/. T. LOl'ETT, LITTLE SILVER, S. J. 



13 



MERSEREAU. 



The Greatest Small Fruit Acquisition of the Age. It yields SIOOO.OO 

 per acre per annum profit. 



For twenty years I was in search of a blackberry with an ironclad cane, and producing large ben-ies in abun- 

 dance: one uniting the hardiness of cane of the Snyder and the large size of fruit and productiveness of the Vvilson. 

 Dozens and almost hundreds were received and tested by me during that time, but all were found wanting in one or 

 more of the requirements demanded, until 1 secured the Mersereau. In this we have even more than what I hop* -d 



for; as it is not only hardier in cane than the iron- 

 clad Snyder and the berries are larger than those 

 of the Wilson, but it is more productive by far and 

 better in quality than either. 



This early, mammoth, ironclad BlackbeiTy origi- 

 nated in northwestern New York, where tlie 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 slightest protection, 

 and has never been injured. It has never been af- 

 fected with orange rust, blight, or double or 

 '■ rose blossom. 



The cardinal properties of the Mersereau are 

 great size, great hanJiness of cane, and great pro- 

 ductiveness. But these are not its only merits. Its 

 size and form are best shown by the annexed en- 

 graving of a cluster made from a photograph. In 

 hardiness it is doubtless without an equal among 

 blackberries, having endured a temperature of 

 twenty degrees below 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 sparkling black 

 throughout, and what adds great value to it, as a 

 market berry, it remains hlack under all conditions 

 and circumstances, never turning red after gath- 

 ered in hot, muggy weather, after the manner 

 of Snyder, Lawton, Erie, and many other varie- 

 ties. In quality it is exceptionally sweet, rich, 

 melting, and luscious, 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 exceed- 

 ingly strong, upright habit, attaining, upon fairly 

 good soil, a height of eight feet, if permitted to 

 grow unchecked, and are so stout as to remain 

 ti ect without staking: foliage large, abundant, and 

 entirely free from rust or blight. Its yield is sim- 

 ply enormous, 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 Pro- 

 lific, 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 thorotigh and practical test in 

 field culture for nearly ten years, and has never 

 been injured by cold or anything else. 



SIOOO.OO per acre per aVmum is the record of 

 the Mersereau: for it has yielded twelve thousand 

 quarts of berries per acre, which sold at an average 

 of ten cents per quart. Allowing two hundred 

 dollars for picking and marketing, the returjis were a thousand dollars an acre. 



The corning summer I will have tico Jwlds of this Tjernj in hearing—one at Deal and one at Little Silver— and I hoj^ 

 all irfuj can do so idU make it a point to come and see if in fruit. 



Professor L. H. Bailey, in Bclletix 99, Cornell University Experiment Station, 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 

 ongMiatcd with J. M. Mersereau, Cayuga County, N. Y., for whom I am glad to name it." 



nr., 1 ^ , District OF Columbia. July 31. 1899. 



The Mersereau Blackberry from yon stood the extraordinary cold winter in excellent shape: came out green to the tii)s; 

 remember we had 14° below zero. The fruit was large and fine. I think it a great find for those who have a market for such 

 'icrne^. B_ B_ EARNSHAW. 



My experience of twenty-five years in growing small fruits 

 of all kinds convinces me that the Mersereau is bv far the best 

 berry in cnltivation. RENS. SCHUYLER. 



I consider the 3rersereau the finest blackberrv I ever saw; 

 excelling the Lawton in size, and all other kinds In flavor. 



Mrs. D. D. PITT£>'GER. 



The Mersereau blackberry is a verv superior fruit, 



J. A. GARRETT, Chef Osborne House. 



I have sold the Mersereau for two years and resard it a.« the 

 best berry I ever handled. E. N. ROSS. 



Nothing fiuer in the berry line than Mersereau blackberrv 

 ever c«meto this market. p. h. DUNN. ' 



The Mersereau blackberry was superior to all other varieties 

 we sold the past or any other season. 



ANDREWS &BLADWIN. 



Their size, productiveness, hardiness, and freedom from 

 seeds render it the most valuable blackberry we have vet peen. 



PIERSONBROS. 



I have handled the Mersereau blackberry and find it superior 

 to any other berry I sold, C. I). STOKES. 



Have been selling blackberries for many years. We regard 

 the Mersere.iM, taken all in all, a* the boft blackberrv we have 

 ever handled. CQOt^ & WIJALEY. 



Price, dozen,^i?1,O0 5 loo, .S6,oo ? inoo, t'^SO.OQ, 



