Should there be the slightest danger of their
breaking down with their load of fruit, tie them to stakes by all
means. I do not believe in that kind of economy which tries to
save a penny at the risk of a dollar.
I believe that better and larger fruit is always secured by
shortening in the side branches one-third of their length in
spring. Fine varieties like the Kittatinny are not entirely hardy
in all localities. The snow will protect the lower branches, and
the upper ones can usually be kept uninjured by throwing over them
some very light litter, like old pea or bean vines, etc.--nothing
heavy enough to break them down. As soon as the old canes are
through bearing, they should be cut out. If the blackberry patch
has been left to its own wild will, there is nothing left for us
but to attack it, well-gloved, in April, with the pruning-shears,
and cut out everything except three or four young canes in the
hill. These will probably be tall, slender, and branchless,
therefore comparatively unproductive. In order to have any fruit
at all, we must shorten them one-third, and tie them to stakes. It
thus may be clearly seen that with blackberries "a stitch in time"
saves almost ninety-nine. Keep out coarse weeds and grass, and
give fertilizers only when the plants show signs of feebleness and
lack of nutrition.
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