Mercereau Blackberry 
Early Harvest 
BLACKBERRIES 
THE BLACKBERRY is one of the most common and most tenacious of American native fruits. 
The cultivated varieties are much juicier and larger and better in quality. They are profitable 
for local markets, but cannot be shipped long distances. Even for nearby markets they must be picked 
before fully ripe. They are much appreciated from the home garden for eating fresh, for canning and 
preserving, and for cordials. They are easily grown and bear abundantly and early the second year. 
McDonald McDonald is a cross, combining- the firmness and quality of the 
(Very Early) blackberry with the size, earliness and productiveness of the dew- 
berry. It is large, oblong, and very good quality, equaling the best 
late varieties in flavor and juiciness. It outyields any known variety of blackberry 
and ripens fully two weeks before Early Harvest. The bush is drouth-resistant and 
such a vigorous grower that it should be planted in rows eight to ten feet apart. 
The vines trail on the ground the first season, but after that send up long canes 
of unusual length. It is moderately hardy and has successfully withstood ten 
degrees below zero. 
Important — Plant every fourth row to Lucretia Dewberry, as McDonald re- 
quires a pollenizer in order to develop perfect berries. 
Prof. L. R. Johnson, the well-known horticultural writer of Cape Girardeau. Mo., says: "I 
feel that in the McDonald there has arisen the greatest of all the Blackberry family, the most valuable 
of its group, both as a market and family berry. The McDonald is the most productive of all. Its 
berry averages larger than those of any other variety, being twice the size of Early Harvest. It brings 
higher prices than blackberries. It is an extremely vigorous grower, surpassing in this respect all 
of our standard varieties. Notwithstanding we had an all-summer drouth here, the McDonald brought 
its great crop to perfection and then made its usual vigorous growth." "Its berries will hung on for days 
after ripening in good condition. I found the last berries the largest I had ever seen of either black- 
berries or dewberries. Its berries begin to ripen a few days before the Harvest, as early as any wild 
dewberry (or earlier), which is a week or more earlier than the Lucretia or any other tame variety 
that I have." 
Mr. Paul Knod. Sr., of Arkansas, says: "The McDonald is very firm, a fine shipper — colors 
up several days before ripe. I start shipping about May 15th. My average yield is 300 to 
500 crates per acre." 
EARLY HARVEST Glossy black, me- 
(Early) dium size, excel- 
lent quality; ships 
well. Compact, dwarf grower, very 
productive, but not very hardy, re- 
quiring protection in the North. 
EARLY KING The Early King ripens 
(Early) a few days after Early 
Harvest and a 
week before Snyder. It is only 
a fair shipper, but excellent for 
the garden and 
nearby markets 
because of its 
high quality and 
size. 
ELDORADO Large, jet-black, sweet 
(Midseason) and melting, without 
hard core; vei^y hardy, 
vigorous and productive. An extra 
good keeper. 
MERCEREAU Very good quality and 
(Early) size, without core. A 
strong grower, hardy, 
and productive. One of the best for 
Central and Northern states. 
SNYDER (Early) Medium size, fair 
quality, but very 
hardy and productive. A good market 
berry, especially for cold climates. 
DEWBERRY 
THE Dewberry is closely related to 
the blackberry, but larger and 
much earlier. Some remarkable profit- 
records have been made with the dew- 
berry where there is a demand for an 
earlier and larger berry than the black- 
berry. 
LUCRETIA A low-growing trailing 
(Very Early) blackberry, large, soft, 
and sweet, with no hard 
core. Can be grown over walls, trellises, 
or rocky slopes. Quite hardy and very 
productive. Ripens ten to fourteen days 
before Early Harvest. 
The vine is vigorous and 
spreads over the ground. Use 
Lucretia as a 
pollenizer for 
McDonald 
Blackberry. 
McDonald' — The earliest and heaviest bearing blackberry 
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