1912. 
WHAT ABOUT ROOT-CUTTING BLACK¬ 
BERRIES? 
A number of our readers are quite con¬ 
cerned over the poor quality of blackberry 
plants they have obtained, and they are 
at a loss to understand why some plants 
are poorer than others. They appear to 
think that the system of propagating black¬ 
berry root cutting tends to degeneration, 
and that plants propagated in this way 
through several generations are feeble and 
poor, and quite inferior to plants which 
grow naturally as suckers. Will you tell 
us what your experience in this line has 
been ? 
I have had little experience. Person¬ 
ally I do not think there is a difference. 
In growing cuttings some years ago I 
had much better plants from cuttings 
than suckers. It is certain that sucker 
plants often have poor roots. So far as 
I know no one has tested it out, but, as 
stated above, I doubt if anyone could 
tell by appearance of a patch whether 
root cuttings or suckers were used. I 
suspect it is about on the par with the 
question of difference between root- 
grafted and budded apple trees. 
Connecticut College. A. G. gulley. 
After long experience with blackber¬ 
ries in growing both plants and fruit I 
am of the opinion that root-cutting 
plants are fully equal to sucker plants. 
For years I have been advising growers 
to use good root cuttings instead of 
plants. Cuttings should be made of 
one-year-old roots, not two or three 
years old. They may be from two to 
four inches in length, and as thick as a 
tenpenny nail; and they are just as 
good if cut early in the Spring and 
planted at once as if cut in the Fall and 
buried. m. crawford. 
Ohio. 
We have planted a number of black¬ 
berry plants from time to time, of both 
types—those propagated from root cut¬ 
tings and those propagated from suck¬ 
ers. There is a marked difference in 
vigor in both types of plants, of course, 
unless they are graded, and there is 
often a marked difference in the root 
systems of the sucker plants. When 
strong, vigorous plants are selected I 
have seen very little difference in the 
vigor of their growth after planting. 
We occasionally secure plants that are 
affected with root galls, or have been 
dug from plantations affected with 
root gaff. Such plants will never do 
well; this one disease is responsible for 
a great many failures in the culture of 
blackberries and raspberries. At cer¬ 
tain seasons of the year the galls may 
decay and not show on the roots of 
sucker plants that may be pulled out of 
the soil. It is also possible that the 
disease may not show prominently on 
plants propagated from root cuttings. 
It cannot be too strongly emphasized 
that no root cutting plants should be 
propagated from any field where root 
gall occurs, and no sucker plants should 
be taken from such a field. 
M. A. BLAKE. 
New Jersey Exp. Station. 
I regret that I have so little practical 
experience on this subject. So far as I 
have made any observations they are all 
in favor of the root cutting as com¬ 
pared with the sucker in the propagation 
of blackberries. Root cuttings properly 
handled in good soil give fine Spring 
plants with masses of roots which can 
be transplanted much more successfully 
than the ordinary sucker, which often 
has no roots at all. I see no reason 
why such propagation continued during 
several generations should have any de¬ 
leterious influence. If there is any ex¬ 
ception to be made to either method on 
this ground it ought to be against the 
method of propagation from suckers. 
F. A. WAUGH. 
Mass. Agricultural College. 
We have many complaints at this sta¬ 
tion from small fruit growers that black¬ 
berries do not always set fruit. So far we 
have not undertaken an investigation of 
the reason why, nor do I know of any 
fruit growers or experimenter who has 
started such an investigation. There is 
much to lend color to the view that propa¬ 
gating blackberries from root cuttings 
through several generations gives poor, 
feeble and inferior plants. A prominent 
nurseryman in this State, who probably 
propagates as many blackberry plants, if 
not more, than any other grower of such 
plants in New York, stated to me about 
a year ago that certain varieties of 
blackberries always degenerate and 
eventually cease to bear fruit if con¬ 
tinuously propagated from root cut¬ 
tings. I have been told, too, that some 
florists’ plants which bear flowers abun¬ 
dantly when propagated from wood cut¬ 
tings refuse to flower well if propa¬ 
gated from root enttings. The above 
statements bear little weight, since they 
are but hearsay evidence, but they have 
sufficiently impressed me, together with 
some observations on the behavior of 
blackberry plants on our own grounds, 
to make me doubt the expediency of 
propagating blackberries through many 
generations from root cuttings alone. 
The matter is of sufficient importance 
to justify a careful investigation, which 
this station will attempt to make, al¬ 
though it may be two or three years 
before we can arrive at definite con¬ 
clusions. Meanwhile the readers of The 
R. N.-Y. might have valuable evidence 
to offer. u. P. HEDRICK. 
Geneva, N. Y., Station. 
'THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Base Hits. 
117 © 
Lime and Ashes Mixed. 
I am offered air-slaked lime mixed with 
hardwood ashes, delivered mv station, for 
$4.60 per ton. We have very little lime 
in our soil, no limestone in this section. 
Do you think lime and ashes at $4.00 would 
pay on soil here that raises 20 to 30 
bushels of corn or half a bale of cotton? 
Clover does not do at all well here. 
Bokoshe, Okla. s. h. w. 
At this end of the country such a mix¬ 
ture, if unleaclied, would be worth $9 or 
more. It is a good chance to buy lime 
and potash. The lime ought to help the 
clover and the potash will help the corn. 
