FLOWERING SHRUBS 



in the angles of the snake-fences, and on every waste and 

 neglected spot, the Raspberry appears and takes possession 

 of the land. Truly this useful and palatable fruit proves a 

 blessing and a comfort in various ways to the poor, as well 

 as a wholesome, welcome luxury to the richer inhabitants 

 of our towns and villages. During the fruiting season the 

 women and children are enabled to supply many household 

 wants by the sale of the red and black Raspberries; even 

 the little ones are made to contribute their small mite of 

 labor, and may be seen in large parties going out with tins 

 and sundry small vessels to the Raspberry grounds wild, 

 rugged spots that have been abandoned by the farmer as 

 worthless for the growth of roots and grain. He does not 

 look beyond and see that with our bountiful Provider there 

 are no waste places. He who fed the wandering multitude 

 with manna in the thirsty desert, and brought forth springs 

 of water from the flinty rock, can give fruits to satisfy the 

 wants of His children in the Canadian wilderness. The 

 wild berries are shared by God's humbler gleaners, the small 

 animals and flocks of birds; and even the insects all come 

 to this table that is spread abroad for them and us ; " and 

 something gathers up all fragments and nothing is lost." 



The fruit of the common Red Raspberry begins to ripen 

 early in the month of July, just about the time that the 

 Strawberry ceases to be plentiful. The flowers are not very 

 ornamental, whitish, but not clear white, rosaceous in form. 

 The berry ripens very soon after the fading of the flowers. 



The color of the fruit of the common Raspberry is of a 

 light red, changing with maturity to a dark crimson. The 

 bush is upright and not very prickly. The leaves have from 

 three to five leaflets, grayish or dull green, wrinkled and 

 veiny, whitish underneath ; leaflets serrate, unequally lobed> 



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