2o8 Fruits and Fruit-Trees* 



ling white raspberries. They were sweeter and richer in 

 flavour than any of their ethiop brethren."* Wherever, 

 in a large garden, the conditions and circumstances will 

 permit, especially in districts where the wild fruit is not 

 plentiful, the blackberry should be allowed a place. It 

 has the peculiar value of going on ripening till the advent 

 of serious frost. The first crop of fruit is usually accom- 

 panied, during " St. Martin's little summer," by a second 

 flow of bloom, so that there is a succession of the shining 

 jet all through that peaceful time when the gossamer, "le 

 fil de la tres-sainte Vierge," as the French prettily call it, 

 flings its mimic barriers across our path. When no other 

 small bush-fruit is to be had, the blackberry can still be 

 held in reserve. There is no occasion to let it wander 

 untidily. A row of blackberries fixed to stakes, with a 

 slight rail or wire upon each side to restrain would-be 

 stragglers, is a pleasing rather than a distasteful object. 

 Better still when the plants are so trained as to form a 

 little arcade. In a dry and sunny autumn the black- 

 berry is a really excellent fruit. Those who would enjoy 

 it in perfection should go to the hedgerows or the 

 wilderness at mid-day, when the sun has been full upon 

 them for some hours, select the " kings," and eat them 

 hot. Not only is the fruit capital for pie and pudding, 

 especially with admixture of sliced apple : it makes an 

 excellent jam, and a very delicate jelly ; the last-named, 

 dissolved in warm water, gives a really delightful drink ; 

 and blackberry wine, all those who know how to make it 

 * Authoress of " Rostherne Mere and other Poems." 



