Mammoth Ironclads of Heavy Yield 
21 
REID’S NURSERIES, UPLAND, OHIO 
BLACKBE.RKIE.S 
Culture. — The culture of these is about the same as that of the raspberry, but if the soil is not very rich, 
plants may be set 5 by 2 feet in the row ; on rich soil, 6 M by 3 feet. It requires about 3,000 plants per acre. They 
should be topped 2 feet from the ground for laterals; 
do not let more than three canes grow to the hill. 
The last season has proved to us that there is as 
much profit in Blackberry culture as in any other 
branch of fruit-growing. We gathered enough 
fruit from vines this season to almost pay for the 
ground they grew on — getting $4 per bushel for fruit 
at a home market 1 The culture of Blackberries is 
not so general as the profits would justify, the 
demand being always good in the larger cities. 
New Blackberry, Mersereau 
This early, mammoth, ironclad Blackberry is 
by far the most valuable variety that has appeared 
since the advent of the Wilson, over 30 years ago. 
It originated in northwestern New York, where the 
mercury falls from 15 to 25 degrees below zero, and 
where it has stood in open field culture for many 
years without the slightest protection, never bein«r 
injured in the least. It has never had a leaf affected 
with orange rust, blight or other disease or produced 
a double or “ rose” blossom. 
In hardiness, it is doubtless without an equal 
among Blackberries, having endured a tempera- 
ture of 20 degrees below zero without being injured 
in the least, even at the tips, although Snyder and 
Taylor’s Prolific were much damaged. Just how low 
a temperature it will withstand uninjured is not 
known. The berries are brilliant sparkling black 
throughout, and what adds great value to it, as a 
market berry, it remains black under all conditions 
and oircumstances, never turning red when gathered 
in hot, muggy weather, after the manner of Sny- 
der, Lawton, Erie and many other varieties. In 
quality, it is exceptionally sweet, rich, melting and 
luscious, being without core ; the seedy character 
of Snyder and most other sorts is noticeably 
absent. As a shipper and keeper it is unsurpassed, remaining lirm without •' 1 Ceding ” in handling. 
The canes are of exceedingly strong, upright habit, attaining, upon fairly gcod sou, a height of 8 feet, if per- 
mitted to grow unchecked, and are so stout as to always remain erect ; foliage large, deep green, abundant and 
entirely free from rust or blight. The yield is simply enormous, producing double the quantity of fruit per acre 
of the Snyder, Kittatinny or Taylor’s Prolific, and affording heavy pickings from the first until the crop is 
ail matured. Its season is early to midseason, ripening with the Snyder— in advance of Kittatinny, Law- 
ton, Taylor’s Prolific or Erie, but not so early as Early Harvest or the Wilson. 15 cts. each, $1.50 per doz., 
jjS8 per 100. 
EJdorado 
This is undoubtedly one of our finest Blackberries. Its large size and delicious quality put it far in advance 
of any of the standard varieties. It is the hardiest Blackberry in cultivation ; have never known it to winter- 
kill, and it will stand the climate of Minnesota uninjured. It has been very productive, and has not failed to 
ripen a crop since its introduction, so we have confidence in recommending it as far superior to anything we 
know on the market. We are confirmed in this by endorsements 
of nearly all the agricultural experiment stations, and the U. S. 
Department, Washington. D. C., which has tested the variety and 
reported it as follows : " Sweet, rich and very good. It is cer- 
tainly far superior to the Snyder, and we have never tested any- 
thing to equal it.” It has been cultivated 15 years, and, under 
careful tests at different experiment stations for years, has never 
winter-killed or failed to produce a full crop of the finest fruit. The 
vines are very vigorous and hardy, enduring the winters of the far 
northwest without injury, and their yield is enormous. The berries 
are very large, jet black, borne in large clusters, and ripen well 
together ; they are very sweet, melting, and pleasing to the taste, 
have no hard core, and keep for 6 or 10 days after picking with 
quality unimpaired. 50 cts. per doz., $2.50 per 100, $15 per 1,000. 
“The berry habit,” an old fruit-grower savs, “is much like 
any other habit — it grows on us the more we indulge it.” Coming 
as it does in hottest midsummer weather, the refreshing juices of 
the blackberry have a cooling and healthful effect even upon the 
weakest of stomachs. The “berry habit" will save doctor’s 
bills. Cultivate it- 
