304 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The habit of the plant is to produce its fruit buds for the ensuing crop 

 near the top, where the injury in winter is most likely to occur, with the 

 frequeut result of a partial, or possibly of an entire, loss of the crop of fruit. 

 Even the so-called hardy varieties are by no means entirely exempt from 

 such loss when fully exposed during winter. In fact, when it is recollected 

 that the blackberry is naturally an undergrowth, we may be allowed to doubt 

 if, wiih the habit of fruiting already mentioned, there is ground for hope 

 that a variety capable of withstanding a full exposure during occasional 

 crucial winters is even among the possibilities. 



If in the more moist and equable climate of the region of the great lakes 

 it is found practicable and profitable to protect the fruitino: canes in winter, 

 there must doubtless be increased occasion for such practice in the drier 

 atmosphere and severer winter temperatures further west and north, where 

 quite probably, even with the hardiest varieties, the plants may require to be 

 well covered with snow, mulch, or earth, to avoid the alternative of a loss of 

 the crop of fruit. The low spreading habit of the Taylor, Stone, and per- 

 haps others, is advantageous for euch purpose; while the stout upright 

 growth of many others increases the liability to break the canes in the pro- 

 cess of laying down. 



The trailing habit of the dewberry would, in a snowy region, insure an 

 ample covering; while, if needful, they may be easily covered with earth or 

 mulch. 



There are several varieties before the public; but of those disseminated 

 and fully tested, the Lucretia is the only one that has received general and 

 satisfactory indorsement. 



The following varieties are more or less grown in the northwest; the num- 

 bers indicating their relative popularity: 



Blackberries. — Snyder, 21; Ancient Briton, 11; Stone, 7; Taylor, 3; 

 Thornless (?), 2; Kittatinuy, 1; Wallace, 1. 



Deiuherries. — Lucretia, 4, and a local seedling yet unnamed, discovered by 

 Dewain Cook, of Windom, Minn, (this variety has recently been named 

 Windora), 1; also one recommended at Sparta, Wis., as productive and 

 excellent, 1. 



THE MULBERRY. 



The black mulberry {Morus nigra), said to have originated in central Asia, 

 and to have been introduced into southern Europe more than a thousand 

 years ago, is reputed to be the parent of what is now known as the Russian 

 mulberry, which is the only species requiring notice in this connection. 



Having been introduced into the west by the Mennonites who emigrated 

 from Russia, it has manifested a degree of hardiness superior to that of any 

 other mulberry, Its limit northward on this continent can not yet be said to 

 have been determined. 



The fruit can not be said to possess any special present value, and its pros- 

 pective importance must depend upon the chance of improvement by new 

 originations from seed. Even in this direction the probability of improved 

 ment is apparently very remote. 



