NATIVE FRUITS. 4l 



Raspberries. 



It augurs well for the future now that the quality of fruit forms a subject 

 for discussion in horticultural journals. We usually attach too much 

 importance to appearance and productiveness, and have too little regard 

 for flavor. Take for example the newer Raspberries, and we may well ask 

 ourselves what progress they indicate. True, we have made gains in certain 

 directions in hardiness and productiveness, but the flavor has not been 

 improved, on the contrary it has deteriorated. With one or two exceptions 

 hardly any of the newer raspberries are fit for garden cultivation, and we 

 have to rely mainly on the older sorts for high flavored fruit. It is question 

 able whether this is the right kind of progress. In raising new fruits now-a- 

 da\s, we should aim at producing in the first place, fruit of good quality, 

 due regard being had for the necessary vigor and bearing properties of the 

 plant. But in Raspberries I refer now to the newer sorts we have a 

 superabundance of vigor and little flavor. What we want in red Rasp- 

 berries is a fruit with flavor equal to that of Brinckle's Orange but sufficiently 

 firm to carry well, and the plant should be as vigorous, hardy and produc- 

 tive as Braydywine, Thawck, Delaware, Philadelphia and others of that 

 type which produce dry, insipid fruit. The public are getting tired of them. 

 So far as I know, the nearest approach to the perfect red raspberry is the 

 Clarke or the Herstine, although these are said to fail in some localities or 

 lack firmness. 



Reliance, though not so good as either in quality, possesses greater 

 firmness, and would probably be more valuable for market. 



I have not seen the Cllthbert, but if it comes up to the descriptions 

 which are given of it, it is the raspberry that has been anxiously looked 

 after for years. 



The Turner is esteemed by many on account of the sweetness of the 

 fruit and the great hardiness of the plant, but it is too soft to bear much 

 carriage. I think the time has arrived when so many mere apologies for 

 fruit should be discarded and our attention turned to those varieties which 

 deserve it. A step forward has been made in yellow Raspberries in the in- 

 troduction of the Caroline, a berry of fair quality and the plant is sufficiently 

 vigorous and hardy to withstand severe weather. 



New RochellP, a new cap, is remarkably productive, but the fruit has 

 a dirty color and its quality is indifferent. 



A well known authority says " The Clarke is by no means the best of 

 red raspberries. The Hudson River Antwerp, Fastolff, Franconia and 

 Knevett's Giant are all fine, and only need to be laid down in winter. 

 Brinckle's Orange is not very tender. It never suffers if laid down, and it 

 is the finest of all the raspberries." 



" Caroline is a Yellow Cap, less seedy and better flavored than the class 

 generally, but still not to be compared with Orange. People who want fine 

 raspberries must stand by the old sorts named above. The seedy, insipid 

 caps may do for market to supply those who cannot afford better." 



I hope this question of quality in fruits will be more freely discussed in 

 the future than in the past. An exchange of opinion, together with the 

 discussions which must result therefrom, will have a tendency to bring 

 the choicer fruits more prominently before the public. In this manner a 

 keener appreciation for really good things will be encouraged. 



