SMALL FRUITS 91 



by observation of the various varieties. As a re- 

 sult of this pinching, the main stems grow very- 

 stocky and the laterals strong and more or less 

 rigid. They thus bear their fruit well up from the 

 ground and there is no danger of the stems falling 

 over when the crop is abundant. After fruiting, 

 the canes that have borne should be as light as pos- 

 sible for the maturing of the young canes, which 

 will bear the following season. Three to five 

 canes are enough to allow to grow each year, de- 

 pending upon the strength of the variety. Large- 

 growing kinds should have the smaller number. 

 The old canes should be removed from the planta- 

 tion and burned. (See also Raspberry.) 



In some places it is thought ad- 

 visable to cover blackberries dur- 

 ing the winter to protect them 

 from freezing, but usually it is 

 not necessary in ordinary 

 ^^/Sk^s^E--- •*»•" ■ climates where the above method 

 blackberries of prun i ng j s practiced. The 



Grown naturally . , ..,. . , , , , 



winterkilling is largely due to 

 immature wood which freezes. Well-ripened wood 

 is rarely injured by frost except in very cold loca- 

 tions. 



Among the best known varieties are Agawam, 

 Ancient Briton, Early Cluster, Early Harvest, Erie, 

 Kittatinny, Mersereau, Snyder, Taylor, and Wilson. 



THE CURRANT 



In the cooler sections of the country the currant 

 is one of the easiest and most satisfactory small 

 fruits to grow. It is perfectly hardy, makes quick 

 and early maturing growth, comes into bearing the 

 second year after planting, and produces fruit un- 



