateral shoots is 

 sometimes necessary. A good rule is to keep the plants low enough 

 to avoid the necessity of trellising. 



