BUREAUS OF U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE—BUSH FRUITS 
Bureaus of U. S. Department of 
Agriculture 
Weather Bureau—C. F. Marvin, Chief. 
Bureau of Animal Industry—A. D. Mel- 
vin, Chief. 
Bureau of Plant Industry—W. A. Tay- 
lor, Chief. 
Forest Service—H. 8S. Graves, Forester. 
Bureau of Soils—Milton Whitney, Chief. 
Bureau of Chemistry—C. lL. Alsberg, 
Chief. 
Bureau of Statistics—L. M. Hstabrook, 
Statistician. 
Bureau of Entomology—lL. O. Howard, 
Lintomotlogist, 
Bureau of Biological Survey—H. W. 
Henshaw, Chief. 
Office of Public Roads—L. W. Page, Di- 
rector. 
Office of Hauperiment 
True, Director. 
Bush Fruits 
After the selection of a proper site for 
the growing of bush fruits, the most im- 
portant factor entering into it, is the 
man. This has been demonstrated so of- 
ten, and in so many parts of the coun- 
try, one man succeeding where another 
fails, that it needs no extended proofs 
here. We will refer to our article on ap- 
ples as an illustration showing how by the 
choice of good varieties, and by the proper 
care in packing and marketing, one man 
will make a good profit, while another will 
barely live. Card in his book on “Bush 
Fruits,’ says: “The yield of black rasp- 
berries for a given year, as reported by 
58 growers ranged from 567 quarts per 
acre to 9,600 quarts per acre.” Just how 
much of this difference was due to un- 
avoidable conditions, and how much to 
preventable circumstances, is not known; 
but our observation leads to the conclu- 
sion, that much, very much, depends on 
the man. “The yield of blackberries per 
acre as reported by 50 growers, ranged 
from 1,280 quarts, to 10,000 quarts. The 
average was 3,158 quarts per acre.” The 
highest yield shows the possibilities of 
high productions under favorable condi- 
tions, the low yield shows what to ex- 
Stations—aA. C. 
2—1 
665 
pect under poor conditions with poor 
management. 
It is conceded that all the bush fruits, 
except perhaps cranberries, do better in a 
deep rich soil, well drained, than under 
other conditions. Perhaps in no section 
of the United States do berries produce 
larger returns than in the Pacific coast 
region. Here, nature seems to have fur- 
nished the conditions of soil and climate 
best adapted to this kind of fruit. 
In the Rocky mountain and Alleghany 
mountain regions it is conceded that a 
rich loam, with a clay subsoil, is better 
for most varieties, while for some, a 
sandy loam is best. Generally, a good 
corn and potato soil, is good for small 
fruits. However, for certain kinds of 
fruits, especially raspberries, a north 
slope is better than a south slope because 
they reach a higher development, where 
the sun is not too hot. A considerable de- 
gree of humidity in the atmosphere is 
also favorable. 
The roots of small fruits do not extend 
so deeply into the ground as the roots 
of the larger trees like apples and pears, 
therefore require more moisture near the 
surface of the soil, and are more quickly 
affected by drouth. 
Fertilizers 
It is impossible to tell, without know- 
ing the character of the soil, what fer- 
tilizers should be used. Some soils are 
full of humus, and to add fertilizers of 
that character would be superfluous. Gen- 
erally, where there is an abundance of 
humus, there is a lack of some of the 
mineral elements necessary to a good 
crop. Other soils lack humus, because 
they are located in the arid or semi-arid 
regions, where vegetation has grown but 
little. These soils are generally rich 
in mineral elements, because the soils 
have not been leached by rains and floods. 
Some soils are disintegrated lime stone, 
and to add lime might injure them, while 
others are disintegrated sand stone or 
basalt. A soil analysis is necessary in 
order to know intelligently what to add 
and what fruits are best adapted to cer- 
tain conditions. 
