Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-10-17
-. culture 81 Black berries.

2ho CUltWRo -
Very many of the newcomers TO South
California have . desire to 60 into the
business of fruit.growing and settling
down here, but are often too limited IN
means to permit of waiting three or four
vears for the ripening of the fruit on the
trees. For all such small fruit culture
opens a way for quick returns. In the
growth of berries for the home market.
or for the manufacture OF jams, Jellies,
.oarmalades and such other delicacies as
- be made from them, we can see
lsrye and profitable business in the fu-
4ure One man at Pomona offered this
sea.on to buy all the berries offered him,
and to pay for them very handsome
price. Thus far the supply has never
been one.fourth the demand. All kinds
ef berries can be grown here, but straw
berries and blackberries do better than
any other variety, and we can grow the
most delicate varieties, and grow several
crops year.
On the subject of blackberry culture,
. correspondent OF the Times offers the
following useful hints:
"For the benefit of new beginners l
will state how plat of ground may be
set with stools Of blackbs cry briars. Inc
plat Of ground should never be where
water stands very long at a time, for, al.
though the briars are great lovers OF
water, yet it will not do for their feet to
stand in water long at time, as the roofs
soon begin to decay. Break up the ground
deep and thoroughly. If it is convenient
70 subsoil it, that is much better. for the
roots 20 down foot or more. Inen the
ground should be narrowed till all the
slods are brokenup fine. The rows should
be five feet apart and the stools four ieet
apart in the rows, and if the ground Is
not au object, put the stools flve feet
apart each way-they can then be more
easily cultivated each way. Now your
ground IS ready for the briars.
s.If YOU can have the privilege OF TAX
ing up the roots yourself, SO much the
better. Never let your spade go nearer
than six inches of the cane you wish to
take up, and put it down fifteen inches
and lift out with the spade and never
pull out the root by the cane, for it often
cracks and splits the roots to do that.
The roots should be put out as soon after
taken up as may be, as they Will grow
all the better for 1t next spring. When
ready for setting out, cut Oft the end OF
all the larger roots with sharp knife ss
far back as the root is split or bruised.
The holes should be dug fifteen inches
deep. and then some loose, fine earth
thrown in so that the stool will be ten
ortwelve inches deep. See that the roots
arc epresd out over the bottom OF the
hole. and. to make sure thing OF 1t,
sprinkle iu fine earth with your handstill
it is as high as the small roots, then you
nav dump in till the hole is full with
your spade. Then tramp down all around
the cane, throw on loose earth to round
mp, and your cane is set, Leave the cane
ons foot above the ground. They may be
set any time after the leaves fall OIL till
they begin to grow in the spring, The
best time to insure good growth is to
set them after rain when the ground be-
comes easily worked. The first year the
stools do not require much irrigation;
they need, however, to be thoroughly
cultivated and kept clear OF grass and
weeds. When the new canes get as high
~ your head, pinch off the top bud, and
when the shoots or limbs, which may
pat out, get out as long as your arm,
pinch of the top bud Of each. By this
method you will get a big, strong cane.
II left to themselves, they will grow fif-
teen feet long, which is not desirable.
A lath is q good enough stake to tie TO-.
Many times have cut off the old cane
three feet high and tied the young canes
to them. In the fall or winter all the
old canes must be cut out, leaving not
more than five or six at the outside, new
canes to bear next spring. Keep the rows
clean of shoots not belonging to the
stools, else you will have thicket,
which is no good. The patch should be
kept clean and we'll cultivated at all sea.
sons Of the year; that is. if the weeds
and grass persist in growing in and among
the stools. / would advise all to grow
the Kittatiny for their main crop. The
Lawton will grow as large berries,
but some years there is heart in each
berry as big as q pea and so hard as to
injure the sale Of the berry.
Il can't imagine the cause OF this
heart being hard, for some years the ber-
ries are soft and melting through and
through, as are the other varieties. The
Lawtons are harder canes to handle on
account of their having so many thorns,
and they will not stand up straight like
. Kittatinv."