RUBUS OCCIDENTALIS--BLACK-CAP AND PURPLE CANE RASPBERRIES
We now turn to the other great American species--_Rubus Occidentalis_--the
well-known black-cap, or thimble berry, that is found along
almost every roadside and fence in the land. There are few little
people who have not stained their lips and fingers, not to mention
their clothes, with this homely favorite. I can recall the days when,
to the horror of the laundress, I filled my pockets with the juicy
caps. It is scarcely necessary to recall its long, rambling, purple
shoots, its light-green foliage, silvery on the under side, its sharp
and abundant spines, from which we have received many a vicious
scratch. Its cultivation is so simple that it may be suggested in a few
sentences. It does not produce suckers, like _R. Strigosus_, but the
tips of the drooping branches root themselves in the soil during August
and September, forming young plants. These, planted, produce a vigorous
bush the first year that bears the second season, and then dies down to
the perennial root, as is the case with all raspberries. Usually, the
tips of the _young_ canes will take root, if left to themselves, unless
whipped about by the wind. If new plants in abundance are desired, it
is best to assist Nature, however, by placing a little earth on the tip
just after it begins to enlarge slightly, thus showing it is ready to
take root. This labor is quickly performed by throwing a handful or two
of earth on the tips with a trowel. The tips do not all mature for
propagation at one time; therefore, it is well to go over the
plantation every two weeks after the middle of August and cover lightly
with earth only such as are enlarged. If covered before this sign of
readiness appears, the tip merely decays. If a variety is very scarce,
we may cover not only the tips, but also much of the cane, lightly--an
inch or two--with earth, and each bud will eventually make a plant.
This should not be done, however, until the wood is well ripened, say
about the first of October. Throw a few leaves over such layered canes
in November, and divide the buds and roots into separate plants early
in spring. They will probably be so small as to need a year in the
nursery row. Sometimes, after the first tip is rooted, buds a little
above it will push into shoots which also will root themselves with
slight assistance, and thus the number of new plants is greatly
increased. Spring is by far the best time, at the North, for planting
these rooted tips; but it should be done as early as possible, before
the bud has started into its brittle, succulent growth. At the South,
November is probably the best season for planting. It is a species that
adapts itself to most soils, even the lightest, and endures much
neglect. At the same time, it responds generously to good culture and
rigorous pruning, and if moisture is abundant the yield is simply
enormous. It not only thrives far to the north, but can also be grown
further south than any other class of raspberries.
In planting, spread out the roots and let them go down their full
length, but do not put over an inch or two of soil on the bud from
which the new canes are to spring. Press the earth firmly _around_ this
bud, but _not on_ it. Let the rows be six feet apart, and the plants
three feet from each other in the row; at this distance, 2,400 will be
required for an acre. Summer pinching back will transform these
sprawling, drooping canes into compact, stocky bushes, or ornamental
shrubs that in sheltered locations will be self-supporting. Clean
culture, and, as the plantation grows older, higher stimulation,
greatly enhance success. After the plants begin to show signs of age
and feebleness, it is best to set out young plants on new ground.
The varieties of this species are almost innumerable, since seedlings
come up by the million every year; but the differences between the
majority of them are usually very slight. There are four kinds,
however, that have won honorable distinction and just popularity. The
earliest of these is Davidson's Thornless, said to have originated in
the garden of Mrs. Mercy Davidson, Towanda, Erie Co., N.Y. It is
nothing like so vigorous a grower as the other three varieties; but the
sweetness of the fruit and the freedom from thorns make it desirable
for the home garden. Unless high culture or moist soil is given, I do
not recommend it for market.
Next in order of ripening is the Doolittle, or American Improved, found
growing wild, about thirty-five years since, by Leander Joslyn, of
Phelps, Ontario Co., N.Y., and introduced by Mr. H. H. Doolittle. This,
hitherto, has been the most popular of all the species, and thousands
of bushels are annually raised for market. The plant is exceedingly
vigorous, producing strong, branching canes that literally cover
themselves with fruit. I have seen long rows fairly black with caps.
Perhaps it should be stated that the thorns are vigorous also.
