248 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



■were gleaned from the bushes. These berries were the product of shoots 

 thrown out fiom the main stem at or near the ground, the side shoots 

 farthest from the ground generally ripening their fruit first. This pro- 

 longing of the season of the fruit is partially owing to the mode of 

 pruning the bushes, which I will describe presently. 



The Philadelphia is not as fii'm as the Black Cap varieties, but keeps 

 pretty well, and will bear shipment in pint boxes any reasonable dis- 

 tance. This fruit, shipped in quart boxes, brought from five to ten cents 

 more per quart in Chicago, last season, than the Cap varieties. The 

 •expression so often used by fruit-growers in connection with the Concord 

 giape and Wilson strawbeny may be applied to this variety, viz : " It is 

 a variety that will do to tie to." 



The Doolittlc still maintains its position at the head of the Early 

 Black Caps, though the Miami which immediately succeeds it in season 

 is more prolific. 



The AIa7nmoth Cluster^ claimed to be a new variet}'^, is apparently 

 'identical with the " McCormick " or " Large Miami." 



This variety is perhaps the best, all things considered, of all this class. 

 The canes are strong, the fruit large, pulpy, of good flavor; and, grow- 

 ing in clusters, is readily gathered. It is a good bearer, though I doubt 

 if it will produce more quarts to the acre than the old Miami, yet the 

 superior size and good quality of the berries more than compensates for 

 a little difference in quantity. I would plant as many of this sort, either 

 for market or family use, as of all the other Black Caps together. I feel 

 constrained to give a word of caution, right here, to those \vishing to pui^- 

 chase the best of the Black Caps. It is probable that a hundred Doolit- 

 tle and Miami (old) plants have been sold under the name of " Mam- 

 moth Cluster" for every one of the true variety sold. It is not enough 

 for the purchaser'to be satisfied of the good intentions of the vender, but 

 should also be convinced that he (the seller) can discriminate in varieties, 

 and knows what he is selling. 



Davison's thornless. 



" It will not scratch your hands." " It will not tear your clothes in 

 gathering the fruit." " It is hardy and productive." 



These, or similar encomiums, on this fruit hei^alded its advent, and have 

 "been flaunted in the face of every reader of agricultural and horticultural 

 journals for the last two yeai's. These were the very best baits that could 

 have been thrown out, and hundreds of greenbacks have been caught 

 thereby. As far as my experience and observation extended, the most of 

 these averments have proved correct. It seems "hardy," and "does not 

 scratch," as it is nearly free of thorns, and bears so little fruit that the 

 owner has little occasion to come in contact with the bushes. It seems 

 to be qiute a harmless variety. It may, however, increase in productive- 

 ness, with age. The fruit is of good size and flavor. 



The Clark has generally failed to realize the hopes of the planter. 

 It is a moderate growing bush, an inveterate sprouter; bearing moderate 



