Varietics of the Blackberry. 393 
described in Chapter XIV, should be applied. It is a good plan 
to apply in a thick covering all over the ground and between 
the canes as soon as the patch is cleaned up in the fall. The 
early rains carry down the soluble parts of the manure, and later 
in the season the whole is plowed in between the rows, leaving 
a foot or more next the plants to be carefully forked in, as the 
digging fork does not cut the roots like the spade. 
Mulching—The mulch, to keep the ground moist and to 
obviate summer cultivation, is very satisfactory where it is thor- 
oughly done. Apply coarse manure or partially-rotted straw 
and the like, after the last spring cultivation, and use the hoe to 
keep down weeds and suckers which come up between the rows. 
Some growers use mulch close to the canes, cultivating the re- 
mainder of the ground between the rows. 
Bearing Age and Longevity.—lf blackberry plants are well 
treated the first year after planting out, there will be consid- 
erable fruit the following summer. How long the plants will 
bear satisfactorily depends, also, on situation and treatment. 
Sometimes the plants fail early; even with good, generous treat- 
ment in good soil, the old stool becomes weak, the shoots are 
thin, and the fruit small. Some count about eight years as the 
profitable age of the plant, and then cut out the plants and give 
the land a change. Of course berry growers prepare for this by 
frequently making new plantations. 
Varieties of the Blackberry—Comparatively few kinds are 
largely grown. The Wilson Junior, Lawton, and Kittatinny 
were formerly the prevailing kinds, ripening in the order named. 
The Erie is favored by some as a late variety. The Early Harvest 
has been favorably reported by a number of growers. These 
have, however, been largely superseded by a renamed variety, 
Crandall’s Early, which is the earliest of the improved varieties, 
and has a very long fruiting season. The fruit was named after 
Dr. J. R. Crandall, of Auburn, who first fruited the variety from 
plants given him by a stranger hailing from Texas. It is a 
strong, vigorous, hardy plant, very productive, of firm, hand- 
some berries; resembles Lawton in canes, leaves, and flavor oi 
{ruit; not given to sprouting from running roots. 
Another variety which has advanced in favor is the Oregon 
Evergreen, introduced from Oregon. Mr. John Rock describes 
it as follows: “Origin unknown; beautiful; cut-leaved foliage, 
which it retains during the winter; berries large, black, sweet, 
rich, and delicious. It continues to ripen from July to Novem- 
ber, which makes it one of the best berries for family use.” 
Some effort has been made to secure improved varieties of 
our native blackberry, and a most striking result has been se- 
cured by Judge J. H. Logan, of Santa Cruz, by crossing the 
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