BLACKBERRIES. 



ROOT CUTTING PLANTS. 



SUCKERS. 



Many kinds of blackberries will succeed, not only on good fruit land, but even on the most sandy porous soils. 



They require the same treatment as recommended for Raspberries, but 

 in field culture should be planted in rows from five to seven feet apart 

 (according to the strength of the variety), and three feet distant in the 

 rows; in garden culture plant in rows five feet apart and plant three 

 feet distant in the rows. The pruning should be governed by' the growth 

 of cane and should be severe. Pinch back the 

 canes in summer when three feet high, which 

 will cause them to throw out laterals. 



"^Ve desire to impress upon the minds of in- 

 tending planters the superior value of plants 

 grown from pieces of roots and known as 

 ''Root-cutting Plants." These' possess strong 

 fibrous roots and the ordinary sucker plants 

 are not fit to be compared with them for a 

 moment. The annexed illustrations show the 

 difference in the two grades of plants. 



Please bear in mind that all the Blackberry', 

 plants here offered are grown from root-cut-'- 

 tings, except as otherwise noted, and hence are 

 the best plants that can possibly be grown. 

 NOTE. We call especial attencion to our splendid stock of Blackberry Plants this season and 

 the very low prices we are asking for them. We have never had such a large stock of such fine 

 plants before and we have never sold them at such low prices. 



'THE MERSEREAU BLACKBERRY. 



By far the greatest fruit novelty of the year, in fact the most valuable variety that has 

 appeared since the advent of the Wilson, over thirty years ago, is undoubtedly this early, 

 mammoth, iron clad Blackberry. It originated in northwestern New York, where the mer- 

 cury falls from fifteen to twenty five degrees below zero and where it has stood in open 

 field culture for many years without the slighest protection and has never been injured in 

 the least. It has never had a leaf affected with orange rust, blight or other disease or pro- 

 duced a double or "rose" blossom. 



The cardinal properties of the Mersereau Blackberry are great size, great hardiness of 

 cane and great productiveness. But these are by no means its only merits. Its size and 

 form are best shown by the engraving of a cluster, made from a photograph. Just here we 

 wish to call attention to its habit of ripening many of its berries at one time — every berry 

 upon the cluster in the engraving being ripe and which is not at all unusual with it. 



In hardiness it is doubtless without an equal among blackberries, having endured a 

 temperature of twenty degrees delow zero and was not injured in the least, even at the tips, 

 although Snyder and Taylor's Prolific were much damaged. Just how low a temperature 

 it will withstand uninjured, is not known. The berries are brillant sparkling black through- 

 out, and what adds great value to it, as a market berry, it remains black under all conditions 

 and circumstances; never turning red after gathered in hot, muggy weather, after the man- 

 ner of Snyder, Lawton, Erie and many other varieties. In quality it is exceptionally sweet, 

 rich, melting and luscious, being without core; the seedy character of Snyder and most 

 other sorts being especially absent. As a shipper and keeper it is unsurpassed, being firm 

 and does not "bleed" in handling. The canes are of exceedingly strong upright habit, at- 

 taining, upon fairly good soil, a height of eight feet, if permitted to grow unchecked, and 

 are so stout as to always remain erect; foliage large, deep green, abundant and entirely 

 free from rust or blight. Its yield is simply enormous; producing fully double the quantity 

 of fruit per acre of the Snyder, Kittatinny or Taylor's Prolific, and affording heavy pickings 

 from the first until the crop is all matured. Its season is early to midseason; ripening with 

 the Snyder — in advance of Kittatinny, Lawton, Taylor's Prolific or Erie, but not so early 

 a? Early Harvest or the Wilson. 



It is not an untried variety, but one that has been subjected to a thorough and practical 



*A handsome Pamphlet giving the history and full description of the variety, many testimonials, a portrait 

 of Mr. Mersereau and his daughter who discovered it, and many other matters of interest connected with this 

 marvelous Blackberry-, will be mailed any one upon receipt of request. 



