548 



GROWING BUSH FRUITS 



lar to that outlined for the black and purple raspberries. The 

 old canes should be removed and burned immediately after the 

 fruit is harvested. The new shoots should be pinched or 

 headed back early in the summer when they have reached a 

 height of 24 to 30 inches. If the plantation is unusually vigor- 

 ous, this height might be increased another foot. It is neces- 

 sary during the summer to keep cultivating and hoeing out the 



new shoots which spring up 

 between the rows or the 

 plantation will soon become 

 a thicket. 



In the spring, all weak 

 and slender canes should be 

 removed and only the 

 strongest ones, about 10 

 inches apart, should be left. 

 The laterals should also be 

 headed back at this time. 

 If there are several vigorous 

 laterals on each cane, it will 

 be well to head them back 

 quite heavily, leaving them 

 8 to 10 inches in length, 

 but if the laterals are not 

 numerous lighter heading 

 should be practiced. A re- 

 cent Missouri bulletin shows 

 that there are more basal 

 fruit buds on the laterals of Early Harvest and Robinson than 

 on Snyder, Eldorado, Taylor, and Rathbun. As a result it is 

 suggested that the laterals of Early Harvest and Robinson 

 should be shortened to 10 to 15 inches, while those of the other 

 varieties should be left 18 to 24 inches long. 



In some regions, no trellis is used, especially with the 

 stockier varieties and where heavier pruning is practiced. 

 However, in other regions and especially where the more 



Fig. 231. Blackberries growing ac- 

 cording to the hedgerow system. Red 

 raspberries are also grown in this 

 manner. The young canes have been 

 tipped at the desired height in the 

 growing season; red raspberry canes 

 should not be headed back until the 

 following spring. 



