Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-09-23
farm \ efireside.


The Culture Of Small Fruits.
AT late meeting of the Fruit Groweri
Club, Mr.. VIM. Parry read paper on th
above subject, Of which We make the follow
ing extracts:
| RAsPBERRIEs.
"Soon after strawberries are gone, rasp
| berries commence. Let us commence at til,
standpoint that any raspberry, well smoth
cred in sugar and cream, is good cnougl
for the table. Then look around for th,
most hardy and productive raspberry of .
bright red color, large and firm enough tc
carry well to market. Whoever will pro
| duce raspberry combining those five quail
tiles will greatly benefit mankind. and de-
| serve liberal compensation for his services.
The Doolittle Black and Philadelphia are
extensively grown; more acres planted and
more bushels of fruit produced than of any
other two kinds, although the small size
and dark color OF the former are against 1t,
and none admire the dull purplish red and
SOFT yielding flesh of the latter; yet they
are more largely cultivated than Others of
better quality, merely because they are
hardy and productive. The size and color
OF the Clarke raspberry induced many of us
to hope that it would prove valuable; but
after fruiting it six summers and grow
ing several acres of them, / have discarded
it as field crop. 1t is not sufficiently pro-
ductive nor firm enough for market,
and will hereafter be classed as an amateur
berry, same as the Antwerp, Hornet, Orange,
and other delicious fruits that do not gener-
ally succeed with field culture. Raspberries
are local In their habits; many kinds that
DO well III some sections, where the soil and
climate suit them, will not succeed in other
localities, and it is safe to plant several va
rietles, and ascertain by trial which will do
the best have recently observed a rust or
fungus upon the Black-caps, which. if not
arrested soon, will make sad work with that
variety. 1t appears to be similar to what is
seen on the native wild blackberry and dew
berry, and is as destructive in its march as
the fire-blight on pear-trees, or the yellows
on peaches. Here is subject deserving at
tention-to ascertain the cause and find
remedy, or the Black-cap variety will be-
come of but little value.
BLAoKBERRIEs.
Blackberries commence before raspber-
rcs are entirely gone, and for short time
we can enjoy both. Their cultivation was
greatly encouraged, three or four years
since, by the introduction from New Jersey
OF two OF the most valuable varieties known,
the Wilson's Early and Kittatinny, which
much larger than Dorchester, and sweeter
than the New-R Rochelle. Where convenient
TO market, they are very profitable, producing
IS many bushels per acre as corn, with less |
abor. They need but once planting, and |
will continue to yield annually several |
hundred dollars per acre for many years. |
There are many new varieties being intro
luced, which will require much time and |
careful experiment to ascertain if they have
desirable qualities not possessed by others.
have purchased many at high prices, and,
lfter devoting years of close attention to
heir cultivation, found they had no merit
worthy of note, and discarded them. The
Missouri Mammoth was represented to grow
Is large as eggs. 1t has fruited twice with |
ne, producing berries of quite moderate size,
IS you can see by the fruit here on exhibition.
The Sinclair, Holcomb, Mason's Mountain,
md Cumberland are about the same. Par
.er's early, Brandenburg, and Alabama, are
ot worth growing. Idaho Climbing is
othing but the common wild dewberry. l
ave a few punches of the Crystal White
nd Doctor Warder, the latter purple ber-
y, novelties in their way, but of no practi-
al value. 1t is quite expensive for each in
iyidual to be trying these experiments, and
y associated action we might aid each 9TH
r. II this Club would appoint Committee
n rejection, to examine and condemn new
'uits that are offered for sale possessing no
ew qualities of value, they might get more
lame than pralsefor what they found to do,
ct they could render great service TO the
as the result of careful and i'm
artlal experiments recorded and sent out
ON here would be highly esteemed by in
uircs throughout the land"