The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-02-14
Cultivation of the Blackberry.

Cultivation of the Blackberry.
SoIL.-.The blackberry delights Id -
rich, rather moist soil. 1t would be al
most impossible to get soil too rich.--.
We have seen porlion of blackber>
ry patch receiving the wash of a barn.
yard, and the canes grew. to an immense
size. aud produced the largest berries
we have ever seen, while the quantity
borne was almost incredible.
PREPARATION OF THE SoIL.-The
soil should be deeply plowed and trench
plowed in the fall. By trench plowinp
the soil is deepened, and a portion Of
The subsoil is brought to the surface,
where it is subjected TO the amelioratina
Influence of the frost, air and sun. In
February or March the ground should
be plowed, and the subsoil or lifting
pIow used, which breaks up the subsoil,
without bringing any of It to the sur
face. We are satisfied from our own
experiments that this preparation of the
soil will be amply rewarded by the in
creased amout Of fruit produced.
TIME AND MANNER OF PLANTING.
The best season for planting the black
berry is autumn, if the soil is in prop
er condition. The blackberry commen-
ces growth very early in spring. and il
disturbed at this period by transplant.
ing, it is very liable TO die. None of the
small fruits so imperaliyely demand
planting in the fall or very early in the
sPrlng' If the plants can be out early
IN March, or i'll the first opening of the
spring it will answer, but if The plant
ing is delayed, it will be at a sacrifice Of
large portion Of the plants.
The pIants should be set out in rows
eight feet apart, and Two feet apart in
each row. Give the ground between
the rows good culture the first season,
and the second keep ali the weeds down.
not working deeply between the rows.
Strawberries may be grown betwe cen the
rows The frs, TWO Yeas, if preferred.-
Let the plants come up thickly between
the rows, hut cut off with a hoe. ever,
TO the ground, all suckers that come up
between the rows, treating them as
weeds. The plants coming lhickly in
the rows form a kind Of hedge, the canes
mutua ~ sustaining one another, thus
rendering stakes and trellises aud the
troubl lie Of y ing unnecessary. We have
pracliced this system with great success,
and those who have seen our patch in
huit say the yield was enormous. Thera
is no care or labor required in training
by this method. Those who 90 to the
expense Of procuring stakes and sci.
ting them, and tearing their flesh 10
pieces in tying up The canes, would
avoid the trouble after trying the plan
we recommend
PRrN1NG.-Ihe only labor required
by this method Of treating the blackber.
ry is in pruning. This is done in sum.
mer. When The plants scrd up the
canes four or FIVE feet high, 90 over the
patch With a corn>knife, and cut off the
tops Of all the canes TO the height of
about four feet. This will then cause
them to throw on: laterals, upon which
The fruit Is produced. The plantation
must be, gone over several times during
the season, as new canes are raising
themS elves, and their tops must be cut
OH Us before recommended. If the lat,
erals get tco rampant, and in the way,
as they will, they must be shortened in.
The only imp leu ent required for this
work IS corn knife, and one man will
rruhe several acres per Day in this man
ner | would particularly y recommend
that after the plantation is established
the ground betw een tbe'rows should mos
be disturbed. II will break the roots,
and cause an immense amount Of suck.
erS TO put forth and greatly weaken and
lessen the producIiveness Of the bearing
canes. The best Plan is 10 spread q
heavy mulching Of straw, or, what is
better, coarse manure between the rows.
thus keeping down the weeds, render
ing the, soil moist and enliehing it at
The same time.-N. l. Colman, 6GorS
Tie Mo. Horticultural Society.