NEW YORK EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 393 



12. Wilson's White (Rubus trivialis). — This was introduced in 1890 by Samuel 

 Wilson, Mechanicsville, Penn. Mr. Wilson sends me this account of it: " The white 

 dewberry that we catalogued last year is a native of Texas. The plant was first found 

 growing in Colorado county, that state. It was recommended to us by one of our cus- 

 tomers living in said county. We had a few plants sent us for trial and found them all 

 our friend recommended them to be. They are entirely hardy, and in our climate of 

 large size, enormously productive, and excellent quality. For eating out of the hand 

 or for cooking purposes we like them better than any other kind, either wild or culti- 

 vated." The account in Wilson's 1891 catalogue runs as follows: " It is an entirely 

 distinct variety and differs from all other dewberries in the shape and appearance of 

 the leaf, which is smaller, more finely cut, and of the most lustrous shining green color. 

 But the greatest peculiarity is in its great productiveness, large size, and extra fine 

 quality of the fruit. The originator claims that the new White dewberry will produce 

 three times as much as any other kind and of better quality. The vine is a strong, 

 vigorous grower, the berries set thickly on the vine, ripen medium early, and are sweet 

 and delicious to eat from the hand, being entirely free from any hard core or excessive 

 acid taste. For culinary purposes, they are far superior to any of the black varieties, 

 and have the desirable advantage of being picked and eaten without leaving any dark 

 or unpleasant stain on the fingers or mouth." 



This variety has not yet been fruited by experiment stations and growers, and its 

 general value is therefore unknown. 



The wild Rubus trivialis is abundant in Texas, as in other parts of the south, and 

 it appears to be variable. G. Onderdonk of Nursery, Texas, makes the following state- 

 ments in his last fruit report and catalogue (1891): "Texas is the most natural home 

 of the dewberry. We consider them better than any blackberry we ever knew. We 

 have both white and black varieties (for sale)." A white dewberry from Texas is men- 

 tioned in the Gardener's Monthly in 1877. 



SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE. 



1. The cultivated dewberries represent two distinct species of rubus or 

 bramble, and two well marked botanical varieties. It is therefore reason- 

 able to expect that different managements may be required in the different 

 classes, or at least that various results will be obtained from their 

 cultivation. 



2. The botanical types to which the cultivated dewberries belong are 

 these : 



1. The northern dewberry or Rubus Canadensis. To this type belong 



the Windom, Lucretia's Sister, and Geer. 



(a) The Lucretia sub-type, or variety roribaccus, comprising the 

 Lucretia. 



(b) The Bartel sub-type, or var. invisus. To this belong Bartel or 

 Mammoth, General Grant, and Never Fail. 



2. Southern dewberry, or Rubus trivialis. Here belong Fairfax, 

 Manatee, Bauer and Wilson's White. 



3. The dewberries are distinguished from the blackberries by a true 

 trailing habit, cymose and few-flowered infloresence, and the habit of pro- 

 pagating by means of "tips." Like the blackberries and raspberries, they 

 bear their fruit upon canes of last year's growth, and these canes die or 

 become weak after they have fruited. They are propagated by means of 

 "tips" and root cuttings. 



4. The peculiar merits of the dewberries as cultivated' fruits are easi- 

 ness, large size, and attractive appearance, and the ease with which they 

 can be protected in winter. 



Note— Since this paper was written, roots of two new dewberries— Skagit Chief and Belle of Washing- 

 ton—have been received from Avon, Washington. The varieties are not yet introduced, and I do not 

 know their botanical features. 



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