ANNOUNCEMENT.

T is with a sense of satisfaction and pleasure that we offer to the trade a new fruit of the highest quality, and which has previously been brought to notice in various publications. The Rathbun Blackberry is admired by every one who has seen

it, and it only awaits to be known to be universally appreciated. No one who has seen it has been able to criticise it. We have now watched it with the greatest interest for three years, and are not able to say that it has a single weak point. selieving that in introducing it we are advancing the interest of fruit growers and the general public, we have’ no hesita- tion in asking a consideration of its claims. Its quality is so superior that it will seem like a new kind of fruit to those

accustomed to any of the old and well known varieties.

Rathbun Blackberry, showing upright growth of stems and drooping habit of tips.

Character and Description of the Rathbun Blackberry.

The Rathbun Blackberry has already become known, and has established a high reputation locally, and the fruit has brought a much

higher price than any other blackberry in the market at the time. The plant is a strong, erect grower, and, unlike most varieties, produces

but few suckers. It sends up a strong main stem which branches freely, and these branches curve over and bend downwaid toward the ground, and later in the season the tips touching the ground send roots down into it, and thus propagate themselves in the manner of the blackcap It is not a dewberry, nor is there the least evidence that there isan admixture of dewberry in the plant, as no dewberries were

raspberry. It is purely a blackberry with the tip-rooting habit. As to its hardiness it may be said that

cultivated on the place or in the neighborhood,

it is quite hardy at its home, where it has sustained a temperature of fifteen or eighteen degrees below zero without harm. There is no reason to

doubt that it is as hardy as most varieties.

The fruit in size and general appearance is well illustrated in the accompanying engravings. It grows on long stems in clusters which enables it to be easily gathered. The berries are large with large pips and small seeds. They have no hard core, in fact no core is perceived in eating them—all is soft, sweet, luscious, with a high flavor. It is superior to all the well-known varieties of blackberry in cultivation, in quality. On this point it may be said there is nothing more to be desired, and it is not probable that there will ever be a yariety to surpass it in this particular. The fruit is a jet black color with a high polish, and sufficiently firm to handle and carry well. It has been sent a distance of some thirty-six miles, by wagon and rail, going through in fine condition and selling in preference to the best other varieties in the market and bringing a considerably better price. This fruit has attained quite a local reputation, and every year it is more in demand, and at higher prices than other varieties of blackberries. A large proportion of the berries will measure from an inch and a quarter to one inch and a half in length, and the whole crop is very uniform in size. Everyone who has had the opportunity of tasting the fruit admits without reserve that it is the best black- berry ever eaten, and is more like the best dewberry than the blackberry, and yet much better than the dewberry. The fruit offered for sale in the market sells in preference to any other kind and brings a higher price. The hardiness of the plant was severely tested in the winters of 1895-96, when the thermometer for several days indicated a temperature of 20° below zero. Plants of the Minnewaski and Erie blackberries on the same grounds were badly frozen, making it impossible for them to produce a crop of fruit. But a considerable amount of live wood remained on the Rathbun bushes, enough to give two-thirds of a crop.

Two common, quart strawberry boxes, one each of the Snyder and Rathbun varieties were picked in August, 1896, and placed in the hands

of a wholly disinterested party, Mr. Lawson York, ex-postmaster of Smith’s Mills, N. Y., with a request to count and report the exact number of berries in each basket. When he had done so, it was found that the basket of Snyder contained 164 berries, while that of the Rathbun was filled with forty-five berries. One of these berries of the Rathbun was, at the same time, measured before witnesses and found to be one and three-

fourths inches in Iength and one’and three-eighths in diameter,

SUMMARY .

PLAN T—Vigorous, branching, making plenty of fruiting wood; in hardiness, it is very satisfactory, and has been tested. Propagates from the tips of the shoots; produces fruit in great abundance.

ROOTS—Sucker but very little; run deep and branch freely, making the plant strongly drought resisting.

BERRIES—Very large, measuring from an inch and an eighth to an inch and a half in length, and from one inch to one and an eighth in diameter, Color, intense black with a high polish; pips very large, and with small seeds; flesh juicy, high flavored, soft throughout and without any hard core, sweet and delicious. Carry well to market, retaining their form and making a handsome appearance. First

quality for table use in a fresh state, or for canning, and also for cooking purposes.

LEST IMONTALS

United States Department of Agriculture, Division of Pomology. Wasuincton, D. C., August 8, 1892. Your letter of the 5th and specimens of the blackberry mentioned have been received, They were in excellent condition, although perhaps a little ripe from long carriage, and 1 am delighted with the berry in size and flavor. It seems to be at least very close kin to the dewberry, and the habit of growth at the tips would seem to indicate something of the kind. I should like to know about the habit of the plant, whether it is upright or trailing. ‘lhe variety is worthy of a name and should be generally tested. H. E. VAN DEMAN, Pomologist.

