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Blackberry growing

Cultivated blackberries are grouped under five heads, as follows: (a) The high bush of the clearings and fence rows of the Northern States, with long clusters, as those of the Ancient Briton. (b) The type with lower growth and short clusters, as those of the Snyder. Both of these groups are probably forms of the Rubus villosus. (c) Trailing dewberries, as the Lucretia, and Austin, known botanically as Rubus canadensis. (d) Forms that are intermediate between these species are probably hybrids of the two species ,just referred to. The Wilson and Rathburn are of this class. (e) The cut-leaved or evergreen blackberry (Rubus laciniatus), which is probably a form of the European blackberry (Rubus fruticosus). This variety is cultivated on the Pacific Coast, where it remains green all winter and is very prolific.

Blackberry propagation - (a) The high bush blackberry is propagated by suckers and root cuttings. (b) The dewberry is propagated by layers.

Blackberry soils - (a) The best soil for the high bush blackberry is a heavy clay loam, but it grows well on a wide range of soils. (b) The dewberry is best adapted to a warm sandy or gravelly soil, but even under best conditions is not nearly as reliable a bearer as the blackberry.

Blackberry pruning, planting, and cultivation -(a) Plant and cultivate the same as for the suckering raspberry. (b) It is important to pinch the high bush blackberry canes at least once when 2 feet high, as this encourages the low settin of the fruit buds. (c) Spring pruning should not be done untif the canes are in flower and the amount and location of bloom are seen. As a rule about one-half of the bloom should be cut off in the pruning. (d) It is desirable to have a trellis for blackberries and dewberries.