SMALL FRUITS AND HOW TO GROW THEM 
PRUNING KASPBEKKIES 
AND BLACKBERRIES. 
Our object of pruning"- is to secure a larg-er, 
richer and better flavored fruit as well as to 
prevent exhaustion of the plant. The pulp 
or that part we call fruit does not devitalize 
the plant, and were it not for the seeds the 
more wood the better, and the next season 
there would be no diminution of the crop; as 
already explained, Ihc foniialion of seeds is an 
exiiauslive process, and if allowed to overbear 
heavily will so deplete the plant's enerfjy 
that in most cases a larf:re crop will not be 
secured aj^ain in two or three years, if ever. 
There are as many seeds in a small berry, 
and they are almost as larg-e, as in a big- one, 
and the plant will S'^'s its whole life and 
enerf^-y to brinff it to maturity. Now if we 
relieve the bush of a part of this burden the 
seeds in the balance will be more vijiforous 
and the pulp much larg'er and take on a 
richer and hij,rher flavor. To determine just 
how much wood we shall remove is a nice 
point and will require much skill and experi- 
ence. The bush should should be allowed to 
bear all it can briug to tjic highest perjection. 
Some varieties can be cut much shorter than 
others. Soils rich in nitrog-en have a ten- 
dency to fjrow much wood and little fruit 
and should be pruned lonfjer to secure the 
proper number of buds, while land rich in 
potash and phosphorus and poor in nitro- 
g-en will make less wood and set many more 
buds, hence must be pruned shorter. 
The work can be d>)ne at any time after 
{afrowth has ceased in the fall. Manj- of our 
most successful g-rowers prune lonjfer in the 
fall and winter and then after the fruit has set 
fjfo over it aj^ain and cut away where they 
require it. If a plantation of raspberries is 
properly pruned it can be maintained in 
strong- fruiting- vig-or seven or eight years, 
and blackberries ten to twelve years; but if 
not properly pruned will often cease to be 
profitable in three or four years. The en- 
g-raving, with these suggestions, -will g-ive a 
correct idea as to how the work should be 
done. 
DEWBERRIES. 
Tho Lii<T<»tia is 
far ahead of any 
other variety with 
which we are ac- 
quainted. It is a 
trailing blackberry 
of immense size, and 
when properly prun- 
ed is enormously pro- 
ductive and of excel- 
lent quality. It does 
not require land rich 
in nitrogen, but 
plent}' of potash and 
phosphoric acid in 
the way of wood 
ashes will greatly 
benefit it. It should 
be pruned to three 
LucKi-.iiA Di.wnr.KRv. or four canes and 
cut back to two or three feet, and if foliag-e 
becomes too rank it should be shortened in. 
The adverse criticism of this plant always 
comes from those who have given it no care. 
Proper cultivation and pruning are as essen- 
tial with this as in the case of ra.spberries 
and blackberries. It pays to cover with 
straw to protect it in winter. 
The berry should be allowed to remain a 
day or two after it has turned black, when 
it is delicious fruit. SOc per doz., $2.00 per 
100 and $12.00 per 1,000. 
CURRANTS. 
Only a few years ago everj' family had a 
bountiful supply of this cooling and deli- 
cious fruit. It grew with the least possible 
trouble in any neglected corner, but the 
currant leaf eater appeared and people did 
not know how to fig-lit it, so the bushes all 
died. The insects appear soon after the 
leaves start, low down in the center of the 
bush, all close together. A very weak solu- 
tion of Paris g-reen and water sprinkled <m 
the insects will dispose of every one. If 
they appear later dust white hellebore on 
the plant while the dew is on, or put a tea- 
spoonful in a pail of water and sprinkle on 
with a whisk broom. 
The soil should be very rich and the weeds 
and grass kept out. Rotten wood or refut^e 
from the chip yard is a favorite fertilizer, but 
an abundance of barnyard manure will do. 
I have found that a heavy mulch of coarse 
manure or a layer of straw will produce the 
best results. The roots come close to the 
surface so that cultivation must be shallow. 
The Fay l»i-olitif is a great favorite 
under high cultivation and favored local- 
ities. The fruit is immense, both in size of 
berry and cluster. It requires good strong- 
soil and plenty of manure. On poor ground 
or lig-ht soil, it is regarded as a failure. 1 vear, 
10c each, SI. 00 per doz. and $5.00 jier 100. 2 
Year, 12c each, $1.00 per doz. and $6.00 per 
ioo. 
The Viotoria is one of my favorites. 
The fruit is of good size and enormously 
productive. lOc each, 75c per doz. and $5.00 
per 100. 
