THE BOTANY OF THE BUSH FEUITS. 249" 



^ai'.frondosus Torr. — In this form the plant is lower and more 

 bushy, the leaflets narrower, and the flower cluster shorter, having 

 simple leaves intermingled with the flowers, giving a leafy appearance. 

 This type is more or less commonly found wild and is represented in 

 cultivation by the Early Harvest. The Dorchester, which was the first 

 blackberry introduced, also seems to belong to this type. 



The blackberries as a whole are wonderfully variable, and several 

 other forms have been described as botanical varieties, but they are 

 either of comparatively little importance or are not represented in 

 cultivation. Among the commoner cultivated varieties the Taylor 

 seems to resemble the original specific type most closely, at least in 

 character of fruit. 



Eubus villosus X canadensis. — Various intermediate forms between 

 the blackberry and the dewberry are frequently found Avhere these 

 two species are growing together. The forms possess various inter- 

 mediate gradations, sometimes closely resembling the blackberry and 

 in other cases more closely approaching the dewberry. 



This type is represented in cultivation by the Early Wilson, Wil- 

 son, Jr., and Thompson's Early Mammoth. These propagate either 

 by suckers or by tips, though not very freely by either method. 



Ruhus millspaughi Britt. — Thornless or Mountain Black- 

 berry, — This species is characterized by its smooth, unarmed canes, 

 being wholly thornless except on the smaller branches and veins of 

 the leaflets. The leaflets are narrower, sharp-pointed, with the upper 

 ones borne on long, slender leaf-stalks. The flower cluster is gener- 

 ally shorter and more compact than in Rubus villosus and not glandu- 

 lar. The fruit is bright glossy black, short and roundish, with larger 

 drupes. It is sour until fully ripe, often possessing something of a 

 bitter taste. It ripens later than the common form and is not so well 

 liked. 



This species is common in the Alleghany mountains, and probably 

 descends to lower elevations northward. It is as common as the or- 

 dinary blackberry in the regions where it is found. It seems never 

 to have been introduced into cultivation. 



Rubus cuneifolius Pursh. — Sand Blackberry. — This is a sturdy- 

 little shrub from one to three feet high, armed with vicious recurved 

 thorns. The leaflets are inverse wedge-shaped, whitened woolly be- 



