FRUITS IX WEST VIRGINIA, KENTUCKY, AND TENNESSEE. 65 



lished. The berries are picked and sold to the canneries hx persons 

 living in the neighborhood. The extent of this industry may be 

 realized from the fact that in 1913 in one county of eastern Ten- 

 nessee a pack of over one million cans of wild blackberries was 

 reported. As the berries are not as uniform in the degree of ripe- 

 ness as those from cultivated fields which are picked regularly, the 

 canned product is probably not the equal of that from the cultivated 

 fields. 



Because of the abundance of wild berries not alone in the hills, 

 but by roadsides, streams, along fences and in the pastures and waste 

 land of all parts of this area, the cultivated forms are not often 

 found in the gardens or in commercial plantings. In the neighbor- 

 hood of the larger cities local supplies are grown, and at one place 

 only. Greenfield, Tenn., are large quantities shipped. The variety 

 chiefly planted at Greenfield is the Early Harvest, which is grown 

 because of its early-ripening season and its excellent shipping quali- 

 ties. Near the larger cities of Tennessee, the Early Harvest, Eldo- 

 rado, Missouri, and a variety called the Ked Cane are grown. In 

 Kentucky, the Eldorado and Early Harvest are the principal varie- 

 ties, while the Blowers is regarded as a desirable variety, new to this 

 region. In West Virginia the Early Harvest and Eldorado are the 

 standard varieties, with the Blowers reported as promising. 



IMPORTANT VARIETIES OF BLACKBERRIES. 



Blowers. 



The Blowers variety has been tested slightly in Kentucky and West Virginia. 

 Where grown it has proved vigorous and very productive. The fruit ripens 

 in midseason somewhat after the Eldorado, but is susceptible to orange rust 

 while Eldorado is very resistant. 

 Early Harvest. 



The Early Harvest, which ripens its fruit nearly two weeks before any 

 other blackberry grown in this area, is the most profitable variety where early 

 berries are desired. The canes are very erect, very productive, and often show 

 differences of two or three weeks in time of ripening tbeir fruit. Partly for 

 this reason and partly because the fruit on a single cane ripens through a 

 long period, the picking season usually lasts from five to six weeks. The 

 heaviest picking, however, usually occupies about three weeks. At Greenfield, 

 Tenn., in 1913, the first pickings were made about June 5 and regular pickings 

 were still being made on July 13. The greatest fault of this variety is its 

 susceptibility to *he orange rust. Because of this it has been supplanted in 

 some places by more resistant varieties. The berries are small, very firm, 

 and sometimes, though not always, good in dessert quality. In this area it is 

 considered one of the best shippers. It is not grown as widely in Kentucky 

 and West Virginia as in the Interior Low Plateau and Gulf Coastal Plains 

 regions in Tennessee. It sometimes winterkills in those States. 

 Eldorado. 



The Eldorado is the leading variety about Knoxville, Tenn., also throughout 

 Kentucky and West Virginia. The canes are vigorous and very productive. 

 It is reported to be the most resistant of standard varieties to the orange rust 

 in this area. The berry is large, firm, sweet, and very good in dessert quality. 

 It begins to ripen about two weeks later than the Early Harvest. Near Louis- 

 ville, Ky., it is grown for canning and is considered one of the best for this 

 purpose. 

 Missouri. Synonym: Missouri Mammoth. 



The Missouri variety is grown slightly about Nashville. Tenn.. where it 

 ripens during the last week in June and the first week in July. The canes are 

 subject to orange rust. The berries are globose, large, ssveet. and have large 

 seeds. It is not as desirable as the Eldorado where that variety does well. 



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