Bedding with Foliage-Plants in the Garden of James W. Elvvell, Brooklyn. (See opposite page.) 



FIELD 



TIMELY THOUGHTS ON BLACK 



THE exceptional weather of the last part of Feb- 

 ruary enabled me to begin some early spring 

 work betimes. The frost was nearly all out on 

 February 22, and procuring help 1 began dig- 

 ging several thousand Erie blackberry-plants, 

 which were wanted for the southern trade by March 15. 

 This berry, which originated here about 15 years ago, 

 is now rapidly making its way as it becomes known, and 

 bids fair to long rank as one of the leading blackberries. 

 Beginning to ripen with the Snyder, it easily commands 

 from $1 to $2 per bushel more than that variety. Two 

 weeks later the Taylor and the Rochelle compete with it, 

 but the uniformly large size of the Erie keeps it in the 



NOTES. 



BERRIES AND STRAWBERRIES, 

 lead. Last year the blackberry season opened July 23 

 and closed Sept. 10. We might have gathered another 

 bushel or two after that, but the pickers were at school 

 and the grown folks had enough to do to gather the 

 peaches, tomatoes and pears. Besides Erie, Rochelle 

 and Taylor I grow Kittatinny, and I cannot see why it is 

 not more popular. It is the finest blackberry in exist- 

 ence, quality and appearance being taken into account, 

 and on my farm has never suffered to any serious extent 

 with the yellow rust. 



I am preparing to grow a good many blackberry-plants 

 from root-cuttings, and my way is to cut the pieces as 

 eirly in the spring as the roots can be dug, and place 



