BLACKBERRIES— VARIETIES, ETC. 249 



braska eastward, I have followed its history, and have never 

 heard of its being injured by frost. It originated on, or 

 in the vicinity of, Mr. Snyder's farm, near La Porte, Ind., 

 about 185 1, and is an upright, exceedingly vigorous, and 

 stocky grower, a true child of the R. villosus. Its one fault 

 is that it is not quite large enough to compete with those al- 

 ready described. On moist land, with judicious pruning, 

 it could be made to approach them very nearly, however, 

 while its earliness, hardiness, fine flavor, and ability to grow 

 and yield abundantly almost anywhere, will lead to an in- 

 creasing popularity. For home use, size is not so impor- 

 tant as flavor and certainty of a crop. It is also more 

 nearly ripe when first black than any other kind that I have 

 seen ; its thorns are straight, and therefore less vicious. I 

 find that it is growing steadily in favor ; and where the Kit- 

 tatinny is winter-killed, this hardy new variety leaves little 

 cause for repining. 



There are several kinds that are passing out of cultivation, 

 and not a few new candidates for favor ; but the claims of 

 superiority are as yet too doubtful to be recognized. Mr. 

 James Wilson, of West Point, N. Y., found some magnifi- 

 cent wild berries growling on Crow Nest Mountain. The 

 bush that bore them is now in my garden, and if it should 

 produce fruit having a flavor equal to Rodman Drake's 

 poem, Mr. Wilson has, then, found something more real than 

 a " Culprit Fay." Occasionally, a thornless blackberry is 

 heralded, and not a few have reason to recall the " Hoosac," 

 which was generally found, I think, about as free from fruit 

 as thorns. We have, also, the horticultural paradox of white 

 blackberries, in the ''Crystal," introduced by Mr. John B. 

 Orange, of Albion, Illinois, and some others. They have 

 little value, save as curiosities. 



