PR CITS. VARIETIES AND CULTURE. 359 



hardly differs from the peach apricot, not quite so large, 

 and a little later. Ripens July 20th. Very productive. 



Hemskirke. Fruit large, roundish, but considerably 

 compressed on its sides ; skin orange, with a red cheek ; 

 flesh bright orange, tender, rather more juicy than the 

 Moorpark, with a rich, luscious flavor ; stone small, and 

 kernel bitter. Ripens July 1st. 



Royal* Fruit round, large, slightly compressed ; skin 

 dull yellow, with a darker cheek, faintly tinged with red ; 

 with a slightly marked suture ; flesh pale orange, firm and 

 juicy, with a rich, vinous flavor. Ripens July 1st. 



THE BLACKBERRY. (Rubus villosus, etc.) 



We do not consider it necessary for us to give any de- 

 scription of this fruit, as it is well known by everybody, 

 and is one of the greatest pests the planter and farmer have 

 to contend with, springing up everywhere along the 

 fences, in the field, the vegetable and flower garden. To 

 us of the South it is amusing to see the excitement gotten 

 up by Northern horticulturists about it. Their New 

 Rochelle, Doolittle, Kittatinny, etc., etc., are thrown far 

 in the background by the wagon loads that can be gath- 

 ered from almost any of our old fields. 



The Blackberry is a tolerable dessert fruit, continues a 

 long time in bearing, and is also used for drying, for 

 tarts, pies, puddings, jams, and preserves. A very good 

 wine is made from the juice, which more nearly resembles 

 Madeira than any made from our native grapes. There 

 is a white variety, which differs from the black only in 

 color, and is occasionally found growing wild amongst 

 the black. 



