STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 309 



Commencing with black caps — Doolittle ripened first berries June 

 5th; first picking for market June nth; a good bearer and grower; of 

 fair quality; suffered much from drouth. 



DavissotCs Thornless — First berries June 9th; first picking for market 

 June 1 2th; fully as good as Doolittle in every respect, and to be preferred 

 to it, on account of its thornless character. 



Miami — First ripe June 13th; for market June i8th; berry larger 

 and sweeter than either of the others; much stronger grower, and an 

 enormous bearer; stood the drouth best of any berry I had. 



Red Raspberries — Clarke: winter killed somewhat, as did all other 

 varieties with me, owing partially, I think, to the late cultivation given 

 them last season; ripe June 14th; good size; moderately firm, and judg- 

 ing from the few plants in bearing of my own, and obseiTations of other 

 plantations, vei7 productive; an inveterate suckerer; cjuality, only second 

 rate. I think it our best market red berry, so far. 



Philadelphia — Ripe June 14th; very productive, but requires extra 

 care and heavy manuring; quality poor and rather soft; generally hardy, 

 but killed some the past winter. 



Franconia and Fastolf — Both tender; quality good, but too soft, and 

 so uncertain as to be worthless for market. 



Belle de Fontcfiay — RijDe June i6th; in quality best; good bearer 

 and generallv hardy; requires good soil and cultivation, and heavy 

 manuring, for the best results; but from the large size of the berries, 

 and their handsome appearance and color, they will command a high 

 price in any market. 



Yellow Raspberries — Golden Cap: ripe June loth; has winter killed 

 two years; quality only good ; poor bearer; worthless. 



Brinkle^s Orange — Too tender ; the best of all berries where you get 

 it; would pay to protect them for fomily use. 



Were I to recommend raspberries for market, I should say plant, 

 1st, Miami, and for next best black, Davisson's Thornless; for red, Clarke 

 and Belle de Fontenay. As our market now stands, I think quality — 

 especially in red berries — of more consequence than firmness. With the 

 shallow pint box, as now made, any berry, unless too ripe, can be shipped 

 from Alton at night by express, and arrive in Chicago next morning in 

 good condition. I would recommend for all varieties, thorough culti- 

 vation, and, if possible, mulching. For the black caps, severe pinning 

 (in summer), both of cane and laterals, and for the red varieties increasing 

 war on the suckers. Fortunately as yet, we have no serious disease to 

 contend with in raspberrv' culture, but I am afraid of the "orange rust" 

 of the blackbeiTy, which can not be too carefully guarded against. 



Wm. E. Smith said the drouth had cut down the raspberry crop, 

 probably one-third; preferred the Philadelphia to the Cl;u"ke for a 

 market berry. The quality was poor, but it is showy and sells well, 

 winter-killed about one-fourth ; Clarke, one-half; all varieties carry well 

 in the pint boxes. 



Pearson — Would you cut back Red Raspberries during the growing 

 season, or leave them until early spring.'' 



