THE BLACKBERRY. 181 



THE BLACKBERRY 



Rubus Villosus. 



A well known bramble, indigenous to this country. The fruit is 

 so easily procured in its wild state, as not to have received due at 

 tention from cultivators. 



Ripening, as it does, just as Raspberries are gone, when there is 

 a dearth of the smaller fruits, it is surprising that exertions have not 

 been made to grow improved varieties from seed. Plants selected 

 from fhe wild state, placed in the garden, and well cultivated, have 

 produced fruit of double the usual size and improved in flavor. 



Seedlings may be grown in the same way as Raspberries, and the 

 plant requires similar soil and culture. 



There are, in its wild state, many varieties, but all answering the 

 same botanical description. They are known under the common 

 names of High Blackberry, Bush Blackberry, Low or Trailing Black 

 berry, &c. ; the stems being tall and more or less branching. The 

 fruit ripens from 20th July to 10th August, and is highly esteemed 

 for making syrup, w^hich is regarded valuable as a preventive as 

 well as curative of diarrhoea, dysentery, &c. As a dessert fruit, and 

 for cooking, when well grown and ripened, it is esteemed, and often 

 advised by Physicians, on account of its healthful character. 



There is a variety known as the White Blackberry, differing not 

 in habit, but with shoots and fruit of a greenish white. 



