238 SUCCESS WITH SMALL FRUITS. 



visit the late Mr. Herstine, at Philadelphia. We were to 

 examine a lot of seedling raspberries, and select names for 

 those that we thought worthy of general cultivation. We 

 found quite a company there from the vicinity of Philadel- 

 phia and from Washington, while New York was represented 

 by such eminent authorities as Dr. Thurber and A. S. Fuller. 

 The raspberry bushes were completely loaded with large, 

 fine fruit, — the finest I ever saw. Each variety was care- 

 fully examined, and the guests voted as to which, in his 

 opinion, was the best. The Herstine stood first, and the 

 Saunders second. Mr. Herstine explained that they were 

 raised from the Allen raspberry, which had been planted 

 in alternate rows with the Philadelphia." This parentage 

 would make it a hybrid of the R. Strigosus and the purple 

 cane branch of the R. Occidentalis species ; but the plant 

 and fruit indicate the presence, also, of the R. IdcEus ele- 

 ment. After several years' experience on my own place, 

 I regard it as the best early raspberry in existence. The 

 berry is large, obtusely conical, bright red, and delicious in 

 flavor. It is scarcely firm enough for market where it must 

 be sent any great distance, but if picked promptly after it 

 reddens, and packed in a cool, airy place, it carries well and 

 brings good prices. The canes are strong, red, stocky, and 

 covered with spines. They are but half-hardy, and I think 

 it is best to cover them before the first of December, in our 

 latitude. The canes of the Saunders, also sent out by Mr. 

 Herstine, are much darker in color, and not so vigorous, 

 but sufficiently so. The berries are large, ripen later, are 

 more globular, and are of the same excellent quality. It 

 deserves greater popularity thaii it has received. It is, also, 

 only half- handy. 



In the Clarke, we undoubtedly have a variety containing 

 considerable of the R. Idceus element. The berries are 