Latest in ripening is the Mammoth Cluster, or McCormick, which, thus
far, has been my favorite. It is even more vigorous than the preceding,
but not so briery or branching. The fruit is produced usually in a
thick cluster or bunch at the end of the branch, and they ripen more
together than the other kinds. The caps, too, are much larger, more
juicy and fine-flavored. One is less conscious of the seeds. Between
the thumb and finger you can often gather a handful from a single
spray, it is so prodigiously productive. Thus far it has been
unsurpassed, either for home use or market; but now it is encountering
a rival in the Gregg, a new variety that is attracting much attention.
Its history, as far as I have been able to learn it, is as follows:
In the latter part of June, 1866, this black raspberry was found
growing wild in a ravine on the Gregg farm, which is located in Ohio
Co., Indiana. The original bush "was bending under the weight of
colossal-sized clusters. It was then a single clump, surrounded by a
few young plants growing from its tips. Before introducing it to the
public, we gave it a most thorough and complete trial. We have put it
on the tables of some of the most prominent horticultural societies,
and by each it has been voted the highest rank in their fruit lists. At
the Centennial Exposition, at Philadelphia, in competition with all the
prominent varieties in the world, it was ranked highest by the judges.
During eleven years of observation it has survived the coldest winters,
and never failed to yield an abundant crop. It is a vigorous, rapid
grower, producing strong, well-matured canes by fall. The fruit is
beautiful in appearance, delicious, possessing excellent shipping and
keeping qualities."
The above is a mild and condensed statement of its claims, as set forth
by Messrs. R. & P. Gregg, proprietors of the Gregg farm, and I believe
these gentlemen have given a correct account of their experience. As
the result of much inquiry, it would appear that this variety is also
doing well throughout the country at large.
Mr. N. Ohmer, who has been most prominent in introducing the Gregg,
gives the following account of his first acquaintance with it: "At a
meeting of the Indiana State Horticultural Society, held at
Indianapolis, a gentleman asked for the privilege of making some
remarks about a new black raspberry that he was cultivating. Being
pretty long-winded, as most lawyers are, he spoke so long, and said so
much in favor of his berry, that no one believed him, and were glad
when he got through. The summer following, I chanced to call on the
Secretary of the Indiana State Board of Agriculture, in the Capitol
building, and was surprised to see on his table about half a peck of
berries and an armful of canes loaded with the largest, handsomest, and
best black raspberries I had ever seen. Mr. Herron, the Secretary,
informed me that they were grown by Messrs. R. & P. Gregg. I obtained
two hundred plants, a few of which bore fruit so fine, the following
season, that all who saw it wanted plants." It was learned that Mr.
Gregg was the lawyer who was thought "long-winded," and many who then
yawned have since thought, no doubt, that they might have listened with
much profit, for the demand for the plants has become greater than the
supply. Only time can show whether the Gregg is to supersede the
Mammoth Cluster. I observe that veteran fruit growers are very
conservative, and by no means hasty to give a newcomer the place that a
fine old variety has won by years of excellence in nearly all
diversities of soil and climate. The Gregg certainly promises
remarkably well, and Mr. Thomas Meehan, editor of the "Gardener's
Monthly," who is well known to be exceedingly careful and conscientious
in indorsing new fruits, writes: "We believe this variety is generally
larger than any other of its kind yet known."
There are many other candidates for favor, but thus far they are
untried, or have not proved themselves equal to the kinds I have named.
Quite a distinct branch of _R. Occidentalis_ is the Purple Cane
family--so named, I think, from the purple cane raspberry that was so
well known in old gardens a few years ago, but since it has been
superseded by better kinds is now fast passing out of cultivation. It
almost took care of itself in our home garden for forty years or more,
and its soft, small berries would melt in one's mouth. Its canes were
smooth and its fruit of a dusky-red color. In other respects, it
resembles the black-cap tribe.
The Catawissa, found growing in a Pennsylvania graveyard, is another
berry of this class, which produces a second crop in autumn. It is
tender in the Northern States, and has never become popular.
The Philadelphia is the best known of the class, and at one time was
immensely popular. Its canes are smooth, stout, erect in growth, and
enormously productive of medium-sized, round, dusky-red berries of very
poor flavor. It throve so well on the light soils about Philadelphia,
that it was heralded to the skies, and the plants sold at one time as
high as $40 per 100, but the inferior flavor and unattractive
appearance of the fruit caused it to decline steadily in favor, and now
it has but few friends. Unlike others of its class, it does not root
from the tips, but propagates itself by suckers, producing them
sparingly, however. When it was in such great demand, the nurserymen
increased it by root cuttings, forced under glass.