BLACK RASPBERRY 



fruit at the same time that it affects the hardiness of 

 the plant. 



The root of all the raspberries belongs to that type 

 which is called travelling ; that is, the suckers run out 

 in every direction away from the central root, so that 

 the new stems come up each year in fresh soil. This 

 is nature's plan for providing '' green woods and past- 

 ures new." It is evident that tlie raspberry in its wild 

 state is continually changing its situation, and when 

 domesticated it should be frequently taken up and re- 

 planted in fresh soil. The seeds are said to retain their 

 vitality for a long time. The white raspberry of cul- 

 tivation is probably a sport of the common red rasp- 

 berry. 



BLACK RASPBERRY. THIMBLE-BERRY. BLACK-CAP 



Riibus occidcntalis. 



Straggling, prickly, with long arching stems; growing by 

 bowlders, in fence corners, by falling trees ; common throughout 

 our range and widely cultivated. 



Stems. — Biennial, slender, terete, recurved, ten to twelve feet 

 long, purple, densely covered with whitish bloom ; often root- 

 ing at the tip; sparingly armed with small hooked prickles. 

 Okl stems dull maroon. 



Leaves. — Alternate, jjinnately compound. Leaflets three, rare- 

 ly five, two to five inches long ; terminal leaflet ovate ; Literal 

 leaflets bilateral ; margins coarsely cut and irregularly serrate, 

 apex acute or acuminate. They come out of the bud plicate, 

 I)ale yellow green above, downy and glaucous beneath ; when 

 full grown are hluish green above, whitish beneath. In autumn 

 they remain unchanged until destro\ed l)v the early winter 

 storms. Petioles armed with small prickles. Sti[)ules decid- 

 uous. 



143 