J. V. C., on page 950, refers to coloring 
cement blocks. While it is impractical to 
color the finished blocks it is practical to 
mix coloring matter with the cement mix¬ 
ture before the blocks are cast. This col¬ 
oring matter is cheap and may be obtained 
from most people dealing in cement. It 
can also be used in any kind of cement 
work. • 
On page 950 I. C. R. refers to sorrel 
coining in on potato land where potatoes 
are planted year after year on the same 
land. This, I believe, as he does, is caused 
by an acid condition of the soil, caused 
by heavy applications of commercial fer¬ 
tilizer. I have made inquiries of large 
growers, and find where lime is used "it 
corrects this, and the sorrel is held in 
check. 
A common but very wrong mistake made 
by many farmers is the putting of new 
wire fencing over old rusted-out wire. 
This will cause it to rust out much quicker 
than it would if the old wire is taken off. 
Look over your fences and see for your¬ 
self. A short board nailed on a post (to 
answer for a step) where you cross occa¬ 
sionally is a great saver of wire fence. 
(live the garden a good coat of lime this 
Fall. Is your garden not worth it? For 
one thing the root crops will be more crisp 
and tender and less troubled by maggots. 
This is not all. The good results are too 
numerous to mention. l. p. c. 
[ GALVANIZED ROQFIHbI 
69 Per Square 
I 
Hi 
Corrugated mneg versa 
or A A Del. Your Station 
V Crimp In 20c. Zone 
Ask for new Price List 99. 
GRIFFIN LUMBER 
nn ihiiison falls 
UU. N. Y. Box 12 
■Increase Your Profits'v 
r 
l)y feeding corn and col. The cob lightens the ration_ 
makes digestion easier—helps to increase milk flow and 
produce more flesh. Be sure yuu uso 
I T 
■ 81 
* o “VOU. Alb a UAL. JfUU USU 
llew <s/faUand 
Feed Mills 
These mills cut 
smoothly, stand 
clean, run easily and 
up to their work well and 
last many, many years. 
Can bo used for corn 
and all kinds of grain. 
30 Days Free Trial. 
You can try a New Holland 
Feed Mill on your own farm for 
30 day3 free. Our new size 
mill is specially adapted for 
gasoline engines of 3 to 6 H. P. 
Write us today and we will quote 
you low prices. 
NEW HOLLAND MACHINE CO. 
Box 41, New Holland, Pa. 
$1285 
The Simple Truth 
This Advertisement 1S , a , , sta J ement 
of plain facts — 
simple, truths — upon which we stake our repu¬ 
tation. When we say that the Imperial Auto¬ 
mobile at $1285 represents an actual, tangible 
value only found in cars costing up to $1800, 
vie mean it. What’s more, voe stand ready 
to prove it. 
A Thorough Comparison 
car with cars priced considerably higher, will 
establish its superlative value in your judgment. 
Make a complete investigation of this Imperial 
car. Go over it point by point. Look into 
its splendid record of road service. Sum up 
all the facts and you will understand why the 
quality of this Imperial car has necessitated a 
doubling of our output every year. 
Imperial Automobiles are made j n 
one of the 
largest individual automobile factories in the 
world. The Pride of Ownership which exhibits 
itself through every Imperial owner is due to 
the fact that back of each Imperial car 
there is a factory service that makes Imperial 
cars always 100% efficient. Ask any Imperial 
owner about this service. We will give 
you names and addresses near you. We 
want you to meet Imperial owners — to 
talk with them — to hear from their own 
lips the story of Imperial service, in the 
car and behind the car. Investigate this model 
“32”. Decide right novo to make a compari¬ 
son. Let us help you. Let us give you 
detailed facts and simple truths about the re¬ 
markable value of this car. Read these brief 
specifications: 
Specifications J ive Passe "£ er 4 ° p. 
r I ounng Car. Motor 
4 cylinders, cast en-bloc. 4 inch bore; S l /z 
inch stroke » Wheel base 114 inches. Unit 
power plant, center control levers. 34x4 inch 
tires with demountable rims. Multiple disc 
clutch. Three point suspension. Equip¬ 
ment: Mohair top, dust cover, windshield, 
speedometer, Prest-O-Lite tank, irons, demount¬ 
able spare rim, tool kit, jack and pump. 
Body finished in Brewster green. Black and 
nickel trimmings. Completely equipped $1285. 
Model ''44'' — Five Passenger 
Touring Car, 50 H. P.. 4ji inch 
bore, 5 H inch stroke. 122 inch 
wheel base, 36x4 inch tires. North East 
Electric Starting and Lighting Sys- 
Three Other Models 
tem. Complete equipment, $ 187S 
Model “34” — Five Passenger 
Touring Car. 4S H. P., 4!a inch 
bore. 5 '4 inch stroke. 118 inch 
wheelbase, 34x4inch tires. North East 
Electric Starting and Lighting Sys¬ 
tem. Complete equipment. $ 1650 
Model “33” — Two Passenger 
Roadster, same specifications and 
equipment as Model "32” $1283 
Models and w 34 w are Electrically Started and Lighted• 
Investigate! Write us at once for catalog and name of nearest Imperial representative• 
IMPERIAL AUTOMOBILE CO. 
Factories: Jackson, Mich. 
( 21 ) 
