The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1895-01-26
FAEM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
hGRlCULTURISTS.
Culture OF Kasphcrrics.

make inquiries are readers of the FARM
EKs' REVIEW, answer through that
medium, and hope to make the most
practical mode Of planting and after
work so plain that the novice in berry
growing will know of a certainty how
to proceed from start to finish, and all
inquiries may be fully answered. How
to plant-We should plant the rows
seven feet apart, and set the plants
three feet apart in the rows. Plant
rows north and south where practical
bic, but would rather plant east and
west than to plant up and down hill.
Well grown plants before taken mp
occupy with their roots circle of
about one foot in diameter. there
fore dig holes for plants at least one
foot across and several inches deeper
than the plants want to be set.
The setter draws some OF the good
top soil back into the hole, leaving 1t
higher in the middle, and having 1t
deep enough to allow the sprout OF
plant to be about two inches below
the surface, and let the long, small
roots slope downwards around the
center and fill fine soil on the roots
and press it down firm, but leave soil
mellow and rake after rains to prevent
crust from forming. Cultivate and
hoe often, but the steel rake is more
safe to use until plants are well up.
When plants have grown to be about
one foot high pinch from tips OF lead
ing shoots about one and one half
inches to make them grow more stocky
and they will form better hills and not
grow so low and sprawling. After
pinching tip back once, do not touch
it again that season, but let il grow
at will. Never tie to stakes.
If the soil is good, and good cultiva-
ton given, and plants were good to
start with, you will be- surprised at
their great growth. 1t matters not
what form your vines may take, DO not
touch them until the next spring, and
especially if you have planted the
Older, they will take care OF them
selves, as far as winters winds and
cold are concerned, as they need no
protection, winter or summer, to stand
our climate. north or south. The next
spring shorten in the canes to make a
compact hill, perhaps no larger than a
half bushel basket. AS soon as
pruning is done each spring, keep
ground we'll cultivated, the more often
the better, until berries are nearly
ripe. Mulching put in at that time will
hold moisture and keep fruit clean
The last of May or fore part OF June
one year from planting, the young
canes will spring up from the
hills, and when they are from
IS to "a inches high, according
to their strength AID uprightness, cut
or pinch from their tops about one ant
one half inches. Go over the patel
about every two days (as the cane
grow up very quickly and pinch of al
canes as they get the right height. w
usually watch the patch for shoot
about ten days after we commence tt
pinch back. We say again, never pine
a cane but once. and we would abou
as soon dig up the whole patch ant
| throw it into the brush pile as to neg
] lect to pinch the canes at the RICH
! time. After the pinching back is a.
done they want nc more pruning INIT
the next spring, except cutting out oil
canes after fruitins. As SOON ss tn
crop of fruit Is picked, remove all Of
canes that fruited, cutting them o
- near the ground, and carry out at ono
and burn them. As soon as old can'
az are ont cultivate at once, to be out {
N the way Of young canes, and eileen OF
IL with hoe all weeds and gra
M that may be among the hill
'el In after years do as already advises
o' but pinch back canes somewhat highe
ny but leave them not over two and ha
u.s. feet high, to get the greatest crop, al
lp stand winds without supports. 1
led hills get older, perhaps they may thro
oh up too many canes in hill. In tn
ltf case, sitter removing old canes, cut o
er all surplus ones, leaving the best al
nj strongest. often leave as many
Inc eight or ten, if even in size. The mo
1he left the closer one has to prune. 70
al strong Genes with many laterals
ing better than more. Shorten in car
on every spring to make good hill q
1he row. and not leave the canes too lor
ine You will be more inclined to leave
ing much wood rather than not enoue
al There is no rule to lay down to pru
by, but to use our best judgment. Ar
a season or two of careful watch
we will learn what they need. Diff
the emit varieties need somewhat differe
TINS treatment, as some grow M
tive sprawling than others. The Oh
the will take on better form
nan row, Of itself, than any other Bla
cap that have can be pruned to ma
The Older is the ideal bush, and
other grows in SO fine form, neitl
foi can they be pruned to grow like
and they give me more pleasure, So
seen faction and profit, than any other t
ever planted. Pruning-Last spr
With to guard against wind storms, pru
,~ar hnfnro an Tho n