The National Nurseryman. 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK. 
Copyright, 1893, by the National Nurseryman Publishing Co. 
VoL. 111 . ROCHESTER, N. Y., JUNE, 1895. No. 5 - 
JAPANESE GOLDEN MAYBERRY. 
The frontispiece of this issue presents the Japanese 
Golden Mayberry, a raspberry which ripens its fruit be¬ 
fore the strawberry. Luther Burbank says of it: “ The 
earliest raspberry ever known. The berries are of a 
golden straw color, as large as Cuthbert, and ripen here 
in April, a month before Hansell, before strawberries, and 
before the earliest of the standard raspberries of the past 
have hardly awakened from their winter rest. The bushes 
are distinct from all others, growing like trees, 6 to 8 feet 
high, with spreading tops ; and all along the branches 
large, white, well-shaped blossoms are pendent, which are 
soon followed by the great, sweet, glossy, golden, semi- 
translucent berries. The plants, when well established, 
will surprise one with their abundance of fruit. The 
history of this variety is as follows: Some ten years ago 
I requested my collector in Japan to hunt up the best 
wild raspberries, blackberries and strawberries that could 
be found. Several curious species were received the next 
season, and among them a red and also a dingy yellow 
unproductive variety of Rubus palmatus. One of these 
plants, though bearing only a few of the most worthless, 
tasteless, dingy yellow berries I have ever seen, was 
selected solely on account of its unusual earliness, to 
cross with Cuthbert and other well-known raspberries. 
Among the seedlings raised from this plant was this one, 
and, though no signs of the Cuthbert appear, yet it can 
hardly be doubted that Cuthbert pollen has effected some 
of the wonderful improvements to be seen in this new 
variety.” 
Regarding a recent criticism of the Mayberry by the 
Rural New Yorker, that the pictures of this variety exag¬ 
gerate its size and do not accurately show its manner of 
bearing, Mr. Burbank says: “The criticisms in a late 
Rural New Yorker in regard to some of the cuts used to 
represent the Japanese Mayberry, seem to be just, unless 
its habits change somewhat under eastern conditions. 
The true Mayberry, so named by myself, does not grow 
here under common field cultivation as large as the cuts 
mentioned indicate, but, perhaps, may under special cub 
tivation ; but as it has already fruited in the East, no 
doubt that matter can be easily settled. Not having a 
single plant of the original in my possession, I cannot 
send a sample branch to show the manner of growth, but 
send a twig of the wild Rubus palmatus showing the 
berries growing one only at each leaf, as in the Mayberry, 
and never more, so far as seen. The true Mayberry bears 
some fruit of small or medium size, nearly as soon as 
other berries, but does not come to full perfection of size 
and productiveness until a year or two later. The berries 
(as large as Cuthbert) are very firm, but still keep remark¬ 
ably ; are exceedingly sweet; of a clear, golden, straw 
color, with seed not much larger than those of the straw¬ 
berry ; often ripening here while apples, pears, cherries 
and strawberries are in bloom, and before most other rasp¬ 
berries and blackberries commence to bloom. The wild 
Rubus palmatus has been sold in some cases for the May¬ 
berry. Though a unique, handsome bush, my experience 
would indicate that it is utterly worthless for fruit. No 
doubt seedings and crosses from the Mayberry or the wild 
palmatus may be produced which will far excel the May¬ 
berry; I sincerely hope so. The blooms from which it 
originated were pollinated with Cuthbert, and the improve¬ 
ment over the wild plants received some 12 years ago 
from Japan, was surprising: yet I cannot state, and never 
have stated, that it was a cross-bred berry, though the im¬ 
mediate and marked improvement led me to suppose such 
might be the case.” 
MINNESOTA TRADE. 
Lake City, Minn., May 6. —Secretary J. Cole Doughty 
of the Jewell Nursery Co. said : “ Business has been dull 
in the Northwe.st for the past six months, owing largely 
to the extreme drought prevailing throughout the year 
1894. We have, however, been having a most excellent 
mail order trade and the months of March and April have 
been exceptionally good. 
“ We find an extremely heavy demand for what are 
known as iron-clad varieties of apples and hybrids and a 
ready sale for plum of the American type. Our sales of 
pear and cherry, which we market principally in Illinois 
and Iowa, have been very light. 
“ While we are hopeful of a good season, we do not 
anticipate any considerable revival of trade in the nur¬ 
sery line until financial matters are so adjusted that our 
people have regained their confidence. There is money 
enough in this section, but the people simply will not 
spend it, and many of our foreign born citizens are hoard¬ 
ing up gold whenever they can secure it. 
“All these things have a bearing upon general business 
and upon the nursery business in particular, as that always 
feels a depression quicker and rallies more slowly than any 
other line we know of. 
“ Our stock has never wintered better and the ground 
is in excellent condition for a good season’s growth ; in 
fact everything is favorable for a large season’s business, 
except a disposition to buy on the part of the public and 
this we trust will mend as soon as they see a prospect for 
a good crop.” 
