The Dolores star., 1924-06-06
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:KBERRIES WILL
We GOOD RETURNS


{u A. S. COLBY. horticultural
Dment. Illinois College of Agri-
Few peorle really know how
a = fruit the blackberry Is, or
l'N1111 The place II can fill in our mid
: diet. They know blackberries
orly <fhe half-ripe, hard. sour, juice
hleln ftly red fruit commonly avail
nt11 the market The blackberry de-
f1glt1 }es very quickly after picking
\ap4 not stand to be shipped long
I11191 =. II 1t is TO have the quality
81 Sor to which 1t is justly entitled
, ms1 be picked dead ripe and eaten
- ~ The place for the blackberry
- M&1e home garden or in the. com
patch within easy trucking dis
et9aR u local market. There are
S1X [och places In Illinois unsupplied
-V4 N4ality fruit.
BIne8berries yield better than other
n snpall 4uits fair average yield over
a, ~ oQuntry being 5000 to G.OOO quarts
~ acre Some Of the best growers in
n uunoa4 however, report yield Of
on1y 200 quarts. with the average for
> the etate far below this figure.
|, Thefe seem to be three important
i, um1nn8 factors in raising blackberries
10 minois. One of these is the low
price which sometimes prevails when
y, there are competing crops of other
ffultot Another is the disease and in
Sect problem, and the third is the eff
,,tecf " dry weather.
A 3or the first difficulty, the proper
select1on Of varieties with fruit well
yrowh, properly ripened and presented
lttrnctiyely usually will result in good
prices There is big money in growing
,Nuality blackberries. Prices range
Iltrom - to SO 24-quart crate.
The disease factor is n serious one in
!, tome sections. Crown gall, orange
4 Just, anthracnose and leaf spot are
common in neglected plantations and
ipreed by infected nursery stock into
nalew AREAS. Stock of such character
pihOQld be rejected and infected plants
ID ~ plantation should be dug up and
,Juroud-not allowed to lie on the
ou grou-a the first appearance Of
, ahee& diseases in the spring. Anthrac-
d praying, as can also the few insects
) NhteA occasionally work on the foliage
,t The most Important need in the sue
. sq1afpi plantation is In lessening the
Y, Me<fg Of dry weather. since the black
etefry r largely water and ripens at
"She hottest season of the year. This
rouhi0 can be almost wholly avoided,
Inst Through proper selection of site
enhat does not suffer quickly from dry
weather. and second through practic-
thshg correct cultural methods.
hs The site should have northern or
tortheastern exposure. The soil
hould be deep and mellow, and an
specially important requisite Is plenty
lsR humus. Water drainage. either nat
ual or artificial also must be provid-
ID dead canes and the surplus plants
@puSf be pruned out and the laterals Of
: Th&oe that remain headed in. Success
fnllure, however. depends finally
ip14 the treatment of the soil. If
1oAnre or leguminOus crops plowed
=, pt.E Furnish part of the humus con-
llll at of the soil, other fertilizers prob
! hly'wtil not be needed until the plan
r sAtion is in full bearing. Moisture
ay pnoeev6tion Is an Important need.
ilute1i4g with strawy manure Is prac-
thSclN9e In small plantations. This
et 1hould be put on in the winter,
0 O. the late spring.
." 94re cultivation is practiced 1t
n nuqE be early, often and shallow and
/. s,1a9f not under any circumstances be
1t Is the price of success.
.ha4 been said that quality varieties
lUNYan quality care will result in quail
4. fliit This is especially true of
= srries.