4865 
SUPPLEMENT TO THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
24 T 
THE RURAL'S 
SMALL FRUIT ELECTION. 
RASPBERRIES, RED AND BLACK, 
AND STRAWBERRIES. 
■WHAT TWO OF EACH WOULD YOU 
SELECT FOR HOME AND MARKET? 
ANSWERS FROM 80 STATES. 
What two raspberries, each of red and black, 
would you .select for home use? What two 
strawberries? And what two of each for 
market? 
From J W. Johnson, Campbellford, Ontario, 
Canada: 
The best red raspberry for market is the 
Cutbbert with me. The next best is the 
Turner. 
'For Home Use—I prefer, for red, the Ant¬ 
werp and Clark. But my favorite of all for 
family use is Brinckle’s Orange. No other 
variety equals it in quality. The three latter 
varieties I bend down in the Fall; this insures 
a heavy crop. The best and most profitable 
black cap is the Doolittle; next, the Mammoth 
duster. 
For Home Use —The same varieties are 
most desirable. 
The best strawberries for market are: 1st, 
Crescent; 2d, Wilson Best for home use; 
1 st, Manchester; 2d, Cumberland Triumph. 
From Josiah Hoopks, West Chester, Pa.: 
For Horae Use, in raspberries, I know of 
nothing to excel the Cuthbert for red, and 
Gregg for black. In strawberries, the Sharp- 
less and Cumberland Triumph are a3 reliable 
os any. if there are any varieties better than 
these for market I am not aware of the fact. 
From Franklin Davis, Richmond, Va.: 
Of the red raspberries, Brandywine and 
Cuthbert are the best varieties here; Brandy¬ 
wine on account of its better color selling best 
and being most profitable where it succeeds. 
Brandywine, unfortunately, does not make 
vigorous canes and is a failure on some soils. 
Cuthbert is very vigorous, profitable and 
deservedly growing in favor. Black caps are 
seldom seen in this market, and are not pro¬ 
fitable. Gregg is the best black-cap. Wilson 
aud Sharpless are the most popular straw¬ 
berries here for market, Wilson carries well, 
and has a fine record which it continues to 
sustain as a profitable berry. Late frosts 
often destroy the first bloom, yet Wilson will 
set a later bloom and bear a full crop. Sharp¬ 
ies?, if injured by the frost, does not recover 
from its effects. As we expect to suffer from 
the frosts as ofteu as every other year, 
Sbarpless will only occasionally be the most 
profitable. For the table we prefer Sharp¬ 
less and Charles Downing. 
From J. Van Lindlev, Salem Junction. 
N. C.: 
The best red raspberries are the Cuthbert 
and Brandywiue; and for black I would take 
the Gregg. Strawberries for home consump¬ 
tion I would recommend Sharpless and Long¬ 
fellow; for market, Wilson and Crescent. In 
a long list of good kinds it is bard to come 
down to two varieties as the best, but when I 
have to, 1 give the above. 
From S. C. Satterthwait, Aiken, S. C.: 
I would recommeud, for this climate, the 
Tyler and Shatl’er Raspberries, and the Wil¬ 
son and Monarch Strawberries for both home 
use and market. 
From P. J. Berckmans, Augusta, Ga.; 
The following are the best adapted to Mid¬ 
dle Georgia: red raspberry, Cuthbert; black 
raspberry, Gregg. Strawberries for home 
use, Wilson and Sharpless; for market, the 
same. 
From W. A. HOGGINS, Cave City, Ky.: 
From what l cau gather both from my own 
experience and that of small fruit growers of 
thissectiou, l would select Tyler for early and 
Gregg for late black-cap raspberries for both 
home use and market. For red, Turner and 
Cuthbert are the best for home use, and Cuth¬ 
bert and Thwack for market. Among straw¬ 
berries, Cumberland Triumph and Mt. Ver¬ 
non for homo use are favorites, aud Crescent 
and Mt. Vernon for market. All thiugs con¬ 
sidered, I dou t, think a better selection for our 
latitude could bo made. 
From E. H. Hart, Federal Point, Fla.: 
Since even in the loamy soils of Middle and 
aud Northern Georgia the raspberry proves 
uncertain und unreliable, it could hardly be 
expected to succeed in the light sands, and 
under the burning snu of Florida. Could we 
count on a temperature,throughout the Sum 
mer, of that happy medium between excessive 
beat and cold, which prevails during Spring 
aud Fall, perhaps the raspberry might prove 
a success; but the Afrieuu sun of June, July 
and August is what does the business for it. 
