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Show BLACKBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES. Every one who has gathered wild blackberries is aware that the stems grow to the height of six or eight feet, and gracefully bend over at the top. The lower part of the cane bears little or not fruit, it being nearly all at the top of the bush. The same happens on a smaller scale with the raspberry when left to itself. While we cultivate the blackberry for the sake of better fruit than the wild plants usually afford, we should also endeavor to have more of it, and more conveniently placed on the bushes. From questions that are asked, it is evident that all are not aware that the stems of the blackberry and raspberry (at least those cultivated for fruit) are only biennial. The plant throws up from the root, often at some distance from the old stems, vigorous shoots, which grow rapidly, and by autumn will become ripe and hard canes, like the old ones. The old canes, which have given a crop of fruit, have completed their work, and, though they may remain alive for awhile, will all be dead by next spring. When the fruit has been gathered, it is best to cut the canes entirely away, to give room to the new ones. These should have more attention than they usually receive; if left to themselves they will become just like the wild plants, straggling, and with their fruit all at the top. Not only on account of the greater quantity of fruit, but for the ease in picking it, should the canes be pruned. Blackberry canes should never grow over five feet, and many prefer to keep them at three feet high. Whenever the green shoot has reached the desired height, remove the top, or growing point, which, being tender, may be pinched off with the thumb and finger. Soon after this is done, branches will start along the stem, and these should also be pinched, the lower ones when eighteen inches long, and the upper when twelve inches. By a little attention, once a week, or oftener, giving the needed pinching, the blackberry, instead of being a long, straggling shrub, catching at the clothing of all who approach it, may be brought into the form of a neat pyramidal bush, which, the next season, will be loaded with fruit from bottom to top. The same treatment may be followed with raspberries, which are usually kept shorter. One of the greatest pleasures in gardening is found in training and shaping plants, and making them grow as we wish, and in nothing are the effects of this more strikingly shown than in the blackberry and raspberry. -American Agriculturalist. |