Hardiness of Hybrid Berries.

How much cold will Phenomenal, Himalaya and Mammoth blackberries stand in winter?  Is it safe to plant where the temperature goes below 32 degrees?

These berries are hardy to zero at least, for they are grown in northern parts of this coast where they get such a touch once in a while.  They have also endured low temperatures in the central continental plateau States and eastward.  Whether they can endure the lowest temperatures of the winter-killing regions of the northern border cannot be determined in California, for we do not have the conditions for such tests.  The berries are very hardy while dormant, and probably their value in colder regions would depend rather more upon their disposition to remain dormant than upon what they can endure when in that condition.

Pruning Himalayas.

Shall the old wood be cut away in pruning Himalayas?

All the old wood which has borne fruit should be cut out in the fall and new shoots reduced to three or four from each root, and these three or four shoots should be shortened to a length of ten or twelve feet and be trained to a trellis or fence, or some other suitable support.  Vines which are allowed to grow riotously as they will, are apt to be deficient in fruit bearing.

Strawberries with Perfect Flowers.

Has Longworth Prolific an imperfect bloom?  I have Longworths in bearing which apparently are perfect.  Is there another strain of Longworth that are not self-fertilizing?

The Longworth Prolific strawberry has both staminate and pistillate elements.  Possibly some other variety, because of its resemblance to Longworth and the popularity of it, may have been wrongly given its name.  Most of the varieties which are largely grown in California are perfect in blossom, though some of the newer varieties need association with pollinizers.

Pruning Loganberries.

Should the new shoots of Loganberry vines, which come out in the spring, be left or cut away?  If cut, will more shoots put out in the fall and be sufficient for the next year’s crop?

The Loganberry shoots which are growing should be carefully trained and preserved for next year’s fruiting.  The old canes should be cut away at the base after the fruit is gathered.  The plant bears each year upon the wood which grew the previous summer.

Strawberry Planting.

Should I plant strawberries in the spring or fall?

Whether it is wise to plant strawberry plants in the fall depends on several things, such as getting the ground in the very best of condition, abundance of water at all times, splendidly rooted plants, and cool weather (which is very rare at the time plants are to be planted, August and September).  Plants may be taken with balls of earth around the roots, and water poured in the hole that receives the plant.  After planting, each plant should be shaded from the