54 



RASPBERRIES. 



The Association then took into consideration the two following questions, viz. : "Which 

 are the most profitable varieties of raspberry for market?" "Which are the most desir- 

 able for amateurs T 



Mr. a. M. Smith. ^— Which are the most profitable varieties depends, in a great 

 measure, on how near you are to market. There are very few varieties of raspberries 

 that would stand shipping a long distance. I have found fully as much profit in the 

 Highland Hardy as in any raspberry I ever grew, for this reason — that it is the earliest. 

 You do not get such an amount of fruit ; but you get it so much earlier that it will com- 

 mand a much higher price. Perhaps if all of us went to cultivating it, it would soon 

 become depreciated in value. We got for our Highland Hardy this year about double — 

 yes, quite double — what we did for our Philadelphia ; and the crop was probably about 

 two-thirds as large. For a near market, I consider the Clarke a profitable raspberry. It 

 is large-sized, and has a fine colour and flavour, and it will always command a very high 

 price. But it is too soft to ship. And the same might be said of the Herstine — with 

 this exception, that it is a little tenderer variety. It does not succeed in all localities as 

 well as the Clarke. I do not doubt but that the Philadelphia for the million is the best 

 raspberry that has been tested yet. It is as hardy, probably, as any of the less prolific ; 

 but its colour is against it. It does not bring such a high price in the mai-ket as berries 

 of a better colour. I am inclined to think that the Cuthbert is the coming red raspberry 

 for the market. I have only fruited it this season for the first, and that only on a small 

 scale. It is a large berry ; very fine colour, and moderately firm, and I should think 

 would command a good price. For amateur culture I do not know of anything much 

 better than the Herstine and the Clarke, in red raspberries. Where the Herstine will 

 succeed, it is a very fine berry. I would not recommend it, though, outside of the peach- 

 o-rowing line. It is inclined to winter-kill. I have a seedling of my own that I call the 

 Niagara, which I consider valuable as a late berry. It is larger than the Philadelphia ; 

 firmer, and of better quality, though perhaps not quite as good a bearer ; and it is about 

 a week later. Of the Blackcaps, I have generally found most profit in the Davison's 

 Thornless and the Mammoth Cluster. I think the Gregg is, perhaps, going to supercede 

 these for profit, though I have only fruited that one season. 



Mr. Gott. — For largeness, and beauty of fruit, Naomi and Turner stand very high. 

 Both those varieties are very profitable. The canes are hardy ; grow very high and 

 thrifty ; and the fruit is abundant and well-proportioned. The Clarke is also a very 

 profitable fruit ; very highly flavoured, fine size. The cane is hardy and very thrifty. 

 The Philadelphia is well known. It is considered a profitable fruit. The Highland 

 Hardy and Brandywine are near relatives in appearance and quality. Neither of them 

 is considered profitable. The only merit in them is that they are early. The Cuthbert 

 is promising. With us it is the coming raspberry. The cane is very thrifty. It is an 

 abundant bearer ; quite hardy ; and the fruit is very large, handsome in form, and of 

 fine quality. Mr. Saunders' No. 55 has been tried. It is something like the old Ameri- 

 can Ganargua ; and it has been said that it will have good quality. We have not sufii- 

 ciently tested it yet. Among the Blackcaps we would name as first, in point of profit, the 

 Mammoth Cluster. The Gregg is likely to supercede it, however. The Gregg has all the 

 good qualities of the Mammoth Cluster — with the additional merit of being a little larger 

 —having a little more bloom, and coming a little later in the season. Davison's Thornless 

 is not profitable. Seneca is profitable. It is a most robust-growing bush • it is almost 

 impossible to kill it by cold or other means ; and it is sure to produce a crop. The Ohio 

 is a great producer ; but if it is allowed to produce a very heavy crop in the former part 

 of the year, the crop in the latter part of the year will be very much weaker. 



Mr. a. M. Smith. — I neglected to mention Mr. Saunders' hybrid. For an amateur 

 berry, I know of nothing better ; but its colour is against it as a market fruit. It is 

 generally admitted, I believe, that where the Franconia will bear, it is a very fine berry. 

 I have found it too tender. 



Mr. Wellington. — Until the last few years the Franconia has been the berry, as 



