PRACTICAL PAPERS—SMALL FRUITS. 
211 
along for several inches under the c^ne and the plant proper is 
lost. The tendency of plants thus formed is to degenerate. 
The Philadelphia propagates itself by suckers, but does so 
sparingly. If we wish to multiply them faster than nature 
produces them, late in autum or early in spring dig np the old 
plant or stool by cutting all the roots with a sharp spade about 
one foot from the base of the stem. Then level the ground 
where the hill was taken out, cultivate well, and the remaining 
roots in the ground will soon throw up an abundance of suck¬ 
ers or plants. In planting the Philadelphia, the canes should 
be cut close to the ground, as it requires nearly all the strength 
of the root to produce the canes for the next crop of fruit. 
Digging Plants .—For this work a potato fork or hook is 
best. Strike under the plant and raise the earth with it; 
shake out the earth carefully so as not to break the germ, an¬ 
other person following with a basket and knife to cut off the 
canes close to the roots. Do not allow them to dry in the sun 
or wind. When you have fifty or one hundred plants dug, 
place them in the center of the row and cover with earth suf¬ 
ficiently to keep them in good order until you have the de¬ 
sired number. If for your own use, and the plat is near, they 
may be taken up without shaking out the earth and planted at 
once. 
i 
To Replace Missing Plants .—In September, at the time for 
layering, choose a neighboring cane that is long enough to 
layer where the missing plant stood. If this cannot be done, 
set plants in the spring with earth attached. 
Plowing Up Old Plats .—When you propose to plow up an old 
plat at the end of the season (which I generally do the third 
or .fourth year), in the spring after the young canes have grown 
a foot in height, break or tear them away from the base of the 
bearing canes; the operation will have to be repeated twice. 
The result will be larger and better berries, and from one-fourth 
to one-half more than if these canes were left to grow, for the 
whole force and vigor of the root is now turned to perfecting 
the fruit, instead of growing new canes. 
