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RASPBERRY-BUSH. RUBUS ID^US. 



Natural order, Senticosa. A genus of the Icosandria 

 Polygynia class. 



THE raspberry was but little noticed by the ancients, 

 and that principally on account of its medical virtues. 

 Pliny does not consider it of so much importance as the 

 bramble, in mentioning which he says, " there is a third 

 sort of bramble, which the Greeks call Idaa, after Mount 

 Ida. This fruit is smaller than the other bramble-berries, 

 with less thorns on the stem, and these not so sharp or 

 hooked. The flowers of this raspis," he continues, 

 " being tempered with honey, are good to be laid to 

 watery and blood-shotten eyes, as also in the Erysipelas. 

 Being taken inwardly, and drunk with water, it is a com- 

 fortable medicine to a weak stomach." 



The red raspberry is indigenous to this country, and is 

 often found wild in the northern counties. We have also 

 seen it in the wild state growing freely in some woods on 

 the South Downs of Sussex. It is a fruit that appears to 

 have been much improved by cultivation, as Gerard writes 

 on it, previous to 1597, as not being equal to the black- 

 berry, although he says it is planted in gardens. He 

 calls it Raspis, or Hindberry : " the fruit," he adds, " is 

 in shape and proportion like that of the bramble ; red, 

 when it is ripe, and covered over with a little downiness, 

 of taste not very pleasant." He does not mention the 

 white raspberry ; nor has Tusser, who wrote in the pre- 

 vious reign. 



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