Mammoth Cluster—for hardiness, size, and productiveness, deserves to be
placed at the head of all the black raspberries.
Doolittle—this black variety I fruited for the first time this season,
and judging from present prospects think it will be next to Mammoth
Cluster, perhaps ahead of it in productiveness; it is some earlier.
Davison’s Thornless—A very good variety, not quite equal to Mammoth
Cluster and Doolittle as a cropper, but sufficiently productive to give
good satisfaction. If I were to consult my pickers as to which they
thought the best variety, they, of course, would say the Thornless. This
is also a black variety, ripening earlier than the Mammoth Cluster.
Lunn’s Everbearing—is one of those useless black sorts that I shall
plant all I have of it so deep under the ground that they will never
come up again.
Philadelphia—comes first among the red varieties for hardiness,
productiveness, and profit, where quality is no great object. It is an
enormous bearer.
Clarke—for flavor, size and productiveness this is the berry. I would
hold on to this to the last.
Highland Hardy—this is the earliest of all raspberries, very hardy and
productive, berries not as large as other varieties, quality good.
Read’s Prolific—the largest berry on my grounds. I have not tested it
enough to say much about its hardiness and productiveness, although I
have seen this variety heavily laden with fruit on the originator’s
grounds.
Naomi—is something like the Clarke, no better in my estimation.
Amazon—flavor extra, plants not as hardy as the Clarke, and the berries
are more apt to crumble.
Brandywine—this is the latest and best shipping berry, but is not one
of my favorites.
Ganargua—fruited with me for the first time this season, it seems to be
very productive, the berries were large, color between red and black,
and quite firm. If the color and flavor should suit purchasers, it will
no doubt be a profitable berry.
Catawissa—an odd berry and plant; this is about all I can say of it.
Golden Thornless—this was the first season of my fruiting it, and I
suppose that I will not be much better off by fruiting it again,
although it is exceedingly productive. If the flavor and color will suit
the market, it may give good satisfaction. I am sure it will ship or dry
well.
Were I to grow only four varieties, I would take the Mammoth Cluster and
Doolittle for blacks, and the Philadelphia and Clarke for reds.
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