Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-26

PESTS-G0oD FRUIT-SEND FOR MUIR
sERY CATALOGUES.
In recent discussion of the currant
as a garden crop | said that it was not
found in nearly as many farmers gar
dens as it should be. This statement
would be equally true in regard to other
small fruits. The consumption of
fruits of all kinds has greatly increased
within the past few years, especially in
cities and towns where the people buy
most of the food they consume, but
there is room for still greater increase,
and particularly on farms where it could
be grown so easily and cheaply if the
proper attention were given to the
plants. Among American farmers there
is still too much dependence upon the
frequent visits of the butchers cart and
to the pork barrel in the cellar. Com
pared with vegetable food and fruits the
meats are expensive and growing more
so as population increases in this coun-
try. Bread is truly the staff of life, but
it is relished great deal better when
there is plenty of fruit to go with it.
Not only the currant but the raspberry,
gooseberry and strawberry should be
grown in abundance for family use on
every farm in New England. If these
fruits are planted and well cared for it
will not require large amount of land
to grow full supply for an ordinary
family. The fruit garden ought not to
be so far away as to be inconvenient
gathering the fruit as needed for the
table, but it should be so planted that
most of the cultivation may be done
with horse power implements. Small
fruits may be grown on as great variety
of soils as can most other crops, but they
all do best on a deep, loamy soil that
will not suffer uuduly in dry season.
Dry, gravelly knolls and low lands
where the subsoil is constantly wet
should be avoided, but wet land after
thorough undertaking may make an
ideal location, as it will for almost any
crop. Raspberries and blackberries |
would prefer to set in the early fall as
they start so early in the spring that
purchased plants are apt to have lost
some vitality by early growth before
they reach the hands of the planter.
Like the strawberry these should never
be allowed to bear fruit the first year
after planting. As the fruit OF the
blackberry and raspberry is always
borne on wood of the previous years
growth one need not care much for the
size of the part above ground when buy
ing, but there should be good root
growth and healthy crown from which
the new canes are to push out. If canes
of any size are received from the nursery
they should be cut back to a few inches.
Both these fruits should have abundant
room. Five feet for raspberries and
seven for blackberries is little enough
space between the rows while three to
four feet apart in the rows is not too
much. For blackberries like single
row long enough to give full supply OF
fruit, and with strong post set at each
end with single wire running from one
to the other to which the canes may be
tied at the tops TO keep them in place
and make il easier gathering the fruit.
Raspberries do not root deeply and the
cultivation should be shallow, but fire.
ouent enough to keep the ground clean.
The red varieties that multiply by
sprouts from the roots are sure to get
too thick unless many of the sprouts
are treated as weeds which they really
are. A few strong, healthy canes to
each plant are far better than a multi.
tude. Blackberries root deeper and
there is less danger from deeper cultiva-
ton. All suckers between the rows
should be destroyed as fast as they
appear. No crops can be expected to
paw for growing unless the land is kept
sufficiently fertile. An application OF
fertilizer rich in potash and phosphoric
acid should be made annually. Perhaps
there is no better time than in the fall
before the ground freezes up for the
winter. 1t is my practice to mulch the
berry patches with any waste rubbish
from the garden, as potato and tomato
vines. cornstalks not needed elsewhere,
indeed anything that will help keep the
ground moist. Unless the canes are tied
up to the wire or to stakes a mulch is
often needed to keep the fruit clean as
its weight brings it down near the earth.
As to varieties, | know of no blackberry
that can recommend as superior to the
SNYDER for New England planting. |
have tried several other kinds but with
out finding its equal for the home gar
den or a near market. 1t is very pro-
life, of good quality and the hardest OF
all. have grown it thirty years with
out losing a single crop by winter kill
ING. while some varieties never went
through winter unharmed. OF rasp-
berries the Cuthbert is called the best.
The Columbia, hybrid between the
red and blackcap, is new to me but is
quite promising. 1t is good bearer OF
berries that some admire while Others
object to the color. 1t never spreads
from the roots as do the reds, but is
easily multiplied by roofing at the tips.
In windy weather it may be necessary to
pin the ends of the new growth down to
the ground to hold them in place. A
plantation of blackberries may last a
good many years. l know of one that
was set out more than 25 years ago tha,
is still healthy and productive. Few
insects trouble this fruit, but my rasp,
berries were so badly infested last year
with gall growth on the stalks that |
had to dig out and burn most OF the
stock and set out in new spot.
Different members of family do not
always fancy the same fruit which is
one reason why a good variety should be
planted. Some who are not partial to
variety at the time of picking always
give it welcome in winter when cook
ed and preserved. The raspberry il
always in demand to go with currants II
canning time to give the jam or jelly
more pleasing flavor. prefer the juices
of these fruits separated from the seeds
In that form they are specially accept
| able in the rooms of convalescents.
think fully appreciate the value OF
| good market for farm produce, but
| always congratulate customer wh'
| succeeds in growing his own, for know
that it will taste better to him than an,
| he could buy. There is great satisfac
ton in seeing good fruit grow, and thel
still more in gathering it in ones owl
garden. / hope the perusal OF thes
lines will cause many readers to max
the necessary effort to have full sup
ply cf small fruits for home use in tn
not distant future. Watch the adver
tisements in this paper in their seasol
and send for catalogues of nurseryme
and make at least small selection
the kinds most recommended. Th
nrices are now within the reach OF a.
who are able to own garden. Eve
tenants who are liable to change lOcatio
occasionally can often afford to plan
and care for these small fruits, 1t take
Il 49, <~ oot rak,rruo for ma,