TRUE-TO-NAME SMALL-FRUIT PLANTS 



25 



Blackberries 



The best soil for Blackberries is a strong clay loam that will retain moisture, though the plants will grow 

 and thrive almost anywhere if planted in fertile soil. The plants should be set in rows 5 to 6 feet apart and 

 3 feet in the rows. The cultivation should be shallow, and three good canes only should be permitted to 

 grow in each hill. After 

 fruiting cut out the old 

 canes and allow the new 

 growth to come on. Pinch 

 the tips when about 3 

 feet in height, to make 

 them grow bushy and 

 better able to stand. Some- 

 times it is necessary- to 

 offer support to the canes, 

 and for garden culture a 

 line of chicken wire net- 

 ting offers a serviceable 

 support. In field culture 

 it is not usual to support 

 the canes in any way. 



BLOWERS. Berries 

 are large, jet-black in 

 color, of the finest flavor 

 and present a very temp- 

 ting appearance. The 

 plants are upright in 

 growth, perfectly hardy, 

 very rust-resistant and ex- 

 ceedingly productive. It 

 begins to ripen during July 

 and has a season of about 

 two weeks. This variety 

 originated in western 

 New York and is very 

 much appreciated by the 

 growers in that region. 



ELDORADO. Berries larger than Snyder, glossy black, and are unequaled for flavor. The plant is very 

 hardy and has not been known to winter-kill in any berry-growing district of the country. It is claimed by 

 prominent growers that it enjoys entire freedom from orange rust. This is an excellent variety for home 

 use, and while claimed by some to be too shy a bearer for market, others will grow nothing else. Originated 

 in Ohio a number of years ago, and, as fruited here, it is very productive. 



EARLY HARVEST. Berries of medium size, bright, glossy black, very juicy and sweet. The plants 

 are upright in growth and produce enormous quantities of berries very early in the season; in fact, this va- 

 riety is recognizeed as the earliest standard variety of Blackberries. It was found growing wild in southern 

 Illinois, and is not hardy in the far North; it seems, however, to enjoy great and almost universal popularity 

 throughout the middlp and southern states, and on the Pacific Coast. 



Eldorado. Good-sized, glossy black berries 



Iceberg, the best of all light-colored sorts (see p. 26) 



Early Harvest is a sweet and juicy berry 



