If to be sent by mail, add ^oe. per wo. At looo rates by express or freight only. Mailed 

 postpaid at dozen rates. 



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 dis- 

 tant in the rows. The pruning should be governed by the growth of the cane, and should be severe. The 

 canes should be headed back in Summer by pinching off the top when three feet high, causing them to 

 throw out side branches, but when this has been neglected cut back in Winter or early Spring, the bear- 

 ing canes one-third or more according to the strength of the growth and cut back the side branches to one 

 foot or eighteen incnes. 



qualities of keeping and shipping. To describe it in brief, its berries are extra large, globular, glossy 

 jet black, acid and not of the highest quality, but exceedingly firm. Canes vigorous and hardy, free 

 from disease, of upright growth and so wonderfully prolific that they are frequently weighted to the earth 

 with fruit. Its season is early — in advance of all except Early Harvest, Maxwell and other similar 

 extra early varieties — and it matures its entire crop quickly. Its fruit is so firm it will endure shipping 

 further and keep in good condition longer than any other variety ; never turning red after gathering, as 

 with Lawton, Erie and a number of otherwise good market sorts. I have fruited it for several years. I 

 am now planting a new fruit farm of 160 acres and I can perhaps best express my estimate of the great 

 value of the Rathbun by stating. I am planting a field of 10 acres entirely of it for fruiting. 



In planting be sure and get the genuine Rathbun. I say this because I know a great many plants of 

 the old Wilson are being sold for it. I bought my original stock of it from the originator and have fruited 

 it, and I know it to be the true variety. The Rathbun roots readily from tips; after the manner of the 

 Blackcap Raspberries. These tips grow and do well, being preferred by some growers. I offer two 

 grades, as follows: 

 ■^^^^ViL'/ong, well-rooted tips, doz., 3oc.; 100. SI. 50; 1000, $12.00. 



Fine root-cutting plants, doz., 50c. ; 100, $2.00; 1000, $15.00. 



RATHBUN BLACKBERRY. 



The fruit grower who der.ires 

 a blackberry like the Wilson in 

 its palmy days will be delighted 

 with this. To the younger gen- 

 eration I may say there is no 

 other berry of any kind that ever 

 yielded such large profit to 

 growers as did the Wilson 

 Blackberr}- when it was brought 

 before the public. That w a s 

 more than thirty years ago; and 

 this grand old sort has, during 

 the many years of its existence, 

 become enfeeoled and is af- 

 flicted with the infirmities of old 

 age, such as lack of hardiness of 

 cane, double or rose blossom, 

 etc. Rathbun comes to us from 

 Western New York and i s 

 hardier in cane than ever was 

 the Wilson. It is evidently a 

 seedling of the Wilson and has 

 all the vigor and productiveness 

 of the Wilson in its youth and 

 with berries equally as large, 

 beautiful and firm, ripening at 

 the same time as its supposed 

 parent and with all its good 



