150 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



To these may be added- 

 Brinkle's Orange— far ex- 

 ceeding Baumiorth's Seed- 

 ling in the number of its 

 suckers. 

 Cutbush's Prince of Wales. 

 October Red (Merveille de 



Qnatre Saisons Rouge) — 

 full-sized bright red fruit, 

 September to December. 

 Red Antwerp. 



Rivers' Large-fruited 

 Monthly. 



BLACKBERRIES. 



There yet remains another class of Raspbex-ries, or 

 Blackberries, to be noticed. These, though known 

 in England as Raspberries, obviously partake more 

 of the character of Blackberries or Brambles. 



The oldest and best known of these is the Black- 

 cap, or American Black-rasp, or Thimbleberry of the 

 Americans. It is really a distinct species of the 

 Rubus or Bramble family, R. occidentales. It seems to 

 have been cultivated in England under the name of 

 the Bergemin Raspberry two centuries ago. It is 

 almost black in colour, but is less sweet, and in most 

 respects very inferior to our native species of Rasp- 

 berry. 



Many years ago, however, this species produced a 

 much improved seedling, known as the Black Rasp- 

 berry, a decided improvement on the old black. These 

 two were employed in crossing the different varieties 

 of Raspberries in cultivation by the late Mr. Thos. 

 Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, and thus originated the 

 Autumn Black and other varieties that ripen in 

 October. This is obviously a cross between the two 

 species of Rubus, and the fruit have more the flavour 

 of the Blackberry than the Raspberry. Of the 

 same class, too, are the Ohio Everbearing, and New 

 Rochelle or Lawton. The latter is most prolific, 

 the fruit dense black, juicy, and highly flavoured — 

 a Blackberry, however, rather than a Raspberry; 

 though, as the narrow border-line has been passed 

 between the two species, these hybrid Rasps must 

 needs be mentioned here. 



Several fine varieties of early-fruiting true Black- 

 berries have recently been introduced from America, 

 such as the Early Harvest, Dorchester, Wilson's 

 Early, Pynder, Brunston's Early. But all these will 

 probably be superseded by the Wilson Junior. This 

 is an early Blackberry, ripening in the end of June 

 in America, but much later in this country, where 

 the sun has far less power. The berries are said to 

 measure 4^ inches round lengthwise, and 3| inches 

 crosswise, and one acre of plants to have yielded 

 120 bushels of full-sized fruit. The illustration on 

 the preceding page shows the fruit of the natural 

 size. A considerable amount of testimony is borne, 

 not only to the size, but the sweetness of this im- 

 proved Blackberry. 



The culture of these monster Blackberries does not 

 differ essentially from that of Raspberries. They 

 are of freer growth and need more room. Plant in 

 rows from five to eight feet asunder, and the plants 



from three to five feet apart in the rows. Vigorously 

 thin out suckers in the spring, so as not to leave an 

 excess to unduly crowd each other or overshadow 

 the fruiting branches. Those who may hesitate to 

 introduce Brambles into their gardens may easily 

 plant them in out-of-the-way places, as where the 

 common Blackberry now thrives these improved 

 species or varieties will certainly succeed. Another 

 good method of cultivation, much practised in 

 America, is to tie the plants to rude trellises fixed 

 about five feet apart. 



Diseases and Insects. — In general terms the 

 Raspberry may be said to be exempt from both. It 

 is not subject to any disease. One grub, however, 

 feeds on the flower-buds, another on the leaves, and 

 yet another, or several, on the ripe fruit. For the 

 checking or destruction of the Raspberry leaf miner, 

 Fcenusa pumila, which eats out the centre of the 

 leaf, there is nothing equal to picking off the in- 

 fested leaves and burning them. 



The grub in the bud of the Raspberry; Tinea cor- 

 ticella, can be subdued and destroyed by promptly 

 squeezing every flower-bud that shows signs of 

 withering, so soon as it appears to suffer. All such 

 buds, for they are already useless, may also be picked 

 off and promptly destroyed. But, as a rule, such 

 insects do not appear to attack the Raspberries with 

 sufficient force to do any real injury to the canes. 



BULBOUS PLANTS. 



By William Goldring. 



Crocosma (Tritonia) aurea— This is one of 

 the most beautiful of the multitude of bulbous 

 plants that have been introduced from the Cape, and 

 is extremely valuable in the garden on account of 

 its being hardy enough to be grown successfully in 

 the open border in the South, as well as being suit- 

 able for pot-culture in the green-house or frame. Its 

 value is enhanced, moreover, as it flowers during 

 August in the South, and September in the North. 

 It is a slender plant, about two feet high. The 

 flower- stems overtop the foliage, are branched, and 

 carry numerous open starry flowers of a bright 

 orange-red, varying in size from two inches in the 

 ordinary form to three inches in the variety ma- 

 crantha. They open in succession, so that the 

 plant is attractive for some weeks. It is of easy 

 culture. In the open border the best soil for it 

 is a light sandy loam, mixed with a little peat ; and 

 during active growth it is partial to moisture. The 

 bulbs may be planted out during the latter part of 

 April or beginning of May ; if planted earlier the 



