TRANSACTIONS OF NORTHERN ILL. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 339 



DISCUSSION ON RASPBERRIES. 



On motion of Mr. Galusha, it was voted to devote a half hour to the 

 discussion of Raspberry Culture. 



Mr. Slade said he had cultivated an acre of Doolittle for five years, 

 but he regarded it as not worthy of cultivation, compared with others. 

 The Philadelphia and Purple Cane he regarded as the two best among the 

 red varieties. He valued Davison's Thornless highly, and if confined to 

 one sort, he would take this. The McCormick (Mammoth Cluster) was 

 next in value, and coming later, these two varieties, with the two red 

 ones named, would answer the needs for home use and for market. He 

 described the Seneca as a larger black-cap berry than the McCormick, 

 and the bushes quite productive. His soil is timber soil, near Fox River. 



Mr. Budd, and one or two other members, had not found Davison's 

 as profitable as had Mr. Slade. Mr. Budd said it is more sensitive to 

 drought than other black-caps. 



He finds the McCormick, or Mammoth Cluster, larger than the old 

 Miami, with which it is claimed to be identical. The Seneca was not as 

 large with him as the McCormick. 



Mr. Scofield said Davison's was too seedy, after the first pickings ; 

 Philadelphia is best. His soil is prairie. 



Mr. McAfee said we should be careful not to make too broad asser- 

 tions. Soils and locations have much to do with the value of varieties. 

 Davison's Thornless is not usually as lusty a plant as Doolittle, yet with 

 rich culture it was, perhaps, the best one variety for a family garden. He 

 had grown Davison's, Doolittle and Mammoth Cluster, and had picked 

 as much fruit from Davison's as either of the others. 



He condemned the practice of cutting out the old raspberry canes as 

 soon as the fruit is gathered ; for as long as these canes had green leaves 

 upon them, they were storing up food iti the roots of the stools for the 

 benefit of the succeeding year's fruitage ; therefore, should not be de- 

 stroyed until all the leaves upon them had died or fallen. 



Messrs. Bryant and Galusha testified to the effect that the Davis- 

 (jn's was not a choice berry after the first pickings, and not as valuable 

 with them as Philadelphia or McCormick ; that good culture and manure 

 are requisite for a large crop and large fruit. 



Mr. Scofield spoke favorably of a new variety — name not given — 

 from Galena. 



Mr. Powell has a little less than an acre of Doolittles, and gets two 

 thousand quarts per year. He takes out the old wood in spring. 



Mr. Wier has cultivated a large number of varieties; but now wants 

 only three of those tried, viz., Doolittle, McCormick and Philadelphia. 

 Davison's is not as good with him as Doolittle; Philadelphia, best of all, 

 for profit. He said the acari prey upon Davison's most, and Philadelphia 

 least, of the varieties he has. A larva of a small fly, gray, half an inch 

 long, defoliates, and sometimes destroys raspberry plants. 



