THE RASPBERRY. 133 



like the Cuthbert, but far better. Let us try it and 

 see ; if it is as good, we may well be content, and 

 can grace our tables with beautiful fruit. 



There is another American species of raspberry 

 (Rubies occidcntalis} that is almost as dear to mem- 

 ory as the wild strawberry, the thimble-berry, or 

 blackcap. I confess that the wild flavor of this 

 fruit is more to my taste than that of any other 

 raspberry. Apparently its seeds have been sown 

 broadcast over the continent, for it is found almost 

 everywhere, and there have been few children in 

 America whose lips have not been stained by the 

 dark purple juice of its fruit. Seeds dropped in 

 neglected pastures, by fence and road-sides, and 

 along the edges of the forest, produce new varie- 

 ties which do not propagate themselves by suckers 

 like red raspberries, but in a manner quite distinct. 

 The young purple canes bend over and take root 

 in the soil during August, September, and Octo- 

 ber. At the extreme end of the tip from which 

 'the roots descend a bud is formed, which remains 

 dormant until the following spring. Therefore the 

 young plant we set out is a more or less thick mass 

 of roots, a green bud, and usually a bit of the old 

 parent cane, which is of no further service except 

 as a handle and a mark indicating the location ot 

 the plant. After the ground has been prepared 

 as one would for corn or potatoes, it should be 



