FERTILIZER 199 



scarce, new plants can be produced by cutting the roots 

 into pieces about 3 inches long. These small pieces of 

 roots are called root cuttings. Each root cutting should be 

 planted 3 or 4 inches deep. The root from which the cut- 

 ting is made should be from j to f of an inch in diameter. 

 Certain of the brambles can be propagated by layering. 

 The dewberry and some of the blackberry-dewberry hybrids, 

 as well as the raspberries will root readily at the tip of the 

 canes. This method of propagation is called tip layering. 

 Tip layering is performed by either allowing the cane to 

 bend down and touch the ground naturally or to fasten it 

 down by some artificial means. When the tip of the cane 

 comes in contact with the soil it soon takes root and in a 

 short time a new plant is developed. 



Soil. — The brambles thrive on nearly any type of soil 

 provided suitable moisture conditions prevail. A sandy or 

 clay loam is perhaps the most preferable when it can be 

 secured. The brambles yield the largest returns when they 

 are grown upon a moderately deep, rich soil with plenty of 

 available plant food. 



The soil for the brambles should be well prepared the 

 season previous to the setting of the plants. Some culti- 

 vated crop, such as potatoes, beans or cow peas, should be 

 planted on the soil the previous year, so that the ground 

 will be well cultivated. This procedure will ensure the 

 thorough rotting of any sod or organic matter and will help 

 to destroy any cut worms or other injurious insects which 

 often cause great damage to the young plants. The soil 

 should be plowed to a depth of 8 to 10 inches when the 

 brambles are planted. After plowing the ground it should 

 be thoroughly harrowed and worked down until the soil of 

 the plant bed is fine and uniform. The subsoil should be 

 such as to give ample drainage. The brambles cannot 

 thrive with their roots growing in a cold, damp subsoil. 



Fertilizer. — ^The brambles respond differently to the use of 

 fertilizers. Barnyard manure applied in limited quantities 

 is perhaps the best fertilizer for the brambles in general. 

 The manure not only adds plant food and humus but it 

 also improves the physical condition of the soil. 



