22 
There is space in this book for but a fraction 
Black Varieties 
Plum Farmer. This is the most 
popular black cap raspberry in 
America. It is grown by the acre 
from the Atlantic to the Pacific and 
everywhere receives the highest 
praise. It was introduced by us 
about 20 years ago and every year 
that rolls around adds to its pop¬ 
ularity. At a meeting of the New 
York State Fruit Growers’ Associ¬ 
ation in 1J11, W. H. Alderman, 
Assistant Horticulturist at the 
Geneva, N. Y., Experiment Station, 
read the following report on the 
Plum Farmer Raspberry: 
“Of all the named varieties un¬ 
der test at the Geneva Station, 
Plum Farmer made the best show¬ 
ing in 1910. The plants are hardy, 
Vigorous and productive, the ber¬ 
ries large, good in color and quality. 
It has already been grown in some 
localities and reports of its behavior 
are very favorable. It certainly 
should be given a trial in all com¬ 
mercial plantations.” 
Nothing I could say would be 
more effective than the above from 
a disinterested party. I consider 
Plum Farmer the best black cap 
that has ever been introduced. It 
is largely grown in Oswego County, 
and I know of no single variety of 
fruit that pays growers so well in 
this locality. One lot of 90 crates 
Early King shipped from this county to New 
York City sold for over $600. The 
Plum Farmer has a peculiar history. It was found by us 
in a batch of plants received from Ohio, some 19 years 
ago. We have fruited it and sold plants all these years and have never 
come across a variety that anywhere near equals it in value. We have 
yet to meet the man who thinks that there is any¬ 
thing near its equal in the black cap line. The plants 
are fine growers, being more free from diseases pe¬ 
culiar to blackcaps than other varieties. The canes 
are hardy and when ripened in the fall have a beauti¬ 
ful silvery blue appearance. When loaded with fruit, 
the plants are a 
sight to behold. 
The berries ri¬ 
pen very early 
and most of the 
crop is produced 
in one week. The 
fruit is grayish- 
black, very large, 
thick meated and 
firm, making a 
good berry to 
evaporate or ship 
to distant mar¬ 
kets. It is one of 
the best berries to gath¬ 
er with the batter, on 
account of ripening up 
in such a short time. 
We have testimonials 
from leading fruit grow¬ 
ers In all sections of 
the United States. Sev- 
years ago it was espe¬ 
cially commended by the 
Wisconsin State Horticultur¬ 
al Society. I know of no 
fruit more in demand than 
black caps, and if one has 
well drained soil to plant 
them on, the returns are 
sure to be good. The plants 
of Plum Farmer that we Cumberland 
