White and Greenish 



the best places for the budding ornithologist to take opera-giasses 

 and note-book is to a raspberry patch early in the morning. 



The Black Raspberry, Black Cap or Scotch Cap or Thimble- 

 berry (/?. occidentalis), common in such situations as the red rasp- 

 berry chooses, but especially in burned-over districts from Virginia 

 northward and westward, has very long, smooth, cane-like stems, 

 often bending low until they root again at the tips. These are 

 only sparingly armed with small, hooked prickles, no bristles. 

 The flowers, which are similar to the preceding, but clustered 

 more compactly, are sparingly visited by insects ; nevertheless 

 when self-fertilized, as they usually are, abundant purplish-black 

 berries, hollow like a thimble where they drop from the spongy 

 receptacle, ripen in July. Numerous garden hybrids have been 

 derived from this prolific species also. Indeed its offspring are the 

 easiest raspberries to grow, since they form new plants at the tips 

 of the branches, yet do not weaken themselves with suckers, and 

 so, even without care, yield immense crops. One need not stir 

 many feet around a good raspberry patch to enjoy a Transcen- 

 dental feast. 



High Bush Blackberry; Bramble 



(Rubus villosus) Rose family 



Flowers — White, i in. or less across, in terminal raceme-like clus- 

 ters. Calyx deeply 5-parted, persistent; 5 large petals; sta- 

 mens and carpels numerous, the latter inserted on a pulpy 

 receptacle. Stem: } to 10 ft. high, woody, furrowed, 

 curved, armed with stout, recurved prickles. Leaves : Com- 

 pounded of 3 to 5 ovate, saw-edged leaflets, the end one 

 stalked, all hairy beneath. Fruit: Firmly attached to the 

 receptacle; nearly black, oblong juicy berries i in. long or 

 less, hanging in clusters. Ripe, July — August. 



Preferred Habitat — Dry soil, thickets, fence-rows, old fields, way- 

 sides. Low altitudes. 



Flowering Season — May — June. 



Distribution — New England to Florida, and far westward. 



" There was a man of our town, 

 And he was wondrous wise, 

 He jumped into a bramble bush " — 



If we must have poetical associations for every flower, Mother 

 Goose furnishes several. 



But for the practical mind this plant's chief interest lies in th« 



200 



