/. T. LOVETT, LITTLE SILVER AND RED BANK, N. /. 61 



BLACKBERRIES. 



I have a flia?nificent stocR of Blackberry plants tiiis season, to which I invite especial attention. They arc 

 splend:d plants, all grown from Root Cuttinsrs* except as otherwise noted— the best plants that can possibly be grown— 

 and I am asking very low prices for them, 



// to be sent by mail add 50c per 100. At 1000 rates by express or freight only. Mailed postpaid at dozen 

 rates, if desired. 



MERSEREAU. 



The Grandest Small Fruit Acquisition of the Age. 



This early, mammoth ironclad Blackberry is 

 by far the most valuable that has appeared 

 since the advent of the Wilson, over thirty 

 years ago. It originated in northwestern New 

 York, where the mercury falls from fiftepn to 

 twenty-flve degrees below zero and where it has 

 stood in open field culture for many years with- 

 out the slightest protection, and has never been 

 injured. It has never had a leaf affected with 

 orange rust, blight or other disease or produced 

 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. In hardiness it is 

 doubtless without an equal among blackberries, 

 having endured a temperature of twenty de- 

 i grees below zero and was not injured in the 

 ji least, even at the tips, although Snyder and 

 : Taylor's Prolific were much damaged. Just 

 ; how low a temperature it will withstand unin- 

 jured is not known. The berries are brilliant 

 sparkling black throughout, 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 manner of Snyder, Lawton, 

 Erie and many other varieties. "^In quality it 

 is exceptionally sweet, rich, melting and lus- 

 cious, being without core — the seedy character 

 of Snyder and most other ironclad 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, attaining, upon fairly 

 good soil, a height cf eight feet, if permitted 

 to grow unchecked, and are so stout as to al- 

 ways remain erect; foliage large, deep trreen, 

 abundant and entirely free from rust or blight. 

 Its yield is simply enormous; producing double 

 the quantity of fruit per acre of the Snyder, 

 Kitta tinny 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 Kitta- 

 tinny, Lawton, Taylor's Prolific or Erie, but 

 not so early as Eavly Harvest or the Wilson. 



It is not an untried variety, but one that has 

 been subjected to a thorough and practical test 

 in field culture for nearly ten years, and has 

 never been injured by cold or anything else. 

 In introducing the Cuthbert, Golden Queen, Phcenix and Lovett Raspberries, the Erie and Lovett 

 Blackberries, Gandy, Lovett, Michigan, Mary, Jersey Market and other valuable strawberries, I have 

 brought to notice varieties of much value, but in offering the Mersereau I present a blackberry with merits 

 which totally eclipse those of any varieties yet offered by me or anyone else in America. In a word it is a 

 veritable example of the '-survival of the fittest." 



The Editor of the Rural New Yorker In Issue of December 25, 1897, says: ** Two blackberry plants were received from 

 J. M. Mersereau durinj? the spring of lfc96. The plants have made a strong growth, the canes being a green color like those or 

 Taylor. The berries were as large as those of Klttatlnny and of conical shape. The plants bore more berries than Eldorado set 

 In 1894. On Aug. 30th we made the folio vlng note regarding the Mersereau Blackberry: Berries'Iarge and glossy, full? as 

 large as those of Minnewaskl, and of better quality. Hive any of our readers observed that those varieties of MackberrlHs 

 which have green canes are hardier than those which have canes of the usual color, like those of Kittatlnny, Lawton, Minne- 

 waskl. Early Cluster, Early Harvest, Erie and Wlbon. 



Prof. L. H. Bailey, in Bulletin 99, Cornell University Experiment Station says: "Mersereau. Its advantages 

 over Snyder are Its large size, less tendem-y to turn red after being picked, better quality, and a stronger habit. This variety 

 originated with J. M. Mersereau, Cayuga County, New York; for whom I am glad to name it." 



The plants I offer were grown from root cuttings, are well rooted and handsome. To give the variety a 

 wide distribution quickly, I have decided to put the price for it extremely low for a novelty of such great merit. 

 Price, Ea., 20c; doz., $1.50; 100, $10.00. Thousand rates upon application. 



Please bear in mind all the Blackberry Plant.s offered are strongs root-cutting' plants, not 

 the ordinary sucker plants usually sold. One hundred of my root-cutting plants are really 

 worth more for planting than double the number of ordinary sucker plants. 