Therefore Floridians must be satisfied to leave 
the raspberry, like the currant and gooseber¬ 
ry, for the delectation of their Northern neigh¬ 
bors, aud content themselves with fruits of a 
more tropical origin, of which, thanks to 
kindly Nature, they have an uufailiag suc¬ 
cession the whole year round. As to the 
strawberry, of which il hath been said, that 
“doubtless God Almighty could have created 
a better berry, but doubtless God Almighty 
never did,” the large and tempting specimens 
displayed in the wealthy Northern cities at 10 
to 25 cents each during the snowy days of 
February, are unquestionable evideuce of the 
ability of Florida sand to produce this most 
excellent of all berries. And not only can she 
produce them, but that too in unbroken suc¬ 
cession from January to June, a period of 
fully six months. Many of the most esteemed 
Northern varieties are, however, uncertain 
here, or only partially successful; but the two 
varieties giving the best satisfaction of late 
are tbe Crescent and the Mobile, which latter 
appears to be an improved edition of that old 
Charleston favorite, the Nennan Prolific. The 
old Lougworth used to succeed well here, be¬ 
ing adapted to sandy soil?, and able to resist 
heat and drought; but lately plauts of that 
variety are difficult to find. The largest and 
most prolific berry of all, was a native of the 
South, called the Federal Point; but having 
become unprofitable by reasou of its liability 
to rust and mildew, it was reluctantly dis¬ 
carded. Where not affected by disease, it 
beat all the others out of sight. 
From T. V. Munson, Denison, Texas: 
As to raspberries for market, I have tried 
here only Mammoth Cluster and Gregg, of the 
blacks, and Turner and Cuthbert of the reds, 
hence cannot give a valuable answer: but 
with my own experience, and my observation 
of that of others, I would say that neither red 
nor black have proven profitable in Texas. As 
a rule, black-caps have given most berries. 
Gregg among the blacks, and Cuthbert amoug 
reds, have endured our long 8uminers aud 
droughts best. Tbe strong, loamy lands slop¬ 
ing to the north, have given good results oc¬ 
casionally. Abundauce of mulching is a great 
help. Turner and Mammoth are best for 
home; Cuthbert aud Gregg, for market. 
Of strawberries for our own use, I would 
take Downing and Cumberland, or Sharpless; 
but for market and money, Capt. Jack is the 
best in strong soils, and Wilson is about 
equally good in thin or saudy soil, but worth¬ 
less in my strong lime soil. Crescent thrives 
in any soil, with Miner's Prolific and Windsor 
Chief not far behind. Capt. Jack is in most 
favor here now. after nine years’ trial, and 
Wilson and Downing are giving way for mar¬ 
ket planting. Of the new varieties Manches¬ 
ter '‘rusts” to destruction here in all soils; 
Piper stools up aud burns out: James Vick 
sets too many berries and gives little else but 
4 ‘nubbins;” a host of others which I have tried 
fail in one way or another; Daisy (Miller's) 
promises splendidly every way, and a seed¬ 
ling of mine, from seed of Miner's Prolific, 
gives a wonderful plant and berry. J. T. 
Lovett, of New Jersey, says that in his test 
grounds it is the most vigorous of any he has 
among several hundred. The berry is re¬ 
markably large, regular, handsome, and good. 
Truitt’s Surprise, from Kansas, is also of 
much promise. I have tested 50 or more of 
the most promising new kinds brought out in 
the Last eight or ten years, only to discard 
nearly alb If I were confiued to two of the 
old varietiesof strawberry', I would take Capt. 
Jack and Crescent. If to twe of the new, 
Daisy aud my Miner’s Seedling. 
From D Watson, Brenbam, Texas; 
Raspberries are almost worthless here; but 
we have bad better results from Brandywine 
and Cuthbert, red, and from Mammoth 
Cluster, black, than from all others, and we 
have tested nearly all that are grown in 
Europe and this country. 
Strawberries do finely'. We can grow 
almost all of them, but for general planting, 
Wilson is still the best. Monarch of tbe West 
aud Windsor Chief are good and stand well 
here. Chas. Downing and Capt. Jack are also 
good. These are about all that 1 could rec¬ 
ommend. The others, at least on my grounds, 
will not stand the long, hot Summer we have 
here, but will fruit enough each Spring to pay 
for planting some every year. 
From Prof. J. S. Newman, Alabama Agri¬ 
cultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Ala.; 
Raspberries do not thrive here very well, 
except In sheltered exposures, ou account of 
spring droughts. I would select for home use 
Imperial Red aud Cuthbert. They are good 
also for a home market, but too soft for trans¬ 
portation. Of the black, Doolittle aud Mam¬ 
moth Cluster are best for market, and good 
for home use. 
