Berries and Small Fruits 235 



THE BLACKBERRY 



The large-growing sorts are set as much as six 

 by eight feet apart, though with careful staking and 

 pruning they may be comfortably handled in less 

 space. The smaller sorts need about four by six. 

 When growth starts, thin out to four or five canes 

 and pinch these ofif at about three feet; or, if they 

 are to be put on wires or trellis, they may be cut 

 when tied up the following spring. Cultivate, mulch 

 and prune as suggested above. 



Blackberries will do well on a soil a little dry for 

 raspberries and they do not need it quite so rich, 

 as in this case the canes do not ripen up sufficiently 

 by fall, which is essential for good crops. If grow- 

 ing rank they should be pinched back in late August. 

 When tying up in the spring, the canes should be 

 cut back to four or five feet and the laterals to not 

 more than eighteen inches. 



Blackberry enemies do not do extensive injury, 

 as a rule, in well-cared-for beds. The most serious 

 are: (i) the rust or blight, for which there is no 

 cure but carefully pulling and burning the plants as 

 fast as infested; (2) the blackberry-bush borer, for 

 which burn infested canes; and (3) the recently 

 introduced bramble flea-louse, which resembles the 

 green plant-louse or aphis (page 161) except that 

 it is a brisk jumper, like the flea-beetle. The leaves 