In another letter (August 13, 1892) Mr. Van Deman says: ‘‘ As you say, the canes are very large and upright, it is quite evident that you have something entirely differ- ent from the common dewberry. What it may prove to be botanically, lam not prepared to say, but certainly it is well worthy of being carefully tested.

North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, F. W. Massey, Horticulturist. Extract from letter of July 27, 1894: ‘‘ Your blackberry has grown well and made some fruit this season of good size and flavor.”

From Platt C. Reynolds, Agricultural Editor and Journalist. Rocuestrer, N. Y., August 2, 1895. I thank you for giving me an opportunity to see and taste the Rathbun blackberry. I notice it is’quite free from hard, sour core and has very few seeds; is sweet and pleasant flavored. In propagating from the tips it suggests Wilson’s Early, which was a good berry in its day, but not very productive. Hope it may prove all that its originator claims for it, for we have not yet found the ideal blackberry. P. C. REYNOLDS.

Cornell University, College of Agriculture, Ithaca, N. Y.

The Rathbun blackberry was sent to the station at™Ithaca in 1893. In the fall of that year, on account of the erection of some buildings, it was necessary to remove the plant. From this cause but little fruit was produced in r894,—not enongh to warrant any opinion onit. In a letter from Professor Bailey, in August, 1895, he states that he is still unable to’make any satisfactory report, on account of the May frost, which, as our readers well know, cut down nearly all vegetation of a succu- lent nature at that time. The plants were pushing strongly and were full of sap, when a black frost destroyed the new growth as if burnt with a fire. We here give some portions of the letter referred to, and can only commend his decision not to make a full report on the variety until he has had a fair opportunity to become acquainted with with it:

“ This year we looked for an excellent crop, but were cut off by the frost; however, we obtained some fruit and I am very much pleased with it. We had some of the largest blackberries from this variety which I ever saw. One or two good clusters matured. * * * The variety is of the Wilson, Jr., type. They are very large, and so far as I could judge from the small amount we had, of good quality. It appeared, also, to be early; I cannot, of course, say anything about the productiveness. * ® * J can only say that I am well pleased with its appearance so far. Yours very truly

L. H. BAILEY.” From A. E. Goodrich, Practical Fruit Grower. Forestvitie, N. Y., August 25, 1894.

I have repeatedly been at the home of the Rathbun blackberry and have observed its peculiar character ; I was surprised to see a blackberry bush rooting at the tips like a black raspberry, and still more to see it loaded so full of fruit of such monstrous size, and yet more to taste and discover such luscious richness and fine flavor of the fruit, and onthe whole it seems to me it must be the berry for the fruit grower and for market. It is evidently a new and distinct variety. A. B. GOODRICH.

Branch of Rathbun Blackberry ir | ( rooted at the tips. |

From Rea & Powell, Produce and Commission Merchants, Buffalo, N.Y. Burraro, N. Y., Octobe: i “ The Rathbun blackberries we sold for you last July were of a very ein brought at least two cents per quart more than the ordinary berry, and we think when they become better known they will be in great demand on this market. We certainly think we will be able to sell twice as many next season as we did last.

J. W. POWELL.

From Montgomery & Talcot, Grocers, Silver Creek, N. Y.

We have had and sold from our store the new Rathbun blackberry and think it will out-sell any other blackberry in the market. It seems to please customers and many speak in highest praise of its good qualities, MONTGOMERY & TALCOTT,

From M. P. Nevins, Railroad and Express Agent. Smitn’s Mixts, N. Y., August 15, 1804. A crate of blackberries brought to this station surpassed anything in the line of a blackberry that I ever saw, for large size and fine flavor. The berries were so firm that they must ship and handle and stand up well. M. P. NEVINS.

From H. C. Southworth, Forestville, N. Y. * — Forestvirxe, N. Y., January 2, 1895.

I have seen the new Rathbun blackberry in different stages of its growth. It is uniformly larger and of better flavor than any other blackberry I have known. The seeds are small and scarcely noticeable, and the berry is tender to the center, As itis alsoa great producer and stands shipment well, it should be a most profitable berry for fruit growers to plant. Unlike any other blackberry it propagates from the tips. H. C. SOUTHWORTH.

From S. H. York, Town Clerk of Harmony, N. Y. Harmony, N. Y., September 2, 1894. I have seen and tested the new Rathbun blackberry and do not hesitate to say that it is the largest and best flavored of any blackberry I ever saw. S. H. YORK,

From Mr. Reed, Postmaster at Smith's Mills, N. Y. The new Rathbun Blackberry is the largest and best flavored berry I ever knew, The berries measure an inch and a half in Jength.

Cornell University, College of Agriculture, L. H. BAILEY, Prorrssor oF HorticuLtTure. Irnaca, N. Y., July 2x, 1806. The Rathbun blackberry is now in full fruit and we are very much pleased with it. It is midway between a blackberry anda dewberry in habit as also in earliness. The berries are exceedingly large, glossy, jet black, and of good quality. I certainly think that there is a future for it. L. H. BAILEY.

Price, 50 cents each; one dozen $5.00.