FARMEES' INSTITUTES. 307 



Kasj^lerries. 



Next to the strawberry comes this clehcious fruit and scarcely of less impor- 

 tance. As the strawberry goes out of market the early varieties of the raspberry 

 come in. As with the strawberry, so with the raspberry, a great many varieties 

 are offered, and it Avill be impossible for me in the few minutes allotted for the 

 discussion of this subject to speak of any except the leading varieties. The one- 

 that we cultivate more than any other is the Davison Thornless, We prefer it 

 for these reasons : 



1st. It is perfectly hardy and stands the winters in this latitude. 



2d. It is free from thorns. 



3d. It is very productive. 



The Mammoth Cluster is highly spoken of by that veteran small fruit grower,, 

 A. M. Purdy, of Palmyra, N. Y. With us the Seneca County Black Cap stands 

 at the head of the late black cap varieties. It is hardy, thrifty, and productive, 

 the berry being of fine size and decidedly meaty. The Doolittle is another 

 variety of long standing and of no mean note. "We l*ave found all of the above 

 varieties to be perfectly hardy in this latitude. For field culture they should be 

 planted in rows seven feet apart one way and three feet the other. This gives 

 ample room to cultivate one way with the horse. For garden culture the dis- 

 tance of the rows may be lessened somewhat. The red raspberry is qnite as- 

 much sought after as the black cap, especially for canning purposes. AV^ith ns 

 the Kirtland has more good qualities to recommend it than any other berry 

 that we have raised. The size of the berry is fair, color a soft bright red, very 

 firm, and -will bear shipping and is a prolific bearer. The Philadelphia is a 

 jDurplish red, immensely productive, being larger than the Kirtland, but too 

 delicate for shipment, but for home use it cannot be excelled. Both of the last 

 mentioned berries withstand the rigors of our northern winters. 



BlacJclerries. 



"We have never had any success in raising this fruit. We have tried the Law- 

 ton, AYilson, and Kittatinny, and I have found the seasons few and far between 

 when they would not each and all kill down every winter in this latitude. Foi'^ 

 this reason I have given this fruit very little attention. Frank Ford, of Ravenna, 

 Ohio, is sending out this season a thornless blackberry, which he claims is as 

 hardy as the oak, which he has named the Hoosac Thornless. It was gathered 

 while growing wild in connection with other vines upon the Hoosac mountains 

 in Massachusetts, and is nndoubtedly a choice seedling. The testimonials which 

 Mr. Ford produces are numerous, and from reliable jiersons. If this berry is 

 w'hat it is represented to be, it will be a godsend to the States situated in the 

 more northern latitudes. Those persons who design to put out blackberries this 

 spring would do well to send to Mr. Ford for his circular, in which he gives 

 the certificates of several of the leading pomologists of the country, also his 

 prices for plants and roots. ' 



Gooseherries. 



Houghton's Seedling is the standard berry for me. It is reliable, never mil- 

 dews, and is of good size, and occupies the same relation to the gooseberry fam- 

 ily that the Wilson Albany does to the strawberry family. My advice would be^ 

 not to fool away any time in looking for something better. 



