VARIETIES OF BLACKBERRIES AND DEWBERRIES 429 



reason. In the North, the plants are often winter-killed, and in 

 the South, where they are very productive 

 and ripen the crop extra early, they are sus- 

 ceptible to rust. The variety is prized in 

 parts of California. The original plant was 

 growing wild in Illinois some time previous 

 to 1880. 



Plants moderately vigorous and productive, winter- 

 kill in the North; canes long, numerous, deeply fur- 

 rowed, with strong straight prickles. Leaflets 3-5, pal- 

 mate, ovate-lanceolate, deeply and sometimes doubly 

 serrate. Flowers l^/o inches in diameter, 8-10, in long 

 open racemes. Fruit early, ripening over a long sea- 

 son, medium in size, conical, glossy black; drupelets 

 round, numerous, rather small; flesh tender, sweet; 

 quality good; core soft, white; seeds small, hard. 



Fig. 



248. Early 

 Harvest. 



673. Early King ripens a week later than Early Harvest, be- 

 ing the second earliest blackberry. The plants lack in hardi- 

 ness, and, like all early blackberries, are not very productive; 

 to which may be added a third fault, susceptibility to blackberry- 

 rust. The variety is worth growing only in mild eastern 

 climates. 



Plants low, vigorous, half-hardy, moderately productive, prickles long 

 and numerous, susceptible to rust. Fruit early, with a short season, medium 

 size, glossy black, oblong-hemispherical, irregular, ripe as soon as black; 

 flesh soft, very sweet; quality good. 



674. Eldorado. — For many years Eldorado w^as the first main- 

 crop variety to ripen; it has, with other notable virtues, great 

 hardiness and freedom from the blackberry-rust in the plant, 

 handsome appearance, and exceptionally high quality in the 

 fruit. The variety originated as an accidental seedling in 

 Preble County, Ohio, about 1880. 



Plants tall, vigorous, very hardy, productive, healthy; canes numerous, 

 with many large prickles. Flowers 1% inches in diameter, 10-12, in long, 

 open, very spiny racemes. Fruit early midseason, ripening period very 

 long, elongated hemispherical, jet-black; drupelets large, round, few; core 

 soft, white, conical; flesh firm, juicy, sweet, rich; quality very good; seeds 

 small. 



