Varieties of the Foreign and Native Species. 175 



had been refused for a single plant hitherto, in the careful effort to 

 secure a large stock before putting the variety on the market" Its 

 name suggests Belgium as its original home. 



This Antwerp continues long in bearing, and the berries begin to 

 ripen early. The good carrying qualities of the fruit, combined with 

 great productiveness, made it at one time the most profitable market 

 berry in this section ; but its culture was chiefly confined to a narrow 

 strip on the west shore of the Hudson, extending from Cornwall to 

 Kingston. For some obscure reasons, it did not thrive in other local- 

 ities, and now it appears to be failing fast in its favorite haunt. A 

 disease called the "curl-leaf" is destroying some of the oldest and largest 

 plantations, and the growers are looking about for hardier and more 

 vigorous varieties. But in its palmy days, and even still, the Hudson 

 River Antwerp was one of the great productions of the country, 

 sending barges and steamers nightly to New York laden with ruby 

 cones, whose aroma was often very distinct on the lee shore while the 

 boats were passing. This enormous business had in part a chance 

 and curious origin, and a very small beginning ; while the celebrated 

 variety itself, which eventually covered so many hundreds of acres on the 

 west bank of the Hudson, may be traced back through two lines of 

 ancestry. An English gardener, who probably obtained the plants from 

 Mr. Briggs, gave some of them to a Mr. Samuel Barnes, who resided 

 in Westchester County. From him, Mr. Thos. H. Burling, of New 

 Rochelle, N. Y., secured an abundant supply for his home garden. 

 Here its value was observed by Mr. Nathaniel Hallock, who transferred 

 some of the canes to his place at Milton, N. Y. From his garden 

 they spread over many fields beside his own. 



In respect to the other line of ancestry of this historical berry, 

 I am indebted for the following facts to Mr. W. C. Young, of Marl- 

 boro', N. Y. : Many years ago, a bundle of raspberry plants was 

 left at a meat-market in Poughkeepsie, and Mr. Watters, the proprietor 

 of the place, kept them several days, expecting that they would be 

 called for. As they remained upon his hands, he planted them in his 

 garden, where, like genuine worth, they soon asserted their superiority. 

 Mr. Edward Young, of Marlboro', a relative of Mr. Watters, received a 

 present of a few roots, which supplied his family with the largest and 

 most beautiful berries he had ever seen. Good propagates itself as well 

 as evil if given a chance, and Mr. Young soon had far more fruit than 

 was needed by his family, and he resolved to try the fortunes of his 

 favorite in New York market. " For this purpose," his son writes, " my 



