360 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



STRAWBERRY-RASPBERRY— R. roscefolius; Syn., R. sorbifolius. 



This is herbaceous in habit, increasing, as does quack grass and Canada 

 thistle by underground stolons, for which reason it may, perchance, even 

 become a troublesome weed. 



Here it grows to the height of two feet or more, and blooms and 

 fruits sparsely till frost. The blossoms are single, but large and showy, 

 and the fruit beautiful, but worthless. It matured specimens here, this 

 season, as late as the middle of October. 



For the sptcific names of the foregoing recent novelties, the writer 

 is indebted to Assistant Pomologist Wm. A. Taylor, of the National. 

 Department of Agriculture, and to Professor L. R. Taft, of the Michigan 

 Agricultural College. 



BLACKBERRIES— Rubus villosus: 



The plantation was treated in early spring, while growth was yet dor- 

 mant, with a strong solution of copper sulphate as a preventive of 

 fungus. 



The only insect which has proved troublesome during the past season 

 is the leaf miner, which has been increasingly abundant for several years 

 past. Specimens of this insect and its work, were sent to the Entomolog- 

 ical Division of the National Department of Agriculture, and there 

 reported to be, probably, Lithocolletis cenea; but with the statement that 

 little is known of its habits, and that no better method of attacking it 

 can be advised, than that we have already pursued — the prompt gathering 

 and burning of the affected foliage, which is unavoidably a slow and 

 expensive process; especially since there is, apparently, a second brood, 

 necessitating a repetition of the process. 



The stand of plants is now in its third year since replanting, but owing, 

 at least in part, to repeated and severe drouths, and also to the custom of 

 originators and introducers, of sending an insufficient number of plants 

 for a trial stand, a comparison of varieties, based upon total products is, 

 in many cases, impracticable, for which reason resort is had to compara- 

 tive estimates. 



Severe drouth, during the growing and ripening season, nearly or quite 

 ruined the fruit of many varieties, though a timely rain served to revive 

 such as were not already past help. 



In the following table, as well as throughout this report, specific names, 

 as well as objectionable words employed in naming fruits, are italicised; 

 and the latter are dropped in all cases when not necessary to insure 

 identity : 



