The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-09-19
THE WHoRTLEBERRY.
How 1t Thrives Under Cultivation - The
Soil the Plant Affects.


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 pract-
cable, then plant in dry soil, and ap-
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, If
all the native 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 a
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 tibrous mate
rial, mo blowing or hoeing will be needed,
as the mulch will smother the weeds
and at the same time keep the soil in a
light, moist, and cool condition, espe-
cially suited to nearly all the species of
the huckleberry. The plants live to
great age, and plantation once estab-
lished and cared for will last lifetime.
Plants may be raised from seed, but
they grow so slowly at first that few
persons will care to start 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 be transplanted, and the roots
must be carefully protected during the
operation from the sun and drying 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 at 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 clearing, where the huckleberry
bushes have been cut down with axe OF
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 Of
less pruning at the time of removal
but wild plants, taken from the wood
need a great deal more, because they
seldom have as many roots, or, at least,
not as many are saved in digging up.
The huckleberries will thrive better
on rather light soils than those that ar,
heavy-peat and sandy soils being pre-
ferable to clay. 1t is high time that ou
native huckleberries should receive
place among the generally cultivated
small fruits, for they are well worthy o
such position, and we are quite conf
dent that they will repay the care re
CURED in their cultivation. The TIVE
most important operations for inSurin!
success are to severely prune the plant
at the time of transplanting, and thei
to keep them well mulched, at least al
those species that grow naturally il
moist or wet situations.-M Y. Sun.