202 
Sound region is the most likely place 
for it in the United States. Perhaps, 
however, the frosts will be too severe 
for it in that region: temperatures as 
low as the freezing-point probably 
never are experienced in the native 
home of the species. But this does 
not, of course, prove that it can not 
withstand any frost. All such matters 
can be determined only by trial. 
It may be taken as evident, I think, 
that the plant wants a moist soil, and 
The Journal of Hereaiy 
a good chance of success, though the 
climate is hotter in summer and colder 
in winter than that of its native region. 
It should be mentioned, though the 
inference will already have been made 
from these notes, that the plant is 
never cultivated in Colombia, hence 
no information is available here re- 
garding cultural methods. In the 
Giant Blackberry of Colombia we 
have, in fact, a species taken directly 
from the wild, and possessing, in this 
condition, far greater economic value 
than the wild prototypes of many of 
our cultivated fruits. 
that it prefers a motst, cool climate. 
It should be tried on the sandy loams 
of the Gulf States, where it has perhaps 
NOTE 
I cannot refrain from adding this note to Mr. Popenoe’s most interesting account of the 
Colombian berry, for should it or its hybrids ever become valuable fruits in America, the circum- 
stances of its introduction may be of interest to many people. 
Upon the return of Colonel Roosevelt's expedition to South America in 1914, the National 
Geographic Society entertained him in Washington at a dinner party. I was a guest at the dinner 
and was seated between Dr. Frank M. Chapman and Mr. George K. Cherrie, both of whom had 
been in Colombia. I affected in my conversation with these explorers to be greatly disappointed 
over the fact that the Expedition had brought back no seeds or plants of any kind which could be 
grown in America and become later a living tribute to the sacrifices which the men who formed it 
had undergone—something which would last long after the stuffed animals had crumbled into 
dust. In defense of their, to me, indefensible position or for the purpose of making me still 
more ‘‘excited’”’ over the situation, Mr. Cherrie reached across the table and, picking up a small 
glass, remarked that he and Chapman had seen a blackberry in Colombia, years before, a single 
fruit of which would fill it. The standing of these scientific men was such that I could not be incred- 
ulous, and I proceeded to try to get seeds and photographs of it through correspondence with Dr. 
Chapman’s friend, Mr. Frederick L. Rockwood. Through one cause or another his attempts failed 
to reveal any blackberry quite large enough to substantiate their stories. 
In March, 1918, I met Dr. Chapman and somewhat skeptically asked him to give me again 
the dimensions of the Giant Blackberry. Dr. Fuertes happened to be present, and, as he had seen 
the fruit, as well as eaten it, Chapman referred me to him, and immediately he drew for mea pencil 
sketch from memory of this remarkable blackberry. It was so large that I must confess it taxed 
my credulity a good deal, and every time I met Chapman I mentioned its incredible size. In 
June of 1918, Cherrie and I happened to meet again, and to defend himself against my attacks of 
incredulity, he also drew an outline of his remembrance of the berry. While there is room for 
discussion still in regard to the actual size of the largest specimen which is to be discovered in 
Colombia, I think these actual size photographs of Popenoe’s, which correspond closely with 
Cherrie’s sketch, but are somewhat under the dimensions given by Chapman and Fuertes, so 
vindicate the correctness of the Giant Colombian Berry as told by these three eminent scientific 
explorers as to deserve special mention in connection with this, the first publication of a horticul- 
tural account of the species. 
Davip FAIRCHILD 
Agricultural Explorer in Charge, - 
Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction. 
