THE MERSEREAU BLACKBERRY. 



THE GRANDEST SMALL FRUIT ACQUISITION OF THE AGE. 



By far the most valuable variety that has appeared since the advent of the Wilson, over thirty years ago, is undoubtedly 

 this early, mammoth, ironclad Blackberry. It originated in northwestern New York, where the mercury falls from fif- 

 teen 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 dis- 

 ease or produced a double or "rose" 1 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 pho- 

 tograph. 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 be- 

 low zero and was not injured in the least, even at the tips, although Snyder and Taylor's Prolific were much damaged. 

 J ust how low a temperature it will withstand uninjured, is not known. The berries are brilliant 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 manner 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 hand- 

 ling. The canes are of exceedingly strong upright habit, attaining, upon fairly good soil, a height of eight feet, if permit- 

 ted 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 simpJy euormous: 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 Kittatinny, Lawton, Taylor's Prolific or Erie, but not so early as 

 Early 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 hy cold or anything else. In introducing the Cuthbert. Golden Queen and Lovett 

 raspberries, the Erie and Lovett blackberries. Gaudy. Lovett, Michigan, Mary. Jersey Market and other valuable straw- 

 berries, we have brought to notice varieties of much value, but in offering the Mersereau we present a blackberry with 

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

 example of the -'survival of the fittest." «v 



The Editor of the Rural New Yorker published in issue of Dec. 25th 1S9T the following "Two blackberry plants were received from J. M. Mer- 

 sereau during the spring of 1S96. The plants have made a strong growth, the canes being a green color like those of Taylor. The berries were as 

 large as those of Kittatinny and of conical shape. The plants bore more berries than Eldorado set in 1S94. On Aug. :30th we made the following note 

 regarding the Mersereau Blackberry. Berries large and glossy, fully as large as those of Minnewaski, and of better quality. Have any of our readers 

 observed that those varieties of blackberries which have green canes are hardier than those which have canes of the usual color, like those of Kitta- 

 tinny, Lawton. Minnewaski, Earlv Cluster, Early Harvest. Erie and Wilson." 



Prof. L. H. Bailey, LN Bulletin 99, Cornell UNIVERSITY Experiment Statiov says: "Mersereau. Its advantages over Snyder are its large 

 size, less tendency 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 we offer were grown from root cuttings, are well rooted and handsome. Ea.. 3oc: doz., 83.00; 100, 820.00. 



THE LOVETT CO MP/ 



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