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 more exertions have 

 not been made to grow improved varieties from seed. Plants se- 

 lected from the wild state, placed in the garden, and well cultivated, 

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



In 1845, Colonel Coit, of Cleveland, exhibited at one of the Cleve- 

 land Horticultural Society's meetings, a plate of Blackberries grown 

 from plants he had carefully selected from the woods. Many of the 

 berries measured five inches in circumference. He stated that he 

 had selected the plants when in fruit, transferred them to his garden 

 in the Fall, and those on exhibition were a sample of the produce, 

 having been increased in size fully one half, and much improved in 

 flavor. 



Our fields throughout the Middle States contain many plants worthy 

 cultivation. The " New Rochelle," or Lawton, the " Newman," Crys- 

 tal White, and others, are instances of what has been done by the 

 use of a little attention to the subject. 



As a crop for profit, there is no question but that it will prove more 

 valuable than any Raspberry yet known. 



Cultivation of the Blackberry. Prepare ground by digging or 

 plowing very deep; if not naturally rich, add plentifully of well 

 rotted manures or leaf mold. Set the rows six feet apart, running 

 north and south, and place one plant every four feet distant in these 

 rows. 



When planting, cut the plant back to a stem of not more than ten 

 inches long. After having finished planting, run the plow north and 

 south, throwing earth up to the plants and leaving the centre with an 

 open furrow, that perfect drainage may ensue. 



The first season, permit but one shoot to grow from the parent ; this 

 course will cause the shoot to be very strong and healthy. 



The second season, early in Spring, cut back the shoot of the pre- 

 vious year's growth one half; permit but one other shoot to spring 

 from the ground until after the fruit crop is ripened. After the fiuit 

 is gathered, any number of shoots may be permitted to grow, pic- 



