Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-04-12
pEWBERRY PLANTATIONS
Grown Over a Wide hYca--tijnts on
Cultural Mcthods-Fiftcen Year
Old Plantations IN ~ c.

The Dewbcrry has proved profiia'
bic in many sections because il rip
ems somewhat earlier than the true
blackberry, which it resembles ErCat.
!y in some respects. Sometimes the
Gowberry is called the trailing black
berry, because its canes trail on the
cvound while those OF the blackberry
are upright. he clusters OF the dew
berry also are small and open in com.
parison with those Of the blackberry,
At the present time the dcEborry IS
grown most extensively in N9rth Car
DINA and New Jersey, but there are
also plantations in Maryland, Texas.
Missouri, Michigan, Colorado, and
other states. The Lucralia, the most
popular variety, is not very hardy,
and hitherto its culture has been con-
fined TO rather mild climates. Amy fer
tile soil provided with good drainage
and with good supply Of hnnas TO
retain moisture is suitable fer grow
ing dewbcrrics Many of the large
fields of North Carolina are IN coarse
sand, and in other sections clay loans
ere used for this purpose. Tie fruit
however, should not be set on wet
soil. Under such conditions root rot
has been found to kill the plants. On
the other hand a sufficient supply of
moisture is essential for the develop
ment and ripening Of the berries
Dewberry plants are usually set
I. int Il in
the south and in early spring IN The
north. As they occupy the soil for
several years the land should be well
prepared beforehand. Tie use OF coy
er crops to add humus 10 the soil is
frequently a desirable preliminary.
and much better results are usually
secured if the land is planted - Guilt
waited crops for two years before set
ting out the plantation. This viii re
suit in better growth Of the plants
the first year, and the plantation WI
yield a crop much sooner than # no
such preparation is made,
Two systems Of planting are follow
ed-the hill system and the solid
! row system. With the former the
plants are set five feet distant each
way: with the latter three feet apart
in rows which are fou" to six feet
apart. Cultivation is begun as soon as
the plants are in the ground and con-
tinued until the growth OF the canes
trailing along the ground interviews
with the work. The following spring
/ lust before the buds start, the canes
should be trained. There are a num1cr
I Of different ways Of doing this. dc
/ tails of which are discussed in farm
ers' bulletiA 72S, new publication Of
the department on this subject. in
some cases, where the hill system Is
used, stakes are set by each plant
and the canes wound in spiral
Ground them. With the solid row sys-
TEN Of culture, posts are sometimes
set between every two plants and in
ether places a wire trelli5 Is used
In the south where the growing sea
son is long, all the canes. both old
and new, are usually cut off after the
fruit has been picked. IN northern re.
gions the season is too shor. to secure
i large amount Of new growth, and in
consequence the old canes only are
removed. The former method has the
advantage of minimizing danger from
the diseases which affect the dew.
berry. Of these the two most serious
are anthracnose and double blossom
In the states where it is not possible
to remove the canes after harvesting
tie crop, the disease is controlled by
removing in the spring all buds and
canes which show injection
Prospective dew berry raisC"s usual
II obtain their plants from nurseries
Those, however, who already have q
plantation can raise the.: own plant:
by covering the tips OF the youn.
canes with a few inches of soil late
in the summer or early in the autumn
These tips will root freely and tbs
new plants VIII be ready to dig late
mat fall or early the next spring. TIT
duration of a plantation VIII depen.
largely upon the attention :! receive:
and the system of pruning adopted
"a North Carolina plantations fitteel
| years old are stu productive.