196 Success with Small Fruits. 



the winter cold and summer heat, and produce abundantly," far better than 

 any other raspberry that equals it in size and flavor. The artist has given 

 us an accurate portrait of the fruit, which, although so large, has the pecul- 

 iar indentation of the grains and other characteristics of the R. Strigosus, 

 showing that its constitution is derived mainly from our sturdy native 

 species. The canes are strong, upright, branching, if space permits, 

 reddish-brown, spines abundant, but not very long and harsh. It is a 

 rampant grower on good soil, but the foliage, so far from being rank and 

 large, is delicate, and the under side of the leaves has a light, silvery hue. 

 After once getting hold of the soil, it suckers immoderately, but is no worse 

 in this respect than other vigorous varieties; and this tendency rapidly 

 declines after the second year. Is it perfectly hardy ? No ; and I do not 

 know of a single good raspberry that is; except, perhaps, the Turner, 

 which, however, is inferior to the Cuthbert. I have seen the latter badly 

 winter-killed, but it had stood eight years on the same ground without 

 injury before. Then, because of a rank growth late in the season, that 

 especial patch was hit hard, while other fields, but a few miles away, were 

 unharmed. If planted on well-drained soil, where the wood could ripen 

 well, I think it would be injured very rarely, if ever ; but I have no faith in 

 talk about "perfectly hardy raspberries." Those who observe closely will 

 often find our hardy native species killed to the ground, and I think many 

 varieties suffer more from the mild, variable winters of the Middle States 

 than from the steady cold and snowy winters of the North. Moreover, any 

 variety that has not the power of maintaining a healthy foliage through the 

 hot season will usually be too feeble to resist the winter following. The 

 question of hardiness can often be settled better in August than in January. 

 One of the most hopeful features of the Cuthbert, therefore, is its tough, 

 sun-enduring foliage, which enables the wood to ripen perfectly. It has 

 never received winter protection thus far, either in this region or in Michi- 

 gan, where it is largely raised, but it may be found necessary to shield it 

 somewhat in some localities. It is both absurd and dishonest to claim per- 

 fection for a fruit, and the Cuthbert, especially as it grows o 1 - ier and loses 

 something of its pristine vigor, will, probably, like all other varieties, 

 develop faults and weaknesses. We cannot too much deprecate the arro- 

 gant spirit often manifested in introducing new fruits. Interested parties 

 insist on boundless praise, and, if their advice were followed, the fine old 

 standards would be plowed out to make room for a new-comer that often 

 proves, on trial, little better than a weed. The Cuthbert is not exactly a 

 novelty. Through the gifts of the originator, and sales running through 

 several years, it has become widely scattered, and has proved a success in 



