MICHIGAN' STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 453 



RASPBERRIES— NEW AND OLD.* 



BY BENJAMIX HATHAWAY, LITTLE PRAIRIE RON'DE, MICHIGAN. 



The season just closed has been one of abundance of this 

 fruit at the AVest ; and having grown quite a number of the 

 leading sorts, with a view of testing their intrinsic and relative 

 value, and having noted carefully their characteristics, the 

 occasion is opportune for giving the results of my observations. 



Doolittle's Improved. — This long-time standard sort contin- 

 ues to be grown, and where new plantations are being made, is 

 more largely planted than any other of the blackcaps, except, 

 perhaps, one or two of the new kinds. This fruit is of good 

 size, and the i)lant hardy and productive. The canes do not 

 have so good a habit as some others, their want of elasticity 

 causing them to be broken down by the wind, or by cultiva- 

 tion. This, on strong soils at least, is quite a serious objection 

 to this variety. 



Seneca — This sort is distinguished from the foregoing mainly 

 by a different and a better habit of cane, and a few days later 

 ripening of the fruit. I do not find that it possesses any 

 advantage in size or flavor over the Doolittle, and the dull 

 black of the berries rather detracts, I think, from their looks' 

 in comparison. Still I count it one of three or four of the 

 best blackcaps, and it can hardly fail to give satisfaction. 



Miami. — This is sometimes called the Old Miami, or Small 

 Miami, to distinguish it from the Collinsville Miami, or Mam- 

 moth Cluster, and has some points of merit. It is several 

 days earlier than the Doolittle, about with Davison's Thorn - 



*By permission of the writer, the following valuable paper is taken from '• Tilton'.-^ 

 •Jonmal of Uorticultnre.''— Seceetaet. 



