THE BLACK-CAP OR THIMBLEBERRY. 89 



Caroline. A yellow variety, partaking something of the nature 

 of both the Red and the Black-cap varieties in habit of growth. 

 It is propagated both by suckers and by rooting of the tips. It 

 is one of the finest in quality ; vigorous, hardy and productive, 

 but too soft for distant market. It should be in every garden. 



Hansell. A new early red kind, of medium size, fine color and 

 good quality, but seems not to be very vigorous under ordinary 

 cultivation. 



Marlboro. A large, vigorous-growing, new variety, and prom- 

 ises to be as good as the Cuthbert, and perhaps larger in size. 

 The last two kinds require further test in northern sections to 

 prove their hardiness. 



BLACK-CAP RASPBERRY (Riibus occidental^') . This fruit, known 

 in its wild state as the Thimbleberry, differs in its method of 

 propagation, as well as in habits of growth and color of fruit, 

 Jrom the Red Raspberry. The fruit is less acid, black in color, 

 and with, perhaps, seeds larger in the fruit in proportion to the 

 pulp. It is propagated by stolons, that is, by the ends of the canes 

 bending over and taking root. It throws no suckers from the 

 roots, but grows in hills or stools. It requires a rather more 

 moist, rich soil than either the Red Raspberry or the blackberry, 

 and produces much larger crops of fruit. The time of ripening 

 is just after strawberries, and before the Red Raspberry. 



The distance of planting- should be five by six feet, and culti- 

 vation is best done with the horse, running the . cultivator both 

 ways. It is best planted in the spring, and begins to produce 

 paying crops the second or third year. The pruning required is 

 the same as for the blackberry and Red Raspberry, but a second 

 and even a third pinching is necessary to give plants a close, com- 

 pact form, that will not need support. Many growers adhere to 

 the old system of supporting with stakes, but if properly pruned 

 no stakes are required. Sometimes the canes are broken down 

 by the heavy snows of winter, and then the best support that can 

 be used is a wire about three or four feet high, supported upon 

 stakes twenty feet apart. This should not be put up until near 

 the time of ripening of the fruit. A single strong string passed 

 around each hill and tied to the wire is all the support required. 

 After fruiting, the wire should be wound up and put away so that 

 cultivation may take place both ways. 



VARIETIES. 



Souhegan. This is one of the earliest and best. It is similar 

 to the Doolittle, but possibly is a little earlier and larger, although 

 the latter is still a standard sort, and is much increased in size by 

 good cultivation. 



Hopkins. Resembles the Souhegan much, very early and pro- 

 ductive. 



Centennial. A large, medium-early variety, very fine, sweet 

 and productive ; one of the best. 



