234 Notes and Gleanings. 



Raspberries axd Blackberries in New England. — Considerable in- 

 terest has been awakened of late in these popular fruits by the introduction of 

 new varieties, of great merit as regards size and productiviness. Owing to the 

 labor attending the cultivation of the older kinds, requiring protection in winter, 

 they were fast disappearing from our markets, and the prices reached a higher 

 figure than ever before, on account of their scarcity. We were greatly pleased 

 with the introduction of such varieties as Kittatinny and Wilson's Early ; still, 

 tliose two varieties have not proven sufficiently hardy to stand our winters with- 

 out protection ; that disadvantage being still greater with the older kinds of 

 raspberries, they being not only tender in winter, but only adapted to certain 

 soils and locations, the foliage getting badly scorched in summer. 



Our experience with them was not very satisfactory. We set out, four years 

 ago, some three thousand of that then popular variety, the Franconia, and, our 

 soil being of a rather light nature, we gradually, in that short space of time, lost 

 nearly three-fourths of them ; the balance, in the mean while, showing signs of 

 deterioration. We thought then we should give up the cultivation of raspberries 

 altogether, as the land was not adapted for them. 



About two years ago, we noticed in the garden of a neighbor, in a soil simi- 

 lar to our own, the Clarke Raspberry, and were surprised at the apparent 

 vigor of the plant. We secured some with a view of propagating them for trial. 

 The young plants were planted out the ensuing season, and made a vigorous 

 growtli ; some of the canes, in the fall, measuring three-quarters of an inch in 

 diameter. We left about fifty plants exposed to test its hardiness, and, with 

 the thermometer at twenty-six degrees below zero, they stood perfectly uninjured, 

 all starting the next season to the very ends. 



In consequence, we planted out, last spring, a large quantity, fully persuaded 

 of the great value of that variety, especially for market purposes. 



To return to blackberries : our attention last season was called to the intro- 

 duction of the thornless varieties ; one originating in Western New York, and 

 the other in Massachusetts, called the '• Wachuset," from the place of origin. 

 We took steps to secure plants of each variety, well aware of the importance 

 of securing varieties free of thorns, which are drawbacks to their cultivation. 

 As we possess both varieties, we found them, on close examination, to be not quite 

 thornless ; some small thorns, few and far between, showing themselves on the 

 young growth, while lost on the canes ; rendering them as harmless as 

 raspberries. 



We are not able as yet to say any thing of the hardiness of the New- York 

 variety with us ; while the Massachusetts or Wachuset has produced large crops 

 of fruit for several years, without any protection, in open field ; proving it to be, 

 at any rate, perfectly hardy. 



So far, we have every reason to think the Clarke Raspberry and Wachuset 

 Blackberry well adapted to cultivation in the New-England States, and can 

 confidently recommend them as such. 



To terminate our article on blackberries we would state a curious fact, which 

 has come lately to our knowledge. 



A neighbor of ours who cultivates blackberries had his vines somewhat 



