21 



The commercial culture of blackberries in Ontario and Quebec is confined mainly 

 to southwestern Ontario. In the Lake Huron district, where there is a heavy fall of 

 snow, blackberries succeed very well, but when unprotected by this covering in winter 

 they are not satisfactory. They are grown with varying degrees of success in other 

 parts of these provinces, the amount of protection they get in winter usually govern- 

 ing the results obtained. At Ottawa there is rarely a good crop of blackberries, as 

 there is not quite enough snow as a rule to protect them well, and the canes are 

 injured. Blackberries do exceptionally well in British Columbia, and also succeed in 

 parts of the Maritime Provinces. 



Propagation. 



The blackberry is one of the easiest fruits to propagate. The suckers, which are 

 produced in great numbers, may be used, or if one wishes to propagate a variety even 

 more rapidly than by suckers, it may be increased from root cuttings. The roots are 

 cut up into pieces two or three inches long. They may either be made in the fall or 

 in the spring, and then planted in nursery rows about three inches deep for one 

 season, at the close of which if the soil is well cultivated there will be good plants 

 available. 



Soil, Planting and Culture. 



The blackberry ripens its fruit at a trying time of the year, as in late July or 

 August there is often hot, dry weather, and if there is not a good supply of moisture 

 in the soil the fruit will dry up, and what has promised a big crop will result in only 

 a few good berries. In selecting a soil, therefore, one should be chosen which will 

 retain moisture well. As the blackberry is inclined to grow late in the fall, and on 

 this account is more tender than the raspberry, soil should be chosen which although 

 rich in plant food has not an excess of nitrogen, which would be liable to induce late 

 growth. Hence bottom land should be avoided in most places, as such is likely to be 

 rich in nitrogen. 



One of the best soils for blackberries is a good upland clay loam. In such soil 

 there is likely to be sufficient plant food without an excess of nitrogen, making condi- 

 tions favourable for the development of the crop and ripening of the wood. The soil 

 should be well prepared as for all other bush fruits, and a good application of well 

 rotted barnyard manure to most soils will be found desirable. 



Spring planting is usually preferable. If planted early in the autumn the-young 

 plants are liable to start growth and the new shoots to be injured by the frost, hence 

 if planted in the fall they should be set late. Strong one-year old suckers are the 

 best to plant. 



Blackberries require a great deal of space to develop properly and to give an 

 opportunity of cultivating and picking them. The rows should not be less than eight 

 feet apart, with the pl'ants about three feet apart in the rows. The quickest way to 

 plant is to open deep furrows eight feet apart which cross a light mark every three 

 feet. At each intersection of the rows the plant is set a little deeper than it was 

 before and the soil thrown against it and well pressed against the roots. Where the 

 soil is well prepared, planting may be done very quickly by opening a hole with a 

 spade when the soil is lightly marked both ways. 



