The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-02-29
TALKS OF TIE FARM
About Bhokbsrries-Hauss Plints-A DY-
; Ing Par Tree Saved Grating Wax.
Apple IrYe Biight-Nsw Apples-AppIes
IN New England-SOme Window Pets
-lIOusehold Hints-Live Stock
and Farm Notes.
About BIackberriss.

About BIaekberriss.
Summit County 20 Correspondence Practical
Farmer
The fact that the blackberry grows IN
nearly eli parts OF the country and on all
soils, is sufj c1ent proof that our climate
ssnd soil are adapted to it. Although it
flourish e6 nearly everywhere without Gull
tivatioI snd care OF any kind, it is well
known that many who have attempted to
raise ii have failed. Patches have been
planted and cultivated thoroughly for
years, and almost no fruit obtained. These
same patches, afte- having been abandoned
and allowed to come into grass and weeds,
have produced abundantly with scarcely
ever q failure. 1 have known people to fud
sI2eri )r wild varieties and remove them
to the garden to improve them by Gu iva
ton. In nearly every case this has re-
suited in disappointment.
The Lawton, 90 is well known, is an ex-
cellent variety, but easily winter killed.
Yet within q mile of where / am writing,
this variety bore last season, while the
SHydfr was almost, and the Taylor en-.
firely, killed on my place. have in mind
two cases where wonderful success was had
with The Lawton. One was on light, sandy
soil 1esr Cleveland, o and the other on
heavy loan in an djoining county. In
the first case the owner had few rows on
one side OF his garden. He had on the
same place large amount of snrubbery as
well IS trees and email fruits. These were
between the rows of Lawtons. Sometimes
this brush would be two or three feet deep,
but Il settled greatly during the season.
Aside from this mulching with brush, and
the annual pruning, the patch received no
care nor was ii needed. Such berries and
such quantities OF them have rarely seen
elsewhere.
III the other case the patch received
heavy coating of chips and rubbish from
the wood yard every spring. The few
weeds that came up were cut off with the
lhoe. All supelhuous suckers were served
nthe same way. No other care except an
anI nal pruning was given. In quite
number of years-eIght, | think-there was
not q single failure.
have known many similar cases. aud
being greatly interested in this fruit, 1
have taken considerable trouble to ascer-
tain. If possible, the causes of success and
fai .uIe. My opinion is that deep cultiva-
lion between the rows is the principal
caIIse OF failure. 1t breaks the surface
roots and leaves the bare ground exposed
during the winter. III the blackberry be
left to grow in its own way most of its roots
viii be near the surface, and they xtend
for, long distance. To cut or break them
depEves plant Of just so much Of its In.
% 1hIkc dnOuUt VI sap Ull6u Out
of the plants all winter, and this is sup
piled Thy the roots. A root in frozen
ground, however, can supply no sap, and
fer this reason we should endeavor
to prevent the frost from extending
t. q great depth in the soil. 1t is well
known that in fence corners and other
places where there is a growth of grass or
weeds, the frost never goes to great de pth.
These are the places where the blackberry
is rarely winter killed. A little litter
SCATTERED on the ground helps to prevent
lis freezing. IL oats were sown among the
tlackberrles early in the fall, they would
make sufficient growth to help in shelter
log the surface. I believe. too, that there
ia decided advantage in trimming in the
tall and leaving the brush on the ground.
Mat that is cut of will make no demands
On the roots during the winter, and it will
help little, at least, in shelteriDg them
and holding the snow. We tie up rose
bushes IN straw In the fall, not to keep
them warm, but to prevent the wind from
Trying out their sap. If this drying sur
Nee could be diminished, as by fall prun-
ing. woul6 ii not help so much.
Digging out sucker plants from between
The rows Is an IN ury. The best way is never
to let them grow; the next best way is to
cat them off without I'M uring the roots.
If plants be needed for a new plantation it
Is betTer to grow them from root cuttings
garden because IL spreads. A very practi-
cal and observing old gentleman told me
that if ditch one foot deep-no matter
how narTow-be made around the patch
Inc roots will never cross ii. I suppose if
the ditch were dug and wide board set in
on edge and the earth put back, it would
answer the same purpose for long time.
As the blackberry is among the most
wholesome of fruits, is such a general
favorite, and may be used in so many
ways, good supply is real advantage to
any family. Nearly all varieties bear well
and are reasonably healthy, but with ordin-
airy care, or what many call good care, they
are apt to get weather killed occasionally.
1 viii give my experience Will a num-
Der OF well.knovn varieties, planted in the
spring OF 1894, and well cultivated during
the season. / set from 100 to 800 plants
each, and all had the same chance, and
tpade fine growth. The winter Of 18S4-S5
Was unusually severe.
The Early Harvest, Early Cluster, Will
son, Jr., and the Taylor were killed to the
ground. The Snyder was killed to the
snow line, and was 50 much In ured below
that 1t produced but q few scattering ber-
ries- Stones Hardy was hurt somewhat,
cut bore quite q crop. The Agawam was
uninlured, and produced full crop of the
most delicious berries / ever tasted. It Is
Of good size-smaIlsr than the Lsvton or
hluhlnny, ano larger tnan the snyder or
Stones Harde. This variety was found in
apesture in Massachusetts,. / have never
heard Vf an unfavorsble report OF it from
any one who has the genuine.
hear good reports of the Waschusett
Thornless and Ancient Britain, but have
not fruited them. / hope to fruit, this
season, q number of new and promising
varieties received from Maine, Vermont,
Iowa and Ohio.
House Plants.
DR.. J. N. Anders lectured recently before
the students and friends of the Medico.
Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, his
subject observes the Public Ledger, being
"Ihe Hygiene of House Plants"