The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-09-18
THE wHoRTlEsERRY.
How it Thrivss Under Cultivation - III
Soil the Plant Affects.

How IL IhrtvS0 U00er C0lSavotaom - IUO
Soil the Plant Affects.
The species which grow naturally on
high dry soils will certainly thrive on
similar kinds under cultivation, and
those natural to low moist soils may
easily be planted in such soils when
readily obtainable; if this is not practi-
cable, then plant in a dry soil, and APP
ply mulch to keep the ground around
their roots cool and moist. The high
bush huckleberry. which is probably
one of the best. if not the very best. Of
all the nativ. species, usually grows in
very moist soils near the margins of
ponds or in peat boys: but it will thrive
in dry soils. provided the surface is kept
shaded and cool by covering it with -
thick LAYER of leaves, hay, or some SINH
lar kind of mulch. By keeping the
ground about the plants constantly COW
cred to the depth Of three or four inches
with some kind of coarse fibrous mate
rial.no blowing or hOeing will be needed.
as the mulch will smother the we-ds
and at the same time keep the soil in a
light. MOST. and cool condition. espe-
cially suited to nearly all the species OF
the huckleberry. The plants live to a
great age. and n plantation once estab-
lished and cared TOR will last lifetime.
Plants may be raised from seed. but
they grow SO slowly at first that few
persons will care to start u plantation in
this way, and it is not necessary, for
plants in any quantities can be obtained
from their native habitats, and are not
at all difficult to transplant and make
live. But plants of moderate size only
should DE transplanted. and the roots
must be carefully protected during the
operation from the sun and driving winds.
The plants may be removed either in
the fall or early in spring. As many of
the roots should be preserved as posi-
BILE. and st least One-half of the stems
and branches cut away. There is little
danger OF pruning too severely buckle
berry plants that have been taken up by
the roots. and if plant does not have
good roots the stem may be cut down to
mere stump of few inches in length.
Any one who has seen the new growth
in Il clearing. where the hucklebcrry
bushes have been cut down with axe or
brush hook, will need no better illustra-
ton of the effects of severe pruning up
on such plants. The main thing is to get
good number of roots to each plant.
and then prune away most Of the top.
depending upon new growth for fu-
ture use. or for supplying us with fruit.
Trees and shrubs. when transplanted
from nurseries. always require more or
less pruning ut the time of removal:
but wild plants. taken from the wood.
need y great deal more, because they
seldom, have ~ many roots. or. at least,
not rs many are saved in digging up.
The huckleberries will thrive better
on rather light soils than those hat are
heavy--peat and sandy soils being pre-
ferable to clay. 1t is high time that our
native h,ickleberrics should receive q
place among the generally cultivated
small fruits, for they are well worthy of
such position. and we are quite conf
dent that they will repay the care re-
CURED in their cultivation. The two
most important operations for insuring
success are to severely prunc the plants
at the time of transplanting. and then
to keep them we'll muichGi. at least all
those species that grow naturally in
moist or wet situations.-N i. Sun.