388 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



leaves narrow, long, deep green. Said to bear abun- 

 dantly. 



Fastolff. — ^Very large, roundish, conical ; briglit purplish 

 red ; tender, rich, and liigli-flavored ; canes strong, erect, 

 hrancliing ; with strong spires. 



Cushmg. — Originated by Dr. Brinckle, of Philadelphia. 

 A fine new crimson sort, which will doubtless succeed here 

 here better than the European varieties. The same 

 remark will apply to Brinkle's Orange, and Wilder, both 

 of which are light-colored varieties. 



Rubus Villosus, S^c. — Blackberry. 



The blackberry is a native American plant, found 

 growing abundantly from Labrador to the Gulf of Mexico. 

 The Rubus villosus, or High Bush, which includes several 

 varieties, and Rubus canadensis, both produce excellent 

 fruit. The wild fruit is so abundant in most localities, that 

 it Avill be long before it comes into general cultivation. 



Use. — The blackberry is an excellent dessert fruit, con- 

 tinues a long time in bearing, and is also used for tarts, 

 pies, puddings, jams, and preserves. From the juice a 

 palatable wine is produced. The ripe fruit eaten fresh, or 

 preserved, is found useful in summer diseases. 



The blackberry will grow in any soil, but is produced 

 in the greatest perfection in that which is deep, rich, and 

 moderately moist, especially if newly cleared from the 

 forest. It abounds in all rocky lands, by the side of old 

 fences, and other spots rich with vegetable mould. Ashes, 

 swamp-muck, or leaf-mould, composted with animal matter, 

 are the best manures. It is best proptigated by offsets se- 

 lected from those plants producing the best flavored fruit. 

 It is cultivated like the raspberry, cutting away the old 

 wood, &c,, in the same manner. 



The High Bush, in its varieties, is perhaps worth culti- 



