The Small Fruit Culturist (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 Excerpt: ...freely when the plants are set deep as when shallow. At the time of planting, cut the canes down close to the surface of the soil, because if they are left entire, it will require nearly, if not quite, all the strength of the root to force the buds on them into growth. These will produce a few weak shoots, and perhaps some fruit, and then the canes will die down to the root and no farther. The entire forces of the plant are required the first season to produce canes, if anything like a crop of fruit is expected the next. In some sections of the country the soil is naturally very poor, and it may also be very difficult to obtain sufficient manure to enrich the whole of it before planting. Under such circumstances, the plants may be manured in the hill by mixing a shovel full or more with the soil at the point marked for the plants before setting them. Afterwards manure may be applied to the surface of the soil, and worked in with plow or cultivator. If barn-yard manure, or a compost of it, and other materials cannot be obtained, then bone, poudrette, or some other kind may be applied. A plow or cultivator may be used among the plants for keeping the weeds down in summer, but keep the soil as nearly level as possible; never bank up the plants and let them remain in this situation for any considerable time. A small plow may be used to break up the soil between the rows whenever it is necessary, but the cultivator should be passed over it soon after, to level it down again. If the variety cultivated is one that increases by suckers, allow but one or two from each root to grow the first season, and not more than six to eight from one stool in any one year thereafter, unless the production of plants is more - important than that of fruit. The fruiting canes ...