264 JRasj)berries, New and Old. 



RASPBERRIES, NEW AND OLD. 



By B. Hathaway, Little Prairie Ronde, Mich. 



The season just closed has been one of abundance of this fruit at 

 the West ; and having grown quite a number of the leading sorts, with 

 a view of testing their intrinsic and relative value, and having noted 

 carefully their chax-acteristics, the occasion is opportune for giving the 

 results of my observations. 



Doolittle^s hnproved. — This long-time standard sort continues to be 

 grown, and when new plantations are being made, is more largely 

 planted than any other of the black caps, except, perhaps, one or two 

 of the new kinds. The fruit is of good size, and the plant hardy and 

 productive. 



The canes do not have so good a habit as some others, their want of 

 elasticity causing them to be broken down by the wind, or by cultiva- 

 tion. This, on sti'ong soils at least, is quite a serious objection to this 

 'ariety. 



Seneca. — This sort is distinguished from the foregoing, mainly by a 

 different and a better habit of cane, and a few days later ripening of 

 the fruit. I do not find that it possesses any advantage in size or flavor 

 over the Doolittle, and the dull black of the berries rather detracts, I 

 think, from their looks, in comparison. Still I count it one of three or 

 four of the best black caps, and it can hardly fail to give satisfac- 

 tion. 



Miami. — This is sometimes called the Old Miami, or Small Miami, 

 to distinguish it from the Collinsville Miami, or Mammoth Cluster, and 

 has some points of merit. It is several days earlier than the Doolittle, 

 about with Davison's Thornless, not quite so large a berry as either, 

 but a hardy and productive plant, with a habit of growth that commends 

 it to favor. 



Canada Black Cap. — This I find quite distinct, and some days 

 later than the Doolittle, but it possesses no advantage in size, flavor, or 

 productiveness over the old sort. Had we not a more valuable kind in 

 the Mammoth Cluster, its lateness would make it of some value. 



DavisoiH s Thornless. — It has been claimed for this variety that it 

 is as productive as the Doolittle ; but it must be conceded that to get 

 the same vigor of cane, it must have some advantage of cultivation 

 over that variety, at least this is my experience. Still its compai*ative 

 freedom from thorns, its fine, large fruit, and early ripening, — before 



