102 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



Raspberries 



are represented in Nebraska by three species. A black raspberry, 

 a variety of Rubus occidentalism is common in every county. It is a 

 profuse bearer, and the fruit is nearly a third larger than the Amer- 

 ican blackcap. It is most abundant along streams and in woodlands- 

 and their borders. Where it is cultivated the canes make a much 

 stronger growth than in their native wilds, though even there some 

 varieties seem equal to any produced in gardens. A dwarf rasp- 

 berry, {Rubus trifiorus,) and the wild red, [Rubus strigosus,) were 

 sent to me in flower during the past season from the western part of 

 the State, previous to which I was not aware that they existed with- 

 in our borders. They have not yet been found in the eastern part 

 of the State. 



Blackberries. 



Of these only one species has yet been found in the State. This 

 is the high blackberry, (Rubus villosus). It is rather abundant along 

 some of the streams and timber belts in the southeastern part of the 

 State. Wherever this wild variety is transplanted into gardens and 

 cultivated, it bears large quantities of delicious fruit. 



Hawthorns. 

 Though unimportant as fruits the hawthorns should not be over- 

 looked by the amateur horticulturist. The blackthorn (Cratccgus 

 tomentosa), and its variety malis, are most abundant. It is a shrub 

 or small tree from six to twenty-five feet in height. The leaves are 

 oval, abrupt at the base, margins sharply saw-toothed or cut into 

 many small lobes, and downy beneath, especially when youngs 

 The flowers are compacted into clusters {corymbs) of from six to 

 thirty flowerlets in a bunch. The fruit is scarlet or orange, from 

 two-thirds to three-fourths of an inch long and rather pleasant to 

 the taste. The fruit of the variety malis is dull red and more insip- 

 id. Though not esteemed by man, the fruit is eagerly sought after 

 by prairie chickens and quail. I have seen hundreds of these wild 

 fowl atone time feasting on this fruit, which they seemed to prefer 

 in its season to all other food. 



The June Berry. 



This fruit is abundant in some portions of Nebraska. It is a small 

 tree or shrub, from ten to thirty-five feet in height. There are ap- 

 parently three or four species, but they run so much into each other, 



