138 FRUIT RECIPES 



blood, seem to be congealed sunshine with all tne therapeutic 

 value of the sun concentrated in them. It seems a pity that 

 they are comparatively rare and not usually to be bought 

 in open market, although if they were to be had at every 

 corner grocery most of their healing agency would have 

 departed. Only by gathering them in their native haunts 

 may all this value be given and received. 



THE BLACKBERRY 



If the strawberry, with its combined tartness, sweetness, 

 brilliance y«t shyness of beauty may be regarded as a 

 feminine type the blackberry may as truly be said to possess 

 masculine characteristics. The blackberry vine's vigour, 

 its happy-go-lucky, sturdy habit of growth, its wandering 

 prodigality, its riotous, rollicking insistence of right-to-be, 

 and thorny defence against aggression are marked traits 

 (modified, of course, by training) of the "eternal boy." 

 The blackberry and strawberry might well be considered 

 brother and sister since both belong to the Rose Family. 

 The blackberry (Rubus) shows in its generic and "nick" 

 names similar Roman and Anglo-Saxon associations, Rubus 

 being connected with the Latin ruber (red), and "black- 

 berry" derived from the Anglo-Saxon blackberige and Old 

 English Blackberye. "Bramble," applied to both black 

 and raspberries, takes its meaning from the Anglo-Saxon 

 brembel, or brember, that which tears or lacerates. 



The blackberry is rather unusual among fruits as being 

 astringent instead of laxative ; fruit, young leaves, and roots 

 all partaking of this quality. It is said to contain iron and 

 from its general tonic composition effectually tones up 

 the system. The Greeks made from the pressed young 

 shoots of the plant a thick syrup to be given internally 

 for throat, mouth, and eye troubles, but more commonly 

 the berries and roots have been used for various specifics, 



