392 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



state, and more or less so, if we mistake not, in Europe also, as Ruhus Cmsus 

 and Riihus Canadensis. So far as we are informed, however, all our cultivated 

 varieties, of recognized value, are supposed to have sprung from the common 

 high-bush blackberry, Ruhus ViUosus. 



One of the first attempts, within our knowledge, to introduce the black- 

 berry to cultivation, was that of the late Capt. Josiah Lovett, of Beverly, 

 Mass., who was the introducer of the Dorchester; a variety which, although 

 not recommended by this society, has been for many years, and still is, 

 esteemed in the markets of Boston. 



The next variety to appear prominently before the public, and the first one 

 to which your attention is invited as having been recommended by this society 

 for cultivation in Michigan, is the 



NEW KOCHELLE, OR LAW^TOjS", 



which was discovered, as a wild plant by the roadside, in the town of New 

 Rochelle, "Westchester county, N. Y., by Lewis A. Seacor, about the year 1845 

 to 1847. The fruit was so distinct, and so superior to others, that he trans- 

 ferred it to his garden. In 1848 it attracted the notice of a Mr. Lawton, also 

 of New Eochelle, who procured plants and commenced, its propagation. It 

 seems to have received, at his hands, its first prominent introduction to the 

 public by the presentation of a branch, laden with fruit, at a meeting of the 

 American Institute Farmer's Club, held in the city of Xew York in 1853. By 

 means, apparently, of a little rather questionable practice on the part of Mr. 

 Lawton, the club was induced to christen (or rather rechristen) the variety as 

 the Lawton, — a name that has adhered to it; although Mr. Downing,ln his 

 work on fruits, gives New Rochelle as the leading name. Mr. Lawton seems 

 to have made the most of this christening, by advertising and disseminating 

 it extensively, at high prices, no doubt greatly to his personal advantage. 



A correspondent of the Horticulturist, in June, 1855, writing froui Adrian, 

 Michigan, and who had been a visitor at New Eochelle about this time, gives a 

 very full history of the origin of this fruit, which he concludes with the follow- 

 ing remarks: "There have been many conjectures as to the origin of this 

 fruit. It is known that a relative of a former proprietor of the farm (on. 

 which the original plants were discovered) brought shrubbery from England, 

 and some suppose this blackberry was then introduced; others think the 

 Huguenots, who originally settled New Eochelle, brought it with them from 

 France; but the prevalent belief appears to be that it is an accidental seedling. 

 For the facts embodied in this letter, I am indebted to a communication from 

 Frederick Prince, Esq., (the present owner of the farm where the fruit was 

 found) published in the Westchester News, and to the verbal statements of 

 Mr. Seacor and some others of his neighbors, and I have every reason to believe 

 all these statements to be substantially correct." 



In the same volume of the Horticulturist, at page 353, will be found a com- 

 munication from the late A. C. Hubbard, of Detroit, tending to confirm the 

 supposition of the English origin of this. We extract as follows : " "We had 

 a large pot of these blackberries in the greenhouse this spring, which was 

 observed by a Scotch gardener whom we had just employed. ' Ah ! ' he says, 

 'and here you have the Scotch Bramble.' 'No,' I said, 'it is a new variety of 

 blackberry, a seedling, a very superior kind.' 'Ah, but it is the Bramble! I 

 know it. I have seen them filled, just filled with fruit as big as that (measur- 

 ing off two-thirds of his thumb). Ah ! you would have to make two bites to 



