390 The Blackberry. 
necessary to work deeply because subsequent culture of small 
fruits must be shallow. 
THE BLACKBERRY. 
The blackberry is a great favorite in California markets. 
It thrives in all parts of the State, and the plant is best suited 
of all small fruits to yield generously without irrigation, though 
it relishes sufficient moisture and repays it with fruit. There 
is great difference in practise as to supplying water artificially. 
The growth of cane, and the size and appearance of the fruit, 
will show the observing grower what should be the practise in 
his situation, and the general suggestions as to irrigation in 
Chapter XV are applicable. There are regions in which 
blackberries are irrigated weekly throughout the summer, and 
others in which the berries are gathered from June to Novem- 
ber without irrigation. Of course, with such wide local varia- 
tions, there can be no general rule for practise. Let the 
grower simply bear in mind that if he does not get good, 
plump, and glistening fruit and good strong growth of new 
canes at the same time, he should give irrigation. The require- 
ments of the plant during the fruiting season are great, and they 
must be met. 
Propagation.—Blackberry plants are secured by digging up 
the shoots from old stools, securing therewith a bunch of 
fibrous roots with a portion of the main root. To propagate 
on a large scale dig up the roots entirely, and, cutting them up 
with pruning shears into pieces about two inches long, plant 
them in a well-prepared bed in the garden or nursery. Place 
the root cuttings about two inches apart and cover about three 
inches deep with well-pulverized soil, the depth being regulated 
of course, according to the nature of the soil, deeper in light 
than heavy soils. A light mulch will assist in retaining mois- 
ture. The time for this work is at the dormant period of the 
plant. One summer’s growth gives good plants for setting out. 
Planting out Blackberries——Blackberries should be planted 
in rows far enough apart to admit of the use of the horse and 
cultivator. As the constant tendency of the plant is to extend 
itself in the growth of new canes, the rows should not be less 
than six to eight feet apart, and the plants about three feet 
apart in the row. The plants soon occupy the full space in the 
row, and cultivation is only possible between the rows. Some 
growers plant blackberries as they do grape-vines, seven or eight 
feet apart both ways, and then cultivate with the horse both 
ways. Planting in rows is better. The number of plants to 
fill an acre at different distances can be calculated as described 
in Chapter XXIV for grape-vines. 
