132 



FLOWERING SHRUBS. 



palate, but not injurious in any degree. The shrub is more attractive 

 for its flowers than its insipid fruit. We have indeed few that are more 

 ornamental among our native plants than this Rubiis. Canada possesses 

 many attractive shrubs that are but little known, which flourish year 

 -after year on the lonely shores of our inland lakes and marshy Beaver- 

 meadows, unnoticed and uncared for in their solitary native haunts. 



Closely resembling the Purple Flowering-Raspberry, is the White 

 Flowering-Raspberry, R. A^/itka?u/s, (Mocino), the chief difference being 

 in the colour of the flowers and the shape of the petals, which, in the 

 latter species, are of a lovely pure white and oval in shape. The whole 

 plant is slightly smaller and less bristly. The fruit is very similar in 

 both species. 



Wild Red Raspberry. — Riibus strigosiis, (Michx.) 



The wild Raspberry springs up spontaneously all over Canada. In 

 the forest, in newly made clearings after the fire has passed over the 

 ground, on every upturned root, in the angles of the snake-fences, and 

 on every waste and neglected spot, the Raspberry appears and takes 

 possession of the land. Truly this useful and palatable fruit proves a 

 blessing and a comfort in various ways to the poor, as wdll as a wholesome, 

 welcome luxury to the richer inhabitants of our towns and villages. During 

 the fruiting season the women and children are enabled to supply many 

 household wants by the sale ot the red and black Raspberries ; even the 

 little ones are made to contribute their small mite of labour, and may 

 be seen in large parties going out with tins and sundry small vessels to 

 the Raspberry grounds. Wild rugged spots that have been abandoned 

 by the farmers ; worthless for the growth of roots and grain. He cannot 

 look beyond and see that with Our bountiful Provider there are no waste 

 places. He who fed the wandering multitude with Manna in the thirsty 

 desert, and brought forth springs of water from the flinty rock, can give 

 fruits to satisfy the' wants of his children in the Canadian wilderness. The 

 wild berries are shared by God's humbler gleaners the small animals, 

 and flocks of birds ; and even the insects all come to this tabic that is 

 spread abroad for them and us ; " and something gathers up all 

 fragments and nothing is lost." 



The fruit of the common Red Raspberry begins to ripen early in 

 the month of July, just about the time that the Strawberry ceases to be 

 plentiful. The flowers are not very ornamental, whitish, but not clear 

 white, rosaceous in form. The berry ripens very soon after the fading 

 <jf the flowers. 



'I'he colour of the fruit of the common Raspberry is of a light red, 

 changing with maturity to a dark crimson. The bush is upright — not 



