SMALL FRUITS AND HOW HE GROWS THEM 
nraws up through the firm surface soil very fast, 
causing he' rii-s to dry upas well as stopping the 
growth of the pldiit. This is the reason why it is 
important to cultivate Ihe same day after every 
picking. 
Cut out the old wood as soon as the picking is 
over and then about the first of August sow as 
much as four bushels of oats to the acre and culti- 
vate in. The amount of oats recommended is not 
excessive because they make so rapid growth they 
will not stool up and we want a heavy mat to make 
a mulch which will shade the ground and send its 
roots down appropriating the plant food and 
moisture so the bushes do not get it and this 
checks growth and causes them to ripen the wood 
slowly and when winter comes all the canes will 
be firm and solid and they will pass the winter 
like a scrub oak. 
The oats will make a large growth and remain 
green until hard freezing comes when they will 
kill down but continue to shade the ground and 
prevent soil washing by winter rains, and in the 
spring be sufficiently rotted to cultivate in and 
add largely to the humus of the surface soil which 
prevents the particles from settling together and 
forming a crust, thus aiding very greatly in getting 
the desired early spring growth. The more hum- 
us there is in the soil the easier it is to conserve 
moisture. 
Nothing pays so well in raspberry and blackberry 
growing as this process of cultivation. It keeps 
the berries large, juicy and delicious until the last 
one is picked. AH the berries will then grow to 
their full size, and a bountiful harvest is secured 
every year. All the growth you get before the first 
of August is a benefit; all you get after that is lost, 
and all the wood made after the first of September 
is killed by slight freezing. Always let the culti- 
vator go at a uniform depth of three inches so the 
roots can come near the surface to get air and 
still not be broken and mutilated by the cultivator. 
PRUNING. 
The object of pruning is to make plants more 
productive and to extend their time of useful- 
ness. If left unrestricted they throw their whole 
energies into this one act of multiplying their 
species by seed bearing. While they should be 
e icouraged to bear a large crop of fruit they must 
not be allowed to bear an excessive crop and so 
exhaust themselves that they cannot produce 
another large crop for several years hence we must 
determine their ability and relieve them of surplus 
fruit buds maintaining an equal balance between 
root and branch, preserve symmetry and beauty 
and furnish light and free air to all parts of the 
branches. With these suggestions the engraving 
will show how the work should be done. 
CURRANTS. 
Price List on Page 30. 
Currants are so easily grown, fruit so heavily, 
are so hardy and easily cared for that it is amazing 
that every table in the land is not abundantly sup- 
plied with this cooling and delicious fruit. The 
ground should be made very rich and the weeds 
kept out by frequent shallow cultivation. Heavy 
mulching will answer in small gardens but for the 
field give thorough tillage. 
Prepare the ground as for raspberries and black- 
berrries and set plants in rows six feet apart and 
four feet apart in the row, making check rows so 
you can cultivate both ways. Keep well pruned by 
cutting out old wood and shortening in new wood. 
Do not allow them to overbear and you will secure 
immense crops every year. 
The Currant Worm appears soon after the leaves 
start, near the ground in a cluster. If a weak 
solution of Paris green is sprinkled on the lower 
center foliage that will be the end of them. If 
they appear later, dust a little white hellebore 
while the dew is on, or put a teaspoonful in a pail- 
ful of water and sprinkle with a whisk broom. 
The London Market is by all odds the most prof- 
itable currant to grow. It sells for half more and 
produces almost double the fruit of any other 
variety. More will be set in Michigan this year 
than any other sort. The fruit is large, fire red, 
and clusters fine. 
Victoria has long been a favorite. Where the 
currant borer is known to be numerous this variety 
should be planted, the pith being so small that the 
worm cannot work in it to do serious injury. 
Fruit is good size, bright red and very productive. 
Fay. On very rich, heavy land and high culture 
it is fairly productive, and has very large berries. 
It does not sell better nor produce half as much as 
the London Market. 
Cherry. The old standard currant, good size, 
good bunch and very productive. 
THE GOOSEBERRY 
Is now attracting much attention and proving one 
of the most profitable berries grown. The demand 
is increasing very much faster than the supply. 
Their general cultivation is similar to that of cur- 
rants, and insects are disposed of in the same way. 
For picking use a thick pair of buckskin gloves 
and strip the fruit off by hanilfuls and run through 
a fanning mill, or pour them on a blanket so that 
the wind will blow the leaves out. It's quick work. 
Keep the bush pruned rather closely, and top of 
bush open. They do better with heavy mulch. 
Smith's Improved is a large, pale yellow berry of 
great beauty and surpris- 
ingly productive. It is mak- 
ing man vfriendsevery where. 
The Downing is the most 
popular berry for market, 
large, even, fine <;raiiied, and 
makes a fine larvi- liush. 
Houghton i . enormously 
productive and very free 
from mildew. Berries are 
not quile so large as Down- 
ing, but in some markets- 
sell better. 
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