Rasfberries^ New and Old. 265 



the Doolittle, — will well repay some extra labor, at least for the garden, 

 and in field culture it has, I believe, in some sections, proved quite sat- 

 isfactory. 



Could we have a variety like this, free from thorns, with the vigor 

 and habit of the Mammoth Cluster, it would, indeed, be an acquisition 

 beyond price. Who will be the fortunate agent in its production ? 



Manunoth Cluster. — While the advocates of verbal accuracy will 

 object to this name, and with some valid reason, it is too late, I fear, 

 to displace it in the popular vocabulary with that of the CoUinsville 

 Miami, whatever may be said of the justice of such a procedure. 



That it is .the most valuable of our black caps, there can be but one 

 opinion. Coming, as it does, a week or more after the Doolittle, with 

 its fine, large berries, vigorous canes, and most excellent habit of 

 growth, it leaves but little to be desired in the way of a raspberry, 

 except freedom from thorns. 



That the great superiority of this variety was not generally recognized 

 by horticulturists, so long as it had been in cultivation, before it was 

 brought out as the Mammoth Cluster, is not a little remarkable. 



Purple Cane. — This sort is without doubt a true hybrid between 

 some variety of the black cap family, Rubiis occidentalis, and a variety 

 of the red raspberry, Riibus strigosus. It propagates itself by suckers, 

 as also by rooting the tips. It has given me the most satisfaction, and 

 the best returns of any red raspberry I have grown, except the Phila- 

 delphia, and is equally pi'oductive wirii that variety, and in season, a 

 week earlier. 



It is too soft for transportation, but for family use it is exceedingly 

 valuable. Its fine, elastic canes, that seldom get broken, either with the 

 wind or by cultivation, are not the least of its merits. 



Ellisdalc. — This has something of the character of the foregoing, 

 and has been called an improved Purple Cane, though just where the 

 improvement comes in is not so clear. It has a rather more vigorous 

 growth and a similar cane, but the fruit with me has not been so large, 

 nor so abundant, and I fancied not so juicy and good, though possibly 

 more firm than the old Purple Cane. 



Naomi. — This new variety is thought to be by some, I believe, iden- 

 tical with the Franconia. It is, however, different from that variet}^, if 

 my Franconia is true. The Naomi is more productive, a larger berry, 

 and the cane is more hardy, though I doubt if it will go through our 

 severe winters, without protection generally, at the West. 



Kirtland, — This old sort has some points of value. It is the ear- 

 liest raspberry I have — a little earlier than Purple Cane and Davi- 



