236 BUiSH-FBUITS 



Americus. — Received at the office of the United States Pomolo- 

 gist in 1894, from J. H. Langille, Kensington, Md., and de- 

 scribed in the report for that year. Thought to be a seedling of 

 the Early Harvest. A stout, strong grower, with flowers in rather 

 short, erect, downy spikes. Fruit medium to large, irregular, 

 oval or oblong-conic, jet black, moderately firm, melting, juicy 

 and of good quality, ripening soon after Early Harvest. 



Boston High Bush. — Mentioned in the report of the California 

 Horticultural Society of 1886, p. 234. From the connection it is 

 probably Dorchester. 



Brunton Early. — An early variety which originated in Illinois. 

 Similar to Early Harvest in habit of growth. It appears to be 

 deficient in pollen production, or self -sterile, and unproductive 

 when planted alone ; not very hardy. Of little value. 



Dorchester (Improved High Bush). — A seedling introduced by 

 Eliphalet Thayer, of Dorchester, Mass., who first exhibited it 

 before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, August 7, 1841. 

 It was largely brought to public notice by Capt. Josiah Lovett, of 

 Beverly, Mass. Capt. Lovett had previously made unsuccessful 

 attempts to transplant the best of the wild bushes to his garden, 

 but after obtaining this variety, turned his best attention to it. 

 Samuel Downer, of Dorchester, Mass., also seems to have been 

 connected with its introduction. This variety is of special 

 interest as being the advance guard of all the blackberries now 

 in cultivation, since it was the first cultivated variety. It is a 

 very upright grower, vigorous, and viciously thorny. Indeed,' 

 its strong recurved thorns remind one of the Sand Blackberry, 

 [Ruhus cuneifoUus). Fruit large, oblong, conic, deep, shining 

 black, nearly as large as Lawton; longer, with rather smaller 

 drupelets. It may be an admixture between the argutus and 

 nigrobaccus types. 



Early Harvest.— An early variety, found growing wild in Illi- 

 nois, A moderately vigorous, upright grower, fairly hardy, 

 though often quite tender. Canes greenish, with comparatively 

 few thorns. Fruit small, roundish to oblong, greenish black, soft 

 in texture, juicy, mild and pleasant. Very early, prolific, and 

 valuable where it succeeds, owing to its season. 



Eijig (Early King).— Plant rather small, erect, stiff, with 

 several small canes from each stool, making a thick clump; 

 spines large. Berry of medium size, oval, irregular, of best 

 quality; core soft, ripe as soon as black. A week earlier than 

 Snyder, fairly productive, and of medium hardiness. Too soft 

 for market. 



See Earli/.—So much like Brunton's Early that it may be 

 the same.— 111. Hort. Soc. 1878:125. 



