It is obvious that a Blackcap 

 Raspberry, to be of much value as 

 a market berry, must ripen early; to 

 fill the gap between Strawberries 

 and Red Raspberries. A Blackcap 

 producing large, firm, handsome 

 berries, with a healthy, hardy and prolific cane and rip- 

 ening ve>y early, is a fruit that has long been needed 

 and sought for, but never found, until the appearance 

 of the Alpha. In this variety little indeed is left to be 

 desired in an early Blackcap. Its berries are large 

 (almost equalling those of the Kansas and Cumberland), 

 jet, glossy black in color, with but little bloom and so 

 firm as to be a splendid shipper. In quality it is sweet 

 and pleasant, but too dry to be equal, to some of the 

 finest sorts in this respect. In cane it is quite strong, 

 free from diseases, and absolutely hardy (having en- 

 dured ten degrees below zero and never injured) and it 

 ripens so early as to have given ripe fruit at Monmouth, 

 the past season, on June 19th; and it ripens its crop 

 fully a week to ten days in advance of Souhegan, Con- 

 rath, and all other early varieties. 



From what I have seen of this berry, after a careful 

 study and trial of it, covering a period of three years, 

 I am led to the conclusion it is destined to become the 

 leading Blackcap Raspberry, just as Cuthbert, intro- 

 duced by me in 1877-78, has proved to be the most 

 popular and valuable Red Raspberry for general 

 culture. 



My stock is limited and I would suggest that all 

 send in their orders for it early in the season. 

 Price, doz., $2.50; 100, $15.00. 



