Blackberries Varieties, Cultivation, Etc. 203 



unevenly serrate." The season of fruiting is medium, continuing from four 

 to six weeks, if moisture is maintained. Both of these varieties are derived 

 from the Rubus Villosus species. 



In contrast, is the next best-known sort Wilson's Early having many 

 of the characteristics of the Dewberry, or running blackberry, and, there- 

 fore, representing the second species described R. Canadensis. Whether 

 it is merely a sport from this species, or a hybrid between it and the first- 

 named or high blackberry, cannot be accurately known, I imagine ; for, it 

 also was found growing wild by Mr. John Wilson, of Burlington, N. J. 

 Under high culture, and with increasing age, the plants become quite erect 

 and stocky growers, but the ends of the cane are drooping. Frequently, 

 they trail along the ground, and root at the tips, like the common 

 Dewberry, and they rarely grow so stocky but that they can be bent 

 over covered with earth or litter, as is the case with the tender raspberries. 

 It is well that this is possible, for it has so little power of resisting frost that a 

 winter- of ordinary severity kills the canes in the latitude of New York. I 

 have always covered mine, and thus secured, at slight expense, a sure and 

 abundant crop. The fruit is earlier than the Kittatinny, and tends to ripen 

 altogether in about ten days. These advantages, with its large size and 

 firmness, make it a valuable market berry in New Jersey, where hundreds 

 of acres of it have been planted, and where it is still very popular. 

 Throughout the North and West, it has been found too tender for cultiva- 

 tion, unless protected. In flavor, it is inferior to the Kittatinny or Snyder. 



For many years, the great desideratum has been a perfectly hardy 

 blackberry, and this want has at last been met in part by the Snyder, a 

 Western variety that seems able to endure without the slightest injury 

 the extremes of temperature common in the North-western States. From 

 Nebraska eastward I have followed its history, and have never heard of its 

 being injured by frost. It originated on, or in the vicinity of, Mr. Snyder's 

 farm, near La Porte, Ind., about 1851, and is an upright, exceedingly 

 vigorous and stocky grower, a true child of the R. Villosus. The 

 engraving well suggests its wonderful productiveness, and the single berry 

 given outlines the average size of the fruit under good culture. Its one 

 fault is thus seen at a glance it is not quite large enough to compete with 

 those already described. On moist land, with judicious pruning, it could 

 be made to approach them very nearly, however, while its earliness, 

 hardiness, fine flavor and ability to grow and yield abundantly almost 

 ; anywhere, will lead to an increasing popularity. For home use, size is 

 not so important as flavor and certainty of a crop. It is also more 

 nearly ripe when first black than any other kind that I have seen ; its 



