396 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The first, or at least one of the first selections of improved sorts from the 

 wild stock, was that of the 



DOOLIITLE, 



which the society has included in each of the three lists. This, according to 

 Downing, was introduced to the public by Leander Joslyn of Phelps, Ontario 

 county, New York. It soon began to attract attention as a market fruit, and 

 was commended by Barry, Batehara, and others, at the meeting of the Ameri- 

 can Pomological Society held at New York in September, 1858. At the next 

 meeting of that society, held in Philadelphia, in September, 1860, it was again 

 highly commended by a large number of pomologists, and after some discus- 

 sion it was christened the DooLttle raspberry. 



This Black Cap was, for several years, almost the only one in the field, and 

 for that reason, doubtless, was the more extensively disseminated. Indeed, for 

 a time, it seriously threatened to nearly if not quite drive the more luscious 

 but less hardy red varieties from our plantations of market raspberries. It 

 was extensively propagated and disseminated by Mr. Doolittle, of the State of 

 New York, from whom its name seems to have been derived. For some years 

 past, however, other candidates of this class have been introduced to challenge 

 the popular favor; and some of them at least appear to be outstripping it in 

 the race for popularity. 



THE MIAMI 



only appears in the amateur list. It is said to have been originally found 

 growing wild in the Miami Valley, Ohio, whence its name. Mr. Downing 

 characterizes it as of less value than the McCormick (better known here as 

 Mammoth Chester), which is doubtless true, if estimated strictly with refer- 

 ence to its marketing qualities ; but, for domestic use at home, it has, in our 

 estimation, some decided advantages over any other Black Cap with which we 

 are acquainted. It is clear, purplish black in color, with more juice and less 

 seediness than any other of its class. It is not as high flavored as some others, 

 but when prepared with sugar, it is perhaps the nearest approach to the reds 

 of anything to be found among the Black Caps. It is a good bearer, and the 

 fruit of fully medium size. 



Davison's thoknless 



appears only in the family and amateur lists. It is claimed to have originated 

 in the garden of Mrs. Davison of Erie county. New York. It can hardly be 

 called a vigorous grower, as compared with others of its class, and the plants 

 are nearly or quite without any spines, except upon the footstalks of the leaves. 

 They are, for that reason, very much more convenient to handle both for cul- 

 tivation and for the gathering of the fruit. The plant is of average produc- 

 tiveness, — the fruit rather small, — sweeter and earlier than any other of its 

 class. Coming as it does in advance of others, it fills a place otherwise vacant. 

 This circumstance constitutes its principal value. 



MC CORMICK, OR MAMMOTH CLUSTER, 



appears in each of the society's lists. It is the largest, most vigorous and pro- 

 ductive of the Black Caps, and has already encountered the usual experience 

 of widely popular fruits, — that of acquiring various synonyms in different parts 

 of the country. Indeed, this fruit seems more than usually unfortunate in 

 this respect, for one so recently introduced, as Downing, in his work on fruits, 

 gives no less than six synonyms. We follow him in giving the McCormick as 



