114 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



I do not think think that the blackberry will ever become a very popular fruit among 

 the people generally. Blackberry bushes armed with their sharp briars, are not very 

 pleasant things to work amongst, and then they are so insinuating, if you give them a 

 corner of a field they want to go to work at once and pre-empt and settle the rest of it. 

 But there is money in them for the fruit grower, but he should always know just what 

 he is doing before he plants largely of them, or he will surely get himself scratched at 

 least. The field culture of the blackberry, for its fruit, is in its infancy, and there has 

 hardly been a start made towards its improvement under domestication. I truly believe 

 that what we call fine blackberries now-a-days, would be called trash twenty years hence. 

 I hope that all my Horticultural brethren will give this fruit the attention that its ster- 

 ling qualities demand for it, and not let that old saying " as plenty as blackberries" be- 

 come obsolete. 



DISCUSSION ON THE BLACKBERRY. 



Colman — The best production of blackberries with me, is where 

 there is the best manure. On the site of an old barnyard, I found 

 them more productive, earlier, larger, and every way finer. 



Wier — Manuring wont do, north. 



Spaulding — Why not use the suckers of the blackberry for trans- 

 planting ? 



Phoenix — Root-cuttings make the best roots. 



Wier — A sucker comes up from a large root and when taken up 

 has only two roots, running in opposite directions. I do not know 

 that there will be any difference in productiveness, but the sucker 

 will not transplant as well. 



Hull — I would prefer a long root to a sucker. 



Francis — I planted two acres of root-cuttings last spring. They 

 grew as well as plants. 



Burton, (of Upper Alton) — I put four inches of manure on some 

 plants of the Kittatinny, and Wilson's Early. The Wilson has nev- 

 er done me much good, but the Kittatinny bore the next year. 

 It is bully ! 



Earle — I move that the special order at the evening session be 

 Pears. 



Laid on the table. 

 Adjourned to 1.30 P. M. 



