106 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



The Parsley-leaved bramble is said to be a " chance (English) seedling " from Eubus 

 laciniatus, which it somewhat resembles, but it is far more useful, and perhaps th 

 most serviceable of all blackberries grown in this country. 



American varieties are very numerous, and some of them very fine, but as a rule 

 they not only require soil of the best quality, but also warm positions for their satis 

 factory production in the United Kingdom. It is only necessary to direct attention to 

 a few varieties that appear the best suited to our climate, namely, Early Harvest, 

 Kittatinny, Lawton, Mammoth, and Wilson Junior. Some of these are more robust 

 in habit than others, but all bear large, black, juicy, and well-flavoured fruit. 



Of the varieties named, the Warwickshire succeeds in open or exposed places ; 

 Early Harvest, Lawton, and the Parsley-leaved like sheltered positions. Wilson 

 Junior and Kittatinny require warm situations in gardens. For covering arches over 

 walks, trellises, fences, or unsightly walls, the Parsley-leaved may be chosen, and in 

 warm situations the Mammoth, though it is generally less reliable. 



Mr. W. K. Woodcock, a successful grower of blackberries in a garden near 

 Sheffield, has described his experience with the Parsley-leaved variety. Writing in 

 October he says : " Since the first gathering commenced six weeks ago, more than 2 

 bushels of fruit have been obtained from a row 22 yards long, and employed in a 

 variety of ways for pastry, also for making jam, jellies, cheese and syrup. There is 

 an average of 50 fruits to each spray or lateral, and 40 laterals to each cane of 12 feet 

 in length, and as we grow an average of four canes from each root we have from one 

 plant 8,000 fruits, nearly all as large as the finest raspberries ; and coming in as they 

 do after all other bush fruits are over, they are highly esteemed. The roots were 

 planted 5 feet apart, and the canes are trained more or less horizontally over a row 

 of stout stakes 9 feet high and 2 feet 6 inches apart." An accurate represen- 

 tation of a fruiting branchlet is given in the engraving, Fig. 38. 



CULTUKAL EOUTINE. 



Propagation. Though blackberries may be raised from seed, cuttings of the roots, 

 also of half- ripe shoots, as well as by suckers, these are not desirable modes of increase, 

 and much the best method is layering the points of the canes in August or September as 

 follows : As soon as the tips grow nearly bare of leaves and become dark in colour, 

 peg them into the ground 3 or 4 inches deep at an angle of about 45. In a month to 

 six weeks they will foran bushy roots, and can be cut off, planting where required. 



