The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-02-09
New Rochelle, or LawtOn Blackberry.

We copy from the Horticulturalist the
following account of the productiveness of
this celebrated fruit. 1t is one of the many
striking instances, where money is 10 be
made by farmers varying from their regu-
lar routine of culture, and growing, 10
moderate extent at least, some other crop
than corn, oats and wheat potatoes especial
ly where they reside within reach oil a good
market like Philadelphia
"Early in the month of August, by invi-
taton from Mr.. Seymour; when the berries
were in their prime, we saw the nursery,
and sufficiently 10 show that the Lawton
blackberry is among the most valuable va
rieties of fruit. The ground thus devoted is
less than two aud half acres; from this
ground Mr.. Seymour was sending 10 market
daily, an average of upwards Of ten bushels.
lie had been picking nine days, and the
aggregate amount 10 the period OF our visit
was one hundred and six bushels. Single
hills of some three or four canes, in many
instances yielded bushel each. One day,
during the season, nineteen bushels were
picked. The picking is done almost eX-
elusive by boys; eight being Employed
Most of the berries are produced from a
field separate from the nursery, half of an
acre being devoted 10 the fruit in the nur.
sery; and here most of our observations
were made. This half an acre, which is
understood TO have received the same cul.
ture as bestowed upon the rest of the plans
tation, had already produced some thirty
bushels; and probably at least twenty five
bushels remain 10 he gatLered. This is at
the rate of some sixty bushels 10 the acre
Many good judges who have visited the
nursery, placed the estimate even higher
than this. But any reasonable fruit.grower,
might be satisfied with yield sixty bush
els of blackberres ,-Smh blackberries,
larger, farer, better favored than the natur-
oil Guit- from an acre of ground
''But does not this result involve a larger
expenditure in cultivation and harvesting" 7"
inquiries some one.
Definite information on this point, obtain.
ed from Mr.. s., proves that the entire en-
pensc of the culture of an acre, afer the
ground has been properly prepared the first
year, fall below fifty dollars, and the expense
OF picking is but tr0e over one cent a
quart. Mr.. S. employed his boys by the
day, paying them fifty cents each. They
forty 10 fifty quarts each day The ber-
ries command ready market at twenty
five cents quart, wholesale. The COM
mission for selling is one per cent, or one
cent for four quarts. The expense of trans
portation from Norwalk 10 New York, some
forty miles, about the same.
These are the facts in regard to the cul
ture of the Lawton blackberry. What has
been stated on this subject, hitherto, has
mainly been theoretical we arc now able
10 state from actual inspection not only
what the blackberry is capable of doing,
and what 1t probably will do, but what it
has done, and what it is doing. The yield
from the two acres and three quarters cuI-
tivated by Mr.. Seymour, cannot be accu-
rately arrived at in season for :he present
number. But if, when the crop is harvest
ed, it fails OF reaching two hundred bushels,
we shall be obliged TO confess, that the
means of forming correct estimate, obser-
vations have led us astray.
Mr. S. has produced some twenty bar
rels of wine from the blackberry this season,
which commands ready market at great
er profit than is realized from the sale of The
berries.