AiVLJDKJLCAN AGRICULTURIST. 
THE NEW-ROCHELLE OR LAWTON 
BLACKBERRY. 
We present herewith an engraving of a single 
stem or cluster of this fruit, which shows the 
actual size of hundreds we have seen the present 
year. The medium berries figured in the cut are 
about the average form and size of most that we 
have seen growing for some years past. We have 
so often described this comparatively new plant, 
and so strongly presented its excellence, that we 
should not deem it necessary to recur to the sub¬ 
ject again, or to introduce this illustration of the 
fruit, were it not to bring it before the attention 
of some 24,000 new subscribers who have not 
read our former articles. Suffice it now to say, 
that we consider the New-Rochelle or Lawton* 
as decidedly superior to any other known variety 
of the Blackberry. While it grows to an enor¬ 
mous size, the fruit is delicious, containing a rich 
pulp, and very few seeds. By actual trial, 8 
quarts of berries have yielded full 6 quarts of pure 
juice, fully equal in quality, if not superior, to 
that obtained from the smaller varieties. The 
bushes or canes grow large and strong, with nu¬ 
merous side branches, and often produce from 
five to eight quarts of fruit on each. This is a 
pretty large statement, but any one can verify it 
by actual observation and measurement. The 
plant is also quite hardy, having suffered very 
little where left entirely unprotected during the 
last two severe winters. 
On the 6th of August, we made our fourth 
annual visit to the grounds of Messrs. George 
Seymour & Co , at South Norwalk, Conn., where 
six acres are devoted exclusively to this plant, a 
part to fruiting, and a part to raising young plants 
for sale. A thorough examination of the vines 
and fruit, just beginning to ripen at that date, 
confirmed all we have previously said of it, and 
we are more strongly inclined than ever to rec¬ 
ommend all our readers to procure at least a 
few of the plants to raise a future stock from, and 
even a larger number, that they may at the earli¬ 
est date secure fruit for their own use, if not for 
market. As we moved to a new location in May 
of last year, we have not yet been able to get a 
large stock of bearing plants. About the 20th ot 
May (too late in the season for good success), we 
set out a few plants, and on the small new shoots 
sent up last year, we have now enough of the 
fruit to show that they promise to do as well with 
us as at South Norwalk, at New-Rochelle where 
they originated, and at other points. Last Autumn 
we put out an additional number, which are now 
sending up large shoots for next year’s fruiting. 
Some of them are already eight feet in hight, and 
measure three-fourths of an inch to an inch in 
diameter at the base. It will be noticed by those 
unskilled in blackberry culture, that, like the rasp¬ 
berry, fruit is only produced upon canes of the 
previous Summer’s growth. The plants can be 
set in Autumn or Spring, though we much prefer 
Autumn, as they get well rooted, and usually 
yield more new canes the following Summer than 
if not. set until Spring 
The plants bear transplanting and carriage 
* We call this the New-Roohelle or Lawton Blackberry, as 
bnth names are given to the same plant. It is occasionally 
called the Seacor, from Mr. Seacor, of New-Rochelle, who dis¬ 
covered the first specimen growing wild. When we first became 
acquainted with it, it was generally called the New-Ijtochclle, 
f rom the name of the town where it originated. The New-York 
Farmers’ Club (so called), named it the Lawton, after Mr. 
Lawton, of New-Rochelle, who presented at the time some fine 
specimens of the berries, and gave a brief history of it, and of his 
own efforts in propagating and extending its culture. As we did 
not recognize the authority of the Club to change the name of 
the plant, and as no regular Horticulturist Society has exam¬ 
ined the subject, or taken any definite action in reference to the 
name, we still, in justice to the several gentlemen engaged in 
its culture, continue to use the original name. *' New-Rochelle,” 
always adding the name Lawton, to prevent confusion or mis¬ 
conception. 
Q07 
well. Seymour & Co. inform us that they have 
sent large numbers to California, and to the dis¬ 
tant Western and South-western States, and 
nearly all have lived and flourished well. The 
chief caution to be observed is, to have the ground 
ready prepared before opening the plants, and set 
them at once, without exposure to sun or wind. 
The same remark applies to raspberries, and, in¬ 
deed, to all other plants. They appear, thus far, 
to grow well on almost any soil. Some recom¬ 
mend moist loam, or even clay. The best growth 
and fruiting we have seen is upon a rocky side 
hill, though perhaps not better than others on 
dark muck and peaty soil. We should not hesi¬ 
tate to put them upon any soil, except a very 
sandy one, or one subject to standing water. The 
stock of plants in the country is now so large that 
they can be obtained at a comparatively low 
price. They were first held at $10 per dozen 
roots, but the past Spring they were offered at 
$18 per hundred. We are not aware at this 
writing what will be the price this Fall, but pro¬ 
bably before this number goes to press, advertise¬ 
ments giving information on this point will be re¬ 
ceived, and to these we refer our readers. The 
most economical mode of getting them will be 
for a few neighbors to club together and get a 
hundred or more at the wholesale price, and share 
the small expense of transportation. A hundred 
will probably be taken to most of the Western 
States by an Express Company, for $1 to $2, 
according to the distance. 
It is proper that we should say that in recom¬ 
mending this, or indeed any other plant, we have 
not the slightest selfish end to subserve. We have 
enjoyed the luxury of this fruit, and we should be 
glad to have every one of our readers do likewise. 
We cannot promise that the plant will do as 
well elsewhere as in this section of the country ; 
but if it does even half as well, it will be abun¬ 
dantly worth cultivating. 
In the visit to South Norwalk, above referred 
to, we were accompanied by Dr. James Strong, 
S. T. D., who is, by the way, somewhat of an 
amateur in fruit culture, and after looking over 
the plantation and trying the fruit, he remarked 
“The half has not been told of this plant. You 
cannot recommend it too strongly.” 
As a market crop, w’e think this blackberry 
would pay well. They are as easily cultivated as 
a corn crop, and need no second planting. Set 
them six to eight feet apart, and the only care re¬ 
quired is to keep out weeds, and the excess of 
plants that continually spring up all over the 
ground if not kept cut down. Mulching the 
ground, that is, covering it over with a layer of 
straw or refuse hay, is useful. It would be well 
to work into the soil a good supply of yard ma- 
