16 
P. J. Berckmans Company’s Tree and Plant Catalogue 
Small Fruits 
BLACKBERRIES 
Strong plants, 50 cents for 10, $2 per 100, $15 per 
1,000. 
CULTURAL DIRECTIONS.—The best soil for Black- 
berries should be well-drained strong loam, and tend- 
ing towards clay rather than sand. Fertilizers con- 
taining a good proportion of potash are the most 
desirable; too much stable manure or nitrogenous 
fertilizers will induce a rank growth of wood at the 
expense of fruit. As a preventive for rust, spray 
with copper sulphate solution during the fall and win- 
ter, and with Bordeaux mixture during the spring and 
summer. Set plants 6 to 8 feet apart each way. As 
soon as the fruiting season is past remove the old 
canes. Cut back the young canes when 2 feet high; 
this will cause them to branch and become self-sup- 
porting. Apply fertilizer during the winter and give 
shallow cultivation frequently. 
Erie. Very productive. Fruit large, round; good 
quality. One of the most popular sorts. 
Minnewaski. One of the largest and most produc- 
tive. Very late. 
Wilson’s Early. A fine, very large early sort. Of 
excellent flavor. Ripens finely. Very productive and 
one of the best market sorts. Ripe end of May. 
DEWBERRIES 
Strong plants, 50 cents o a $2 per 100, $12 per 
l, 
Austin’s Improved. After trying this variety for 
several years we pronounce it, with confidence, the 
best Dewberry for this climate. Fruit very large, 
subacid, vinous, but of second quality. Enormous 
bearer. The most productive market variety we have 
ever grown, as it is 8 to ro days ahead of any other. 
Strong and vigorous grower and stands our hottest 
summers perfectly. Free from rust. This year 25 
two-year plants produced 40 quarts of immense berries. 
RASPBERRIES 
Strong plants, 50 cents for 10, $2 per 100, $15 per 
1,000. 
CULTURAL DIRECTIONS the same as for Black- 
berries, except that Raspberries require heavy fertili- 
zation and perfect cultivation. Cottonseed meal, 
pure ground bone, or fertilizers containing a good 
proportion of potash are the best and should be lib- 
erally applied during winter or early spring. 
Plants cannot be supplied before November 15. 
Cuthbert. After several years’ trial, this proves one 
of the best and most reliable of the red-fruited varie- 
ties. 
prolific; ripens middle of May and continues for sev- 
eral weeks. 
Golden Queen. Fruit golden yellow, similar in 
quality to Cuthbert, to which it is evidently a close 
relation. Its fine color attracts the eye. Prolific; 
stands our summers. 
Loudon. Fruit large, rich crimson; excellent 
quality; very productive, and stands the Southern cli- 
mate without injury; is a good shipper, as berries do 
not crumble. 
Fruit red; large, of excellent quality; yield very - 
¡ loads of manure per acre. 
STRAWBERRIES 
Prices of j strong plants tied in bunches of 25: 
50 cents per 100, $4 per 1,000. Special prices for 
large lots, 
CULTURAL DIRECTIONS.—A deep, rich, sandy 
loam is the most desirable; still, with proper work and 
manure, any soil not too wet or arid may be made to 
yield large crops. 
For Field Culture, use from 15 to 25 two-horse 
This should be well 
plowed under and the soil well pulverized before 
planting. A top-dressing of hardwood ashes or 
bone-meal should be applied during February. Plants 
set out after the fall rains will yield a fair crop of 
fruit during the spring following, but a large crop is 
only certain the second year. It is undesirable to let 
the plants remain after the second year, and more 
profitable to plant every year, so that one field may 
take the place as the other is plowed up. Plants may 
be set in rows 3 feet by 1, and this will require 14,520 
plants for one acre. 
For Family Use, the plants can be cultivated in 
hills, with the rows far enough apart to cultivate the 
ground thoroughly, or along garden walks. Manure 
the ground well, and plow deep before planting. 
Well-decomposed stable manure will make a luxu- 
riant growth, but to induce a large yield of fruit, a 
liberal supply of potash must be added. Either 
hardwood ashes (20 to 40 bushels), muriate of potash 
(300 pounds), or ground bone (500 pounds) per acre 
will return a good profit. Puta top-dressing of cot- 
tonseed between the plants as soon as set in fall. 
Leave this all winter, and fork it in during March. 
After the crop is gathered, keep the soil well stirred 
and always free from weeds. If you expect a large 
| yield of fruit, give the soil liberal manuring, and cut 
| off the runners as fast as they appear. 
This will in- 
crease the size of the plants, and from these large 
stools or bushes a crop chas berries may be expected. 
We have tested hundreds of varieties, and find but 
few that will give general satisfaction. Locality in- 
fluences this fruit more than any other cause, and we 
cannot, therefore, depend upon the same variety thriv- 
ing equally well in different soils. 
Mulching. After a thorough working of the soil 
early in the spring, the ground may be covered with a 
coat of straw or leaves; let this remain during the 
fruiting period, then remove, and keep the beds well 
worked and free from weeds during the balance of the 
year. 
Sex of Blossoms. The blossoms of most varieties 
are perfect or bi-sexual, and are termed staminate, 
but some varieties destitute of stamens are imperfect 
and are termed pistillate. The latter are, as a rule, 
the most productive if planted near perfect-flowering 
sorts; otherwise they will not produce fruit. Plant 
three rows of a good pistillate variety, then three rows 
of a perfect or staminate sort, and so on. Enhance, 
Hoffman, Michel, and Tennessee Prolific are good 
pollenizers, but care must be taken to keep the run- 
ners of each variety from encroaching upon the others. 
Ordering Plants. We cannot fill orders for plants 
at the prices quoted until early in November, and pro- 
viding that the condition of soil admits of being dug 
with safety. To fill orders for plants before the last 
crop of runners is well rooted entails the loss of three 
plants where one is secured. We request our patrons 
