Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-29
BERRY CULTURE.
The Result Of Ten Years
Experience.
Some Valuable Hints to the
Small Fruit Farmer.
Practical Information About Black
berries, Strawberries. Etc.
How to Plant and Cultivate-How and
When to Prune-The Best Vari-
Observation-Disclosures
Profits.
IA paper read at Compton November
IA Iya.~~. Gilt

IA paper read at Compton November
14th, by d. Edson Smith.
Mr.. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN: In response to an invitation to
present to this meeting paper on
''berry culture" 1 beg to offer the fol-
lowing, derived not from theory, but
from ten years. actual experience and
observation in the Santa Ana valley.
My remarks will be confined to the cul-
ture OF the strawberry, the blackberry
and the raspberry. Any land that will
raise good corn is adapted to these ber-
ries, and one is not liable to make the
ground too rich. Deep stirring and
thorough pulverization OF the soil be-
fore planting are essential to the best
success. deeply plow, and harrow my
ground several times before planting to
facilitate irrigation, for all these ber-
ries need large amount of irrigation.
prefer slightly ridging the rows for
strawberry plants. and putting them far
enough apart to admit OF using mar
row horse cultivator between them, and
place the plants from twelve to eight
inches apart in the row. The ground
allotted to strawberries should be
divided into three parts, and one of
these parts should be plowed up and
reset every year. After the setting OF
the plants the success depends on
thorough culture, freedom from weeds
and runners and proper irrigation. The
strawberry feeds near the surface, hence
the surface soil must be kept moist
enough in some way to allow the feed
ing rootlets to take up the plant food
from the soil. A mulching of straw
will aid greatly in preventing evapora-
ton. We have several good varieties OF
strawberries to select from. For an all
round berry prefer the Monarch of the
west. But let each one test the differ
ent varieties in his own neighborhood,
and then choose that which pleases him
best.
Prepare the ground for blackberries
and raspberries the same as for straw
berries, leaving it level. Make the
ing to the richness of the soil, and put
the plants four feet apart in the row. A
new field should be planted every third
year. While these berries do not feed
go close to the surface as the strawberry,
still they require great deal of water,
and proper provision should be made for
it. February and March are good
months in which to set out these ber
ries. When the plant has grown to a
height of three feet / cut off the tip
with a pruning hook. This will cause
the plant to throw out laterals; and
when these have attained a growth OF
eighteen inches clip off their ends in
the same way. | continue this clipping
process throughout the growing season,
as often as the vigor of the plant de-
mands, and through each year till the
plant is dug out. After the plants
come into bearing canes must be cut out
after each seasons fruiting. Keep the
space between the rows thor
oughly cultivated and always moist
and free from weeds and sprouts
all the time. l use a knife c1lti-
vator and spading harrow. The soil in
the rows, between and Immediately
around the plants, will have to be worked
with hoe. A few shovelfuls of manure
thrown around the roots of each plant in
the fall will be Of great benefit. This is
all there is to it-irrigation. cultivation,
pruning and feeding. AS to varieties, 1
have settled down to the New Rochelle
for raspberry, and Crandall Everbear-
Ing 10r DlackDerry.
The Blackcap raspberry does not seem
to thrive in a paying manner in Southern
California, excepting in few localities.
Let each one try them, in small way,
and if they prove successful, then en-
large the plant; for there is quite de-
mand for that variety of berry.
The Cuthbert is the best of the red
varieties that 1 have seen raised; but
nf RI 70
because OF its tendency to winter kill
from some, to me, unknown cause.
Still, in some localities, it proves to be
very profitable. There will always be a
good demand for this berry, and those
who have the proper conditions should
cultivate it..
But the pre-eminently best raspberry
for the market is the New Rochelle,
cross between the Doolittle blackcap
and the Cuthbert red. The berry, when
fully ripe, is OF purple color. 1t is of
quite firm texture, making it a good
shipping berry. Its quality is much in
ferior to the Cuthbert, but as it comes
into the market when all the fruits are
scarce, and is almost gone when the
Cuthbert ripena, it is eagerly sought
after. 1t is prolific bearer, vigorous
grower, and entirely hardy, and free
from disease as far as know. / plant
no other kind for market raspberry.
OF the many varieties of blackberries
the Kittatinny and Lawton were favor
ties with me for many years, butd do mot
intend planting any more of them, be-
cause the Crandall's Early (or everbear-
ing) is so much superior in every respect.
1t is entirely healthy, vigorous and pro-
hfic. The fruit begins ripening early in
June, and we are stiil-Nov. 10th-en-
Toying an occasional dish OF them for
supper. They are free from core, and
of fine flavor; in fact, with me, they are
the berry.
The marketing OF our berries is an i'm
portant item. We are now able to OBJ
tain we'll ventilated boxes of various
sizes very cheaply. Great improve
ments have also been made in the car
rying crates, the best of which, so far as
have seen, is the Hall crate, made at
Monrovia. 1t has folding partitions,
and while thoroughly ventilated the
fruit is protected from all insects and
largely from all dust.
Berries should reach the consumer
the eame day they are picked in order
to be in the best condition. A berry
should be fully ripe when picked. This
requires the pickers to get to work as
soon as it is light enough to distinguish
the ripe berries from the green. Care