part is gray in color, and this is surrounded by a distinct purple rim. These areas are sunken, and when several run together they may cause the cracking of the cane, or even its death. The leaves are also attacked to a limited extent, but with no such serious results. When the fruit stems are diseased, the berries are frequently prevented from ripening, and consequently they dry up on the bushes.” Spraying is of little value in treating this disease. It can be held in check only by cultural methods. The old canes become badly infested with the disease, and must be destroyed immediately after picking. They are of no further value to the plant, as they soon die after the fruit is picked. If they are left in the field for some time the fungus spreads rapidly from old to young canes, and the following year the plants are again seriously infested with the disease. The common practice at present is to cut off and burn the entire plant, both old and new canes, immediately after picking. (See Plate VIII.) This keeps the disease in check, although it does not eliminate it. The disease is always present, but by practicing this method it is checked to such an extent that it seldom becomes serious. At present the cutting-off is usually done with a pair of hand pruning shears. Another excellent tool is a pair of shears with long handles and long curved blades, made by a local blacksmith; it has the advantage of cutting more vines at a time and requiring little or no stooping. It can readily be made by any good blacksmith. In cutting off the vines, care should be taken to cut as close to the ground as possible; the stubs should not project above the ground. Often in dewberry fields one finds a great many plants shriveling and the vines actually dying because these old stubs had been left during the previous season and the young vines had simply grown from these old dying stubs. Another disadvantage is that the anthracnose is left on these old stubs and is carried over to the young vines the following season. CULTIVATION AFTER CUTTING OFF THE CANES. After the canes have been cut off it is necessary to make enough new canes during the remainder of the season for the following year's crop. This means cultivation of the most thorough kind. The cultivation should begin immediately after cutting off, and should be repeated as often as possible, giving at least one cultivation per week. As soon as the new vines are long enough to interfere cultivation should cease. If there are any weeds near the crowns of the plants, hand-hoeing must be resorted to. It is practically impossible to get a great many of the weeds which are clustered immediately around the old crowns with a cultivator. These should be carefully removed with hoes and hands. STABLE MANURE. Few growers realize the great importance of stable manure in dewberry culture. Some, however, who have tried it know that it is of the greatest importance. Stable manure is usually richer in nitrogen than in potash and phosphoric acid, and hence is not a well-balanced fertilizer for dewberries. Where growth alone is desired, it answers the purpose quite well. Where a large crop of fruit is wanted, the manure cannot be relied on when used by itself. Fighting Anthracnose. Canes have all been removed and the young shoots are just beginning growth again. Stable manure has a far greater value than that of adding plant food to the soil. It is composed largely of humus, or vegetable matter, which is in the very best condition possible for the soil. The great value of humus has already been discussed in a previous paragraph. It should be added that stable manure has also the power to set free plant food present in the soil, especially potash. Ten large loads per It is possible to use too much stable manure, which has a tendency to make too much vine at the expense of fruit, but there is little danger of using too much in this State, especially in the dewberry sections. The great danger is in not using enough, because it is rather difficult to obtain. The writer would recommend using as much as could possibly be obtained. acre per season is a fair amount to use. Twenty loads every other year will about answer the same purpose. The best time to apply stable manure is during the winter months. It is impossible to do this, because the vines at this time of the year are lying prostrate all over the surface of the ground, and if one attempts to haul in or carry in manure many of the vines will be badly broken and injured; hence, the manure must be applied either in early spring, immediately after tying up the plants, or in summer, immediately after cutting off the canes. Spring is probably the best time, since the crop will receive the benefit of the humus and the plant food in the manure, especially the nitrogen, which will become available in the early part of the summer and can be taken up by the plants about the time the canes are cut off. This is when it is most needed by the plants, as this is the season for cane growth. FERTILIZERS. The subject of fertilizers is one of the most important connected with dewberry culture. The soil is usually poor, and large quantities of plant food must be supplied. Commercial fertilizers are rather costly; hence the importance of using them economically. Usually two applications are made during the year-one in early spring, immediately after tying up the plants, and another in summer, immediately after cutting off the canes. These two applications will be discussed separately. Spring Application. This application is largely for the purpose of making the fruit. The canes have already been made during the previous season, and cane growth during the early part of the season is of secondary importance. The fertilizer added should be such as will give the largest amount of fruit. It should consist largely of potash and phosphoric acid, the two principal compounds in the making of fruit. More nitrogen than phosphoric acid is required by the fruit, but on our soils we find that in nearly every instance larger applications of phosphoric acid than nitrogen give better results. The amount to be used depends somewhat upon the distance apart of the plants and the intensity of culture. The more plants per acre and the more intensive the culture, the larger the amount of fertilizer. The kinds and amounts of fertilizers used for dewberries in this State vary considerably. It is impossible to say what kind and amount would be best for all conditions. In fact, there is no fertilizer that is best for all conditions, as this is so largely influenced by the character of the soil and the treatment it has received in previous years. Each grower must experiment for himself, to a certain extent, to see just what his soil requires. If the writer knew nothing of the previous treatment of the land, he would recommend about 750 pounds of a formula something like the following: 10 per cent potash, 8 per cent phosphoric acid, 2 per cent nitrogen. The following table will give about the amount of fertilizing material required to give the above percentages: 400 pounds of acid phosphate (14 per cent), 150 pounds muriate of potash, 200 pounds of cotton-seed meal. In many instances this formula might possibly not give any better results than some other formulas now used by dewberry growers. While phosphoric acid and potash are by far the most important ingredients, it is best to use a small amount of nitrogen, as indicated in the formula. The amount of nitrogen here given is equal to only about one-fourth of the amount of phosphoric acid and one-fifth of the amount of potash. The plant must make some growth at this season of the year, and also requires nitrogen for the development of the fruit. Summer Application of Fertilizers.—This application is made immediately after cutting off the plants. The fertilizer is for the purpose of making canes during the remainder of the season which are to produce the following year's crop. The element which is most important in making cane growth is nitrogen; hence, the fertilizer should consist largely of this element. Some potash and phosphoric acid are necessary, since the fruit buds which produce the next year's crop are formed, in a large measure, during the fall. Cotton-seed meal is most commonly used and is an excellent fertilizer for this purpose. It consists largely of nitrogen, and also contains some potash and phosphoric acid. At present the writer cannot recommend anything better than an application of 600 to 700 pounds of cotton-seed meal, or 500 pounds of cotton-seed meal and 100 pounds of nitrate of soda, the latter being for the purpose of starting growth quickly. TREATMENT THE THIRD SEASON. Beginning with the third season, the treatment each season is exactly like that recommended for the second season. HARVESTING AND MARKETING. Picking. It is hardly necessary to emphasize the importance of great care in picking the fruit. It should not be picked until it is fairly well colored, still it must be picked before the berry becomes thoroughly ripe, since it must be firm for shipping purposes. It should be picked as soon as it is well colored. The fruit should not be picked while it is wet. More fruit is probably lost in transportation because of this one difficulty than from any other cause. While the fruit is wet it rots rapidly and cannot be shipped any great distance. Never pick immediately after a rain or a heavy dew. The pickers should have close supervision, so that the fruit is not mashed in picking. No berry will carry to market when badly bruised, and no treat |