LUTHER BURBANK 



And this material was largely the product of 

 earlier experiments through which blackberries 

 of the old type had been improved as to their 

 fruiting qualities. 



It is necessary, therefore, in the interests of 

 completeness, to retrace our steps and briefly to 

 review the earlier experiments — some of which, 

 indeed, were carried forward coincidently with 

 the development of the thornless — through which 

 new races of blackberries of exceptional quality, 

 though still handicapped by thorns, were de- 

 veloped. 



In connection with this story it is interesting 

 to recall that the cultivated blackberry is essen- 

 tially an American product. No other country 

 until quite recently has appreciated the quality 

 of this fruit sufficiently to cultivate and develop 

 it. Wild species, to be sure, are abimdant in Eu- 

 rope, growing everywhere in England and in Ire- 

 land, along hedges and in wasta places; but the 

 horticulturist has all along seemingly been preju- 

 diced against the fruit, partly perhaps because of 

 its offensive briars. 



The prejudice against the wild bramble was 

 retained by the Colonial settlers of America — ^re- 

 tained so persistently that fully two centuries 

 were needed for this excellent berry to make its 

 way into the fruit gardens, 



[24] 



