CHOICE SMALL FRUIT PLANTS. 
13 
CARMAN.—This extra early black cap, now first offered for sale, originated with Mr. A. 
II. Sherwood, Fairfield Co., Conn., some ten years ago, and for some years past he has had large 
fields of it growing for market. Three years ago we secured control of the stock of plants, and 
named it in honor of E. S. Carman of the Rural New Yorker, who is doing so much to encourage 
the cultivation of choice fruits. The plant, in growth and general character, resembles the Sou- 
hegan, except that it is not quite so strong a grower the first season, and does not branch quite so 
freely; healthy and hardy, not being injured in the least by the extreme cold of the past four 
winters, when raspberries of all kinds have been injured to a greater or less degree; fully as pro¬ 
ductive as Souhegan or Tyler; fruit, jet black; large as Gregg; best quality, and the earliest 
OF ALL TO RIPEN ; far ahead of Souhegan, Tyler, and all other early sorts that we fruited with it 
in trial rows the past season. We picked berries from it June 23d, and from the same field we 
marketed strawberries till July 2d. The crop ripens up very rapidly, ours the past season being 
all gathered for the market at three pickings—July 3d, 6th and 10th—the whole crop being 
gathered at the latter date, selling at 15 cents per quart, wholesale, while the Souhegan and Tyler 
continued in fruiting till the 23d, at prices from 5 to 8 cents, for the last ten days, (fine large 
Greggs selling at same price.) In one field of Carman with 1 acres of one-year plants and half 
an acre of two-year plants, a careful record was kept of all berries picked and sold each day, 
and the result was 6482 quarts of berries sold, and the pickers being on a ‘'strike” for two days 
in the height of the season, many berries were lost, and some being given to the pickers at the 
end of the season, the whole crop was not less than 7000 quarts from the tivo acres. 
This is not an enormous yield, but shows what the Carman will do with common field culture, one 
year from planting —10 cents per quart gives $350 per acre. The early ripening and rapid ma¬ 
turity of the Carman will bring the fruit into market at a time when there can be but little com¬ 
petition, and, when added to this we have a berry almost as large as the Gregg, that is of jet 
glossy black color, and better quality than most black caps, it will be seen at once that there is 
money in it as a market berry. 
Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, Pres, of American Pomological Society, to whom we sent a few 
plants for trial, last season, said : 
In regard to raspberries, the Carman is the earliest cap variety I possess. It is sweet and very good, a valuable 
acquisition. 
E. Williams, Secretary of the N. J. Horticultural Society, writing to the “Press,” of Philadel¬ 
phia, of the original plantations of Carman, says : 
“These I visited on July 7th, and found the finest skew 0/ fruit 0/ this kind / ever saw. I had an opportu¬ 
nity to sec and taste this new sort beside the Tyler, Souhegan and Gregg, and, while I think in quality it is fully 
equal to cither of the two first named, it was larger than either and, I thought, was two or three days earlier than 
Souhegan, and only exceeded in size by the Gregg. As a cropper it seemed equal to the best. Should it maintain 
tts present characteristics when tried elsewhere, it will be the peer of any of the family." 
Prof. S. M. Tracy, of the State University, Columbia, Mo., writes: 
The two plants of Carman, received in spring of 1885, made a fine growth during the summer, fruited well this 
season. Berries not quite as large as Gregg, but more abundant, very firm, arid of the best flavor. From the little 
I have seen my impressions are very favorable. 
Mr. A. W. Cheever, Editor of the N. E. Farmer, Boston, says: 
I saved two plants of the Carman, which bore a good crop, and the berries were the largest and richest black 
•aps I have ever tasted. It pleases us better than any cap raspberry we have ever tested. 
From The Rural New Yorker, of Sept. iSth, 1886, we extract the following in regard to the 
Carman: 
The berries began to ripen June 2gth, they arc jet black, (without bloom), with small drupes, and as good in 
quality as any cap berry we know. The two bushes bore as many berries as any variety ever tested on the Rural 
Grounds The canes are stout and have grown to the height of six feet. They were not in the least injured by the 
past winter. Earliness, hardiness, productiveness, quality and firmness might be claimed for this variety judging 
from one season’s test. 
And in a private letter the Editor writes us : 
The earliest and most perfect black cap we have ever tested. You ought to offer it for sale at once, it's just 
immense. 
Very early fruit always pays, and market gardeners will appreciate this point of earliness in 
the Carman and plant it accordingly. Price, $3.00 per Dozen; $15.00 per 100. 
See cut of Carman on last cover page. 
SOUHEGAN.—The standard for earliness, hardiness and productiveness. Fruit, jet black, 
rich and sweet. Valuable for family use or market. Entirely superseding the old Doolittle. 50 
cents per dozen; $150 per 100; $8 per 1000. 
OHIO.—A medium ripening variety. Hardy, productive and valuable. 50 cents per dozen; 
$1.50 per 100; $8 per 1000. 
GREGG — Largest and latest of all. Valuable for family use and for such markets as can 
profitably handle late fruits; not quite hardy at the north. 50 cents per dozen; $1.50 per 100; 
$8 per $1000. 
SPRINGFIELD—(thornless)—Plant, hardy and prolific; canes entirely free from thorns, 
making it very pleasant to handle in the family garden. Fruit ripens early and is unusually sweet 
and pleasant to the taste. A prize in tbe family list of choice fruits. $1 per dozen; $5 per 100. 
