Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-05-04
BERRY CULTURE
The Chespest and Rest vcay TO Raise
Rsspberries and tslaeh berries

6sspberries and islach berries
Corr. spcnd,nt C0unfr, Gentleman.
Turning tom the straw berry 10 its i'm
mediate successor We have fruit that is
preeminently adapted 10 Ice tanners uss
In 4 measure self-asserting and under
fayoring conditions good Tor q dozen
yesIs, the farmer can plant the hlack-cap
raspberry with considerable faith thst he
can keep it clean snd receive an abundant
annual reward, OF fruit that has the lees
wsste OF any fruit grown. The first work
after ouce established is to take on, the
old wood, and in snowy and windy lsti-
tudes the most advanced cultivators DO not
take this out until after midwinter. On
any mild day in February or March. arm
ed with thick gloves, the cd canes ear be
broken on; and laid in the space between
the rows ia be removed with pitchfork.
In cleaning Ont weeds and grass from the
space, about two 'eet vide IN the row can
not be resched with the cultivstor l
have found that taking tine by the fore
lock and dcirg /, inst as the frost IL partly
out Is the most profitable way. The
ground Is soft ard the weeds are not nearly
20 tenacious IN their hold upon the sol! as
when allowed TO make some Roadway in
their summers growth. TIE same IL true
Of cultivation between IoNs, and it is fer
better to DO IL az the time OF esTly garden
making than later
NV plan is to clean ont with the Doe
such weeds "a know cannot be reached
by anything eLe. and then pillow with a
light plow towards the plants, throwing
the earth nearly TO the stems Then go
along the rows with the hoe again, and
Roe The mellow soil into the TX between
the plants wherever I think il Us cesssry.
Two weeks later l so through with
Planet Jr., set wide, sud by wearing buck
skin glOves, can stir the soil almost up
to the stems Cultivation is given there
after as needed until the new growth and
roofing of the tips make il impossible. Ia
cul,iyating, a harness that Will allow of
the fretst swinging ard sideways crowding
OF the cul'iva'or Is desirable, AID l fud
such to be q simple collar with names End
trsce.chains leading directly to the wbittls-
tree, without back strap. By the way,
one Of my peighboTs uses such harness 'or
blowing. The chains hitch to the names
~ hooks, and when quitting work are
dropped upon the ground, s,ill attached
to tie pillow. The line is tied upon the
hame, snd upon reaching the stable the
collar, without unhuckhng the hames, Is
reversed and taken of with the bride,
leaving the horse II cool off and eat his
dinner uufettered by a mass OF sweaty
leather.
Where a farmer or other raspberry
grower has an abundance Of straw, II IS q
verv nice way Il mulch with seven or
eight inches deep Of straw, renewing each
spring and net cultiyatirg at sl.
friend OF mine, large farmer, grew an
acre in this Way for ten years, simply pull
ing up such weeds as iound their way
through the straw, which were not many.
A neighbours two girls picked and mar
keted them ter half, and as the berries
great. fat, OvsrgroWn Doolittles-s
readily at 10 cents per quart, 1t proved
profitable for both parties. This was In
the early days Of the DOolit,le, and l thiuk
that once he sold $50 worth Of plants, the
tips roofing beneath the rotten straw. Red
Ih-NnEINltN VI tue SUI "a va WV 80
quite troublesome as compared with TIP
roofing ones, snd the only way to deal with
them Ia TO treat the surplus suckers as
weeds, The rows are generally kept too
broad. SIX inches Is wide enough, as the
berries will be enough larger to pay, and
the bearing canes will lean out to either
side. while the new growth grows erect IN
the middle, snd does not impede picking
as when in a hedge Is or 20 inches wide.
Blaekberries, from their aggressive ma
TUE. are generally detested by farmers,
but thew are ~ the same time very de-
.irshle fruit 70 have. They thrive almost
anywhere, and very good Way 70 grow
them ia in little groups not more than TX
feet scross with a clear space Of four or i've
feet all around Keep the spaces clear
With brush soythe. throw plenty OF coarse,
strawy manure among the plants IN the
spring. cut out the old canes and shorten
the new ones at the same time, and If the
winter Is not so severe as TO kill peaches
the grower will be rewarded with an seund'
ance Of fruit from the middle Of July until
September l, and thus round ont three
months of berrying.