Strawberries: Wilson is the most reliable of 
all in our climate, aud bears shipmeut better 
than auy other. When allowed to ripen 
thoroughly on the vines, it has few equals for 
the table. Sbarpless is at preseut the most 
popular berry, but does uot endure our fall 
droughts so well as the Wilson. These two 
supply all the requirements both for market 
and home use. We had 100 days of drought 
last Fall, which put all varieties to a very 
severe test. I had Wilson, Sharpless and Ag¬ 
riculturist growing under identical circum¬ 
stances—all planted iu the last week in De¬ 
cember. 1883 Sixty per cent, of the Sharpless 
were killed by the drought; forty per cent, 
of the Agriculturist and thirty percent, of the 
Wilson. 
If I had to select one variety for any or all 
purposes, I would take the Wilson. I have 
gathered a full quart of ripe Wilsons from a 
siogle crown at one picking. In 1870, I gath¬ 
ered them from the same patch daily for 
three months, and the following Winter 
picked a good dish of ripe berries on New 
Year’s Day. 
From S. J. Ma ttbkws, Mcntieello, Ark.: 
Strawberries for home use: Downing and 
Wilson; for market. Crescent and Wilson. 
Raspberries: Doolittle and Miami succeed 
fairly, but uone is profitable for market. All 
the red sorts fail here. 
From Samuel Miller, Bluff ten, Mo.: 
For home use, I would select Centennial and 
Hoosier Mammoth, for the black caps ; for 
market, Centennial and Hoosier or Gregg. 
Among the reds, for home use, Turner and 
Shaffer are the best; and for market Turner 
and Cuthbert. 
If confined to but two stawberries for family 
use, they would be Cumberland Triumph and 
Jersey Queen; but we must have Crystal City 
for early. 
Form Pres. J. E. Evans, Harlem, Mo.: 
My experience with raspberries has been lim¬ 
ited to a few of the leading varieties. For 
family use I know of nothing better than 
Turner. It is uniformly hardy and pro 
ductive and as fine in quality as any. It 
ripens its fruit through a long season, and 
fills the place of both late and early, and 
is sufficient of itself as a red berry for 
family use. In naming a second red berry 
for family use, I cannot do better thau to take 
Thwack, not for its good quality, but for its 
extreme hardiness and the fact that it will 
give you fruit every year. In black caps I 
have found uothing better for the West than 
Hopkins aud Gregg. The former originated 
at Kansas City, Missouri, and has been well 
and fully tested for the past 10 years by the 
members of the Missouri Valley Horticultural 
Society, and they are still planting it. The 
Gregg has also been well tested here and is 
giving satisfaction. It is a fine, large berry 
of fair quality, a little later than the Hopkins. 
I would recommend these two for both family 
aud market. 
My experience with the strawberry has led 
me to the conclusion that t here are very few 
varieties that are tic to be recommended with 
safety. The different varieties behave so dif¬ 
ferently under the various conditions of soil, 
climate, treatment, etc., that it is best for 
those who intend planting to try several sorts, 
and find which is bestsuited to their respective 
soils, modes of treatment, etc. In some eases 
what did well for me was a total failure witn 
my nearest neighbor. For market I would 
plant Windsor Chief and Captain Jack; and 
for family Windsor and Crescent 
From Hanford & Co., Bx-istol, Ind. 
In our experience we find that of the black¬ 
cap raspberries the best for this section of 
country are: Souhegan. for early; and Ohio 
for late. If the Gregg ware only hardy, it 
would, in our estimation, be about every¬ 
thing we could expect of a black-cap. 
Among the reds we find the Turner the 
most desirable we have ever grown. It is 
not as productive as some others; but tbe 
superb quality of its fruit, its absolute hardi¬ 
ness, never having been injured with us 
during any Winter, but, though in trying 
positions, it has always come out in Spring 
fresh to the tips. Tor a late red x*aspberry, 
we know of uothing to equal the Cuthbert. It 
has large size, beautiful color, aud fair quali¬ 
ty. Moreover, it is moderately hardy; but it 
is uot au iron-clad. 
Iu regard to strawberries, of 30 kinds we 
cultivate, we can get more fruit from the 
Crescent and Wilson than from auy other 
two kinds. The Crescent wants some other 
kind with it to fertilize it. 
From Sec. G. C. Brackett, Lawrence, Kan. 
Raspberries for family use. black-caps, 
early, Souhegan: medium to late, McCor¬ 
mick. Red varieties, Braudywine aud Tur- 
uei\ For market: black-cap, Souhegau aud 
Gregg; red varieties, Cuthbert and Shaffer. 
Strawberries for family use: Crescent aud 
Miner. For market: Crescent and Wilson. 
I give preference to the Souhegau Rasp- 
boiTy because it is early and hardy, Gregg 
is our best shipper. Iu Shaffer the plant is 
hardy aud productive, aud the fruit cau be 
picked wheu a bright crimson, for shipping, 
aud allowed to more fully ripen for a near 
market, aud it is very large. The Crescent 
Strawberry plauts endui’e our climate aud 
are heavily productive: berry large and it 
j ripens among the earliest, tbe Crystal City 
only being as early; but it is worthless in 
every other feature. Wilson, though an old 
variety, is the best shipper, aod when well- 
grown, is large and of good quality in this 
climate. The Chas. Downing would lead it, 
were it not for its tendency to leaf rust, and 
the softness of the berry. 
