The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-17

The year the plants are set. potatoes CT
ether crops may - grown between the
rows. and the yield should be sufficient TO
pay for the use OF the land. Some growers
plan- strawoerrles. not only between the
rows. but sometimes n ne roy be-wee-
the plants; and il IS possible. By good Guilt
walton, 20 obtain two good CROPS Of straw
berries before the blackberries smother
them Three Or four canes may be allowed
70 grow the first year Il The plants pus
ont vigorously. ana these VIII bear some
fruit the following year. As soon As the
canes have reached height OF TWO or three
feet. they should be headed hack
Training-The subsequent training OF The
blackberry : simple. and il IS essentially
ike that demanded ~ the raspberry. The
operator must know, OF course. ina. the
shoots or canes which spring from the root
one year VIII bear fruit the next year ana
thar their usefulness Is then ended. Every
year. therefore. the canes which hav9
borne fruit are cut out. and others are al
lowed TO grow from the root 70 take tne1s
places. u Is generally preferable 10 re-
move these canes as soon as the fruit =
Of that Il, in late August or early Sept-rl-
Der, but the operation IS usually delayed
until less busy season They should al
WAYS bs removed before growth begins the
following spring. These old canes are sim
ply cut or close 10 the surface OF thu
or a cutting hook. While the canes are
bearing. others are growing from the roo,
70 take their place. A strong root may
send up from ten TO twenty shoots but
only few OF them should pc allowed 70
remain. How many shall be left mus, de-
pend entirely upon the vigor Of the plant,
closeness Of planting. strength OF soil. and
Ike circumstances. Usually five or SIX
canes from each root are sufficient and
II very excellent fruit is desired. the num-
Der may be reduced. The strongest canes
should be left and the others pulled on;
when they are stin only four or fIve IN
ohes high. 1t will be necessary 10 go over
the patch four or five times early in the
season to remove these superiuous shoots
1t is true that many growers entirely neg
lect this thinning Of the young shoots, but
It is a question II better results would not
always follow their removal
These growing canes should be headed
in, two TO four inches OF the tips being
cut off. when they are from two and one
half 20 three feet high. II viii be neces-
sary 70 go over the plantation three or
four times for this purpose. as the differ
ent canes reach the desired height at diff
ferent times. Laterals will now push out
vigorously, but these are allowed 10 grow
their full length. Early the following
spring these laterals are shortened. There
is no rule respecting the proper length TO
leave these laterals. Sometimes they are
injured by the winter and must De cut
in short And there is great difference
in varieties in the way in which they bear
their fruit; some kinds. Ike Wilson early,
bear the fruit close 10 the cane, while 9TH
ers, like Snyder and Early Harvest, should
be cut longer. Some varieties are variable
In their habit Of bearing fruit, and on such
kinds some growers prefer 10 delay the
pruning of laterals until the blossoms APP
pear. From twelve 10 twenty inches is
the length az which the laterals are gem
orally left. 1t must Do remembered that
these lsterals are 10 bear most of the fruit;
hence II IS important that they make
good growth. become well matured, and
that the grower familarize himself with
the habits Of different varieties. il is gen.
orally important that the heading in of
the main cane can be done early. so that
the laterals may make an early and hard
growth. and that they may start rather
low down in the cane and thereby prevent
the cane from tipping over with its load
Of fruit
Blackberry bushes WHICH are managed
as has been outlined above Will stand
alone. without stakes or trellises. The
bushes are sometimes kept from looping
by stretching a single wire along either
side Of the row, securing 1t TO stakes
which stand two or three feet high.
In some places, particularly along the
Hudson, blackberries are trained on wires,
after the manner of grapes. The two-wlre
trellis is generally preferred. The young
canes are headed in just above the upper
wire and they are gathered in punches in
the hand and tied 10 the upper wire, where
they will least interfere with the ripenlnS
fruit. These canes may remain on the
wires all winter, or they may be laid down
for protection. Early the following spring.
they are tied securely 10 both wires. rms
makes. therefore, one summer tying TOT
the young canes, and one spring tying for
the bearing canes. BlaCkberries may also
be tied to single stakes. although the prac-
tice is scarcely advisable because the frut
is apt 10 become too much massed IN tho
foliage.