i8o Success with Small Fruits. 



The little round " thirds," as they are termed, into which the berries 

 are gathered, are carried out of the sunlight to sheds and barns ; the packer 

 receives them, giving tickets in exchange, and then, too often with the 

 deliberation and ease induced by the summer heat, packs them in crates. 

 As a result, there is frequently a hurry-scurry later in the day to get the 

 berries off in time. The sketches from Mr. A. G. Clark's thriving fruit 

 farm are suggestive portraitures of certain phases of midsummer life in the 

 Hudson raspberry regions. 



The Fastollf, Northumberland Fillbasket, and Knevett's Giant are fine 

 old English varieties that are found in private gardens, but have never 

 made their way into general favor. 



The Franconia is now the best foreign variety we have. It was intro- 

 duced from Paris by Mr. S. G. Perkins, of Boston, about thirty-seven years 

 ago, and is a large, obtuse conical berry, firm, thus carrying well to market, 

 and although a little sour, its acid is of a rich, sprightly character. It is 

 raised largely in Western New York, and in northern latitudes is one of the 

 most profitable. 



It is almost hardy in the vicinity of Rochester, receiving by some 

 growers no winter protection. Its lack of hardiness with us, and farther 

 southward, is due to its tendency common to nearly all foreign berries 

 to lose its foliage in August. I am inclined to think that it would prove 

 one of the most profitable in Canada, and that if it were simply pinned 

 down to the surface of the ground, and thus kept under the deep snows, it 

 would rarely suffer from the cold. It should be distinctly understood that 

 the climate of Canada, if winter protection is given, indeed, I may say, 

 without protection, is far better adapted to tender raspberries than that 

 of New Jersey, Virginia, or even Pennsylvania. 



The long continuance of the Franconia in bearing is one of its best 

 qualities. We usually enjoy its fruit for six weeks together. Its almost 

 globular shape is in contrast with another excellent French variety, the 

 Belle de Fontenay, a large, long, conical, but somewhat irregular-shaped 

 berry of very superior flavor. Mr. Fuller says that it is entirely hardy. 

 It survives the winter without protection on my grounds. The canes are 

 very stocky and strong, and unless growing thickly together are branching. 

 Its most marked characteristic, however, is a second crop in autumn, pro- 

 duced on the tips of the new canes. If the canes of the previous year are 

 cut even with the ground early in spring, the new growth gives a very 

 abundant autumn crop of berries, which, although much inclined to crumble 

 in picking, and to be irregular in shape, have still the rare flavor of a 

 delicious fruit long out of season. It certainly is the best of the 

 fall-bearing kinds, and deserves a place in every garden. There are 



