BLAKEMORE 



151.AKJEMORE 



A cross of Premier and Missionary, originated by the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture and released by them in 1930. 

 Blakemore has quickly taken the lead over all southern ship- 

 ping berries, except in Florida where Missionary is more suit- 

 able. All over the southeastern states and as far north as 

 Pennsylvania and New Jersey, this variety has shown itself 

 outstanding as an early shipper. Surpassing Premier in firm- 

 ness, color and carrying qualities. 



GROWTH, — Being one of the most heavily bedding varieties, 

 Blakemore will make an abundance of plants on comparatively poor 

 land and on rich soil or in the north thinning is often necessary to 

 obtain satisfactory size and yield. If this is neglected the results 

 are sure to be disappointing, the berries will be small and the yield 

 poor, but if properly thinned Blakemore will make a very good show- 

 ing even under very dry conditions. The foliage is very clean and 

 holds up well all through the fruiting season. 



SIZE — The berries are of medium size, somewhat smaller than 

 Premier at the first picking, but for the entire season they average 

 about the same. 



FIKMNESS~In this Blakemore is really out- 

 standing, the berries are very firm and can be haul- 

 ed great distances with no loss in attractiveness. 

 We have compared tin m with Premier after being 

 trucked 250 miles. The Premier were badly bruis- 

 ed, shaken down and the baskets stained, while the 

 Blakemore were firm and bright, the baskets well 

 filled and almost as clean as if there had been no 

 berries in them. The color is very light red, this 

 is also in their favor as a commercial variety, as 

 on most wholesale markets, the buyers feel that 



light berries are not so ripe and will keep longer. 

 Then too. when help is short or weather conditions 

 delay picking, the berries will hang on the vines 

 for several days without loss from decay or over- 

 ripening. 



PRODUCTIVENESS — Blakemore, though not 

 quite as productive as some varieties, will produce 

 w^ell above the average and on the poorer soils, al- 

 most equal to the best. For best yields do not let 

 the plants become too thick in the row. 



Bellmar Another of the U. S. Department creations. Like 

 Blakemore, a seedling of Premier and Missionary. 

 Bellmar was introduced in 1931 and has gained quite some 

 popularity along the East Coast, as far south as North Caro- 

 lina and on up into the New England States. Its success has 

 not been outstanding, although in some cases it has proven 

 superior to the older varieties. The fruiting season is two to 

 three days later than Blakemore, the berries are large, firm, 

 uniform, of a rather dark glossy red, somewhat darker than 

 Premier but their gloss gives them a fresh, bright appearance 

 and they do not appear over-ripe as most dark berries do. 

 Very productive, in normal seasons running close to Aberdeen 

 or Premier, sizing up the entire crop very well. The plant 

 growth is very vigorous, though more susceptible to leaf spot 

 than Premier. Last year, under exceptionally wet conditions 

 the foliage broke down badly, however, this was an extreme 

 case. Usually, under dry conditions, Bellmar does not hold up 

 as well as we would like except when planted on low, moist 

 soil. Taking these facts into consideration we advise that, 

 before planting heavily of Bellmar, you try them out in your 

 own soil to find if they are suitable. 



Clermont -^ ^^^ York station creation. We have not 

 fruited it but from our observations we believe 

 it may be a really good variety. At Geneva, New York, it is 

 reported to have been the most outstanding of all varieties on 

 test, which included many of the new and widely advertised 

 varieties. The plants are strong and vigorous and make a fine 

 fruiting bed. Producing a heavy crop of large, very bright, 

 glossy red berries. This brilliant gloss combined with their 

 bright green calyx gives them an outstanding appearance. The 

 fruit is firm and of good flavor. Offered for trial. 



BET.LMAR 



(Much reduced) 



GOOD AS CAN BE GROWN 



Warren Co., Mo., Oct. 22, 1934.— I received the plants from you in good shape and you have sent 

 me good plants, I want to thank you as they were as good as can be grown. Nicely cleaned and 

 ready to plant. — Mr. Edw. J. Polster. 



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