CHAPTER II. 



RASPBERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES. 



^OME species of the cultivated raspberry are found indigeaous 

 c^^ to almost every climate. Many species are very prolific of fine 

 fruit in their wild state, and ail of them improve rapidly under cul- 

 tivation. It is an especially desirable fruit for temperate climates, 

 where it is found at its best. There is a grea*t difference in the 

 adaptability of the different species as well as varieties to various 

 climates, but there is no section of Minnesota where some kinds 

 cannot be safely and surely grown if proper care be used in plant- 

 ing and cultivating. It is a surer crop than the strawberry, and 

 the plantations of it will last indefinitely, seldom needing renewing 

 more than once in ten years, and frequently producing abundantly 

 over a longer period. 



Species.— There are four species to which our cultivated 

 kinds belong, and they quite readily hybridize together. They all 

 have perennial roots and biennial canes ; i. e., the canes grow one 

 year and the next mature fruit and die, so that there are always 

 two sets of canes to each plant during the growing season. 



(1) Richus strigoms. This , is the red raspberry of our woods •, 

 there are, however, some varieties of it that have yellow fruit. 

 Plants belonging to this class increase by suckers, which they gen- 

 erally produce abundantly from all the surface roots. All of the 

 most desirable red raspberries in cultivation, with possibly one ex- 

 ception, belong to this class. 



(2) Bubus Ideus. European raspberry. In form and color of 

 fruit and method of propagation this resembles the preceding, but 

 differ" from it botanically in several minor points. Varieties of 

 this are not generally as well adapted to the climatic conditions of 

 this state as our native species. 



(3) Rubus rieglectics. There is much difference of opinion in 

 regard to che plants grouped under this species. Some of the best 

 botanists consider the varieties generally put here to be hybrids 

 between R. StHgosus and R. Occidmtalis. The fruit from this class 

 is often of a purplish color, but is sometimes yellow, and the plants 

 often increase botu oy suckers and by tip-layers. 



(4) Rubus Ocddentalis. Black-cap, or thimbleberry. A native 

 species, very distinct from one and two; increasing by layers, 

 i. e., the tips of the new growth bend to the ground and take root 



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