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WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
BLACKBERRIES. 
Soil .—In selecting the place for a blackberry patch, choose 
a rather dry and moderately rich soil, for a large and succulent 
growth of cane diminishes the productiveness and hardiness of 
this plant. The ground should be prepared in the same man¬ 
ner as for raspberries, only strike the furrows deeper. 
Planting .—For fall planting, October and November are fa¬ 
vorable, but early spring is much preferable; then the plants 
should be set as early as practicable after the frost leaves the 
ground. They require considerable room, as they branch more 
freely and make larger stools than the raspberry. The rows 
should be at least eight feet apart, and the hills four, five or 
six feet apart in the row. The cultivation should be the same 
as with the raspberry. 
Trimming .—If new plants are not needed, cut away all 
sprouts or suckers that are not to be used for bearing fruit; 
about the last of August cut, or pinch, off the new upright 
canes to about three and one-half or four feet in height. 
This throws the growth into the branches, causing them to 
strengthen and ripen—more fully developes the fruit buds, 
and makes the cane self supporting. In the spring trim all 
the branches to within one and one-half feet of the main cane. 
After the crop has been gathered cut out the old canes. 
CONCLUSION. 
If is quite essential in the cultivation of small fruits that 
you start right, and that every thing be well done, and at the 
right time. It has been my endeavor in this essay to point 
out, in as brief a manner as possible, the way to do this; and 
the facts herein given are the results of actual experience and 
personal observation for a series of years. 