From O. B. Galusha, Peoria, Ill.: 
Red raspberries for home use: Turner and 
Cuthbert; ditto for market, Cuthbert and 
Hansell. Black raspberries for home use: 
Tyler and Gregg; ditto for market, Tyler 
and Gregg. 
Strawberries for home use: Charles Down¬ 
ing and Miner’s Prolific; ditto for market: 
Sucker State and Captain Jack. 
From John V. Cotta, Lanark, HI.: 
For the best early red raspberries I would 
select the Marlboro, and the Cuthbert for the 
best late. For the best early black raspber¬ 
ries I prefer the Souhegan; for the best late, 
the Gregg, both for family and market. 
Of the well tested varieties of stx*awberries, 
I prefer the Crescent and Piper both for 
family use and market. 
From Pres. Parker Earle, Oobden, Ills.: 
Among red raspberries, I would plant 
Turner and Cuthbert for home use, and the 
Cuthbert and Brandy wine for market; and 
the Hopkins and Gregg, among blacks, for 
home use, and either the Souhegan, Tyler 
or Hopkins for early, and Gregg for late 
market. 
About strawberries, I speak with hesitation, 
as conditions of soil, culture, exposure, insects 
and fungi so much affect results and produce 
such varying views, even in the same neigh¬ 
borhood, that no man's opinion should be 
taken as worth much. As a matter of fact, I 
grow more Crescents and Sharpless for market 
just at present than of other sorts, but we 
prefer Monarch of the West, Downing, Bid- 
well,or a good, ripe Wilson on the table at our 
house. And yet both of the first-named mar¬ 
ket sorts are pretty good eating. For canning, 
Monarch and Downing are poorest of all, and 
Wilson probably the best. But next year I 
shall doubtless have some different opinions. 
From D. S. Grimes, Denver, Colorado: 
In my experience 1 value the Gregg as the 
best black, and Cuthbert as the best red rasp¬ 
berries. 
For strawberries in general cultivation, 
Wilson on sandy soil and Jucunda on clay 
loam give most satisfaction. Colorado is 
pre-eminently adapted to small fruit culture. 
Soil, climate and irrigation do wonders in 
this business. If I lived East, I would snap 
my finger at drought, and get rich, raising 
fruit by irrigation. Why don’t you try it? 
There is a fortune in a severe drought con¬ 
trolled by irrigation. 
From Suel Foster, Muscatine, Iowa: 
The best red raspberries: Turner and Cuth¬ 
bert; two best Dlack raspberries. Mammoth 
Cluster and Gregg. 
Strawbemes: Crescent and Downer’s Pro¬ 
lific. planted together, two rows of Crescent 
to one of Downer's. No doubt I am consider¬ 
ably behind the times, for some years ago I 
ceased to buy every plant that was highly 
j recommended, but I let others try the experi- 
i ment, while I profit by their expense and 
labor. 
From Dr. T. H. Hoskins, Newport, Vt.: 
Strawberries for home use, Charles Down- 
! ing aui Kentucky; market, Wilson and Man- 
j Chester. 
Red raspberries (only hardy ones do here, 
and none are grown for sale): Turner and 
Puiladelphia; black raspberries, Doolittle, 
for all purposes. 
| From Prof. J. L Budd, Ames, Iowa: 
i For all soils aud parts of Iowa it is hard to 
j select the two best sorts of raspberry and 
strawberry for home use aud market. The 
nearest we can come to it, is to choose the 
Gregg aud Tyler among black-oaps, aud the 
Cuthbert and Turner among the red sorts. 
For market, Shaffers Colossal promises to 
make most money among the reds. 
Crescent aud Cnaries Downing are well at 
the head of our stra wberry list for home use, 
and Crescent an t Windsor Chief for market’. 
The great trouble at the West with most of 
the new sorts, is defective leaf. 
From J. C. Plumb, Milton, Wis.: 
Cuthbert and Turner are our favorite red 
raspberries; Gregg aud Tyler our favorite 
black. The old Doolittle still proves a good 
aud profitable berry; the Caroline is very 
hardy and productive, but insipid, and too 
soft for market. 
It is not so easy to choose two out of so 
many excellent strawberries. Boyden and 
Downing are our favorites for home use; but 
we can’t do without the old Wilson. The 
j Manchester aud Longfellow are strong com¬ 
petitors for public favor, and I might name 
as many more which have some commendable 
qualities, which make them iudispeusable in 
