if | Hw rda OOO STUDIES Of THE GENUS RUBUS FROM Pas e) 0) Ome L201) 1 Thesis fer the Degree of Ai, §. Gien C. Lawrence ae: en mA! A THESIS FOR THE DEGREE " MASTER OF SCIENCE * COMPHISING STUDIES OF THE GENUS RUSUS FROM AN ECOWOMIC STANDPOINT BY mee Glon C. Lazreneo, B. S. in '85. July 1395. Tes4 LAR rneric st Stecies .« iLdecus 3 THE CENUS FUDUS. The specics of this gerus are nerbs with a perennial stock or weak, scrambling, prickly bi-ennial shrubs} bear- ing edible fruit, pinnately or palmately divided leavos, The plants neve a free calyx or rive lobes, five petals and numerous stemens. The truit consists of a granulated berry formed by the union of numerous one-seeded. succulent carpels around the conical or shortly obiong spongy receptacle. Inflorescence is either racemose or corymbose, on short lateral or tcrminal spurs of the newly formed gsrowtn. The blossoms appear in Nay and June, while the fruit ripens “rom tne last of June to the rirst of Septomber. fhe Species of wenis gconus are provasated either by root cuttings, tip layerings or by suckers The first scccies to corviand attcntion is Rubus Idaeuse. From this ali our Eurovean varieties of rasp- a berry have scrung. Rk. Idacus nas stiff erect canes of a ‘Pp 4 OFyO Bat Us we Specific Snaractver- istics. Varieties. XB Antwerp. -_ eae a eee ee (2) light brown color, end covored with straight slender bristles, the leaves arc three or five foliolate leaflets rhombovate acuminate, hairy beneatn, anc deeply serrate; the lower surface is much lighter colored tnan the urper. Infloresence sub-corymbose, pedicels short ind aggregated at the upcer end of the cane; petals white and shorter than tne sepals; fruit large and broad, or a red or yellowish vhite color, and a,pearing more or less con- tinuously throughout the summer. The sreciric name Idaeus was derived from Mount Ida- wnis name being given it by the Greeks. % is cultivated very sparingly throughout the Northern states because it is not suffi- ciently hardy to withstand cold winters. ‘The varities cultivated here are largely ror home use, and consist of the Red Antwerp, White Antwerp, Belle de Fonteny, Franc- onia and Herstine. The Red Antwerp is an old variety seldom cultivated at present in northcrn gardens. + ripens in July, is Thite Antwerp. gle de fontenay. (3) used only for the family supsrly;, it is of a large nearly globular form, dark red color with bloom, granules large, juicy, sprightly flavored. Caines strong, Tour to five feet tall, bristies light red and iumerous;, it is too tender for our winters, where winter protection is given it ylelds well. The Vnite Antworp is cultivated to a limited extcnt here; it ripens its fruits during tne latter half of July. it is used for dessert purvoses only. The fruit is large and flattened somevhat;, it is of a yellowish vhite color, granules iarge and loosely compacted, juicy and rairly good. Canes are upright, froving only two or three fect high, covered with light cclored streignt bristles. This also is too tender for general cultivation, but will yield well if siven winter protection. BElle de Fontcnay ripens its friut from July 10th to the end of the month. It is cultivated in gardens for The Fran- honia. Herstine. family purvoses; is a sphericel, medium sized, dark red berry with rather large, closely set granules and ex- cellent flavor. The canes are uprisht growth about two or three feet high and dear numerous snort, straight bris- tles of a brownish ecclor. I is a terder variety al- tnougn haraler than the Antverp, and is very productive, sometimes civin= a second crov in autumn. The Franconia ripens its fruit late in Juiy. Iv is reaiscd vor both family and market purvoscs, is an optuse conical berry of a dark purplish red color, closely set granules firm and has 2 sprightly flavor. The cares arc strong, upricht and branching, bris- tles scattering, stout and of a purple color; to pro- duce a good yield the vines requirc wintcor protection. The Horstine 1s tne last variety of this species worthy of men:ion for northern srovers. it matures its fruit from July eighth to the cnd orf the month; it is thererore c few days earlier then the cverage, and is nd Specics, J strigosus Specific snaracter= istics. ’ i : ee (5) used for family purposes mainly. Ths berries are crin- son red with bloom; the granules are small and compact, Plavor excellent, and it is a good yiecldor. Canes are upright, about two or three fcot hign and Bristles of a light color, ususily covered with bloom. green, short and scattering. The plant is moderately hardy and wortny of a vlaee in every garden. The sccond species, Rubus strigosus, is very widely disseminated throughcut the American contincnt. Ii is the wild Red Raspoerry so comzon in our fence rows and svamps. It closely rescmbles the European species in many re- spects, but it is, however, a much heracler piant and is round growing wild under creatly varying climatic con- ditions. ‘The fruit is tcnder and somewhat watery, but the flavor is fine. The canes are slunder and orect clotned with straight, weak and numerous light brown bristies, disappearing gradually in the cultivated varieties; the lcaves are (6) three or Sive foliolate oblong or oval leaflets, obtuse at base, hairy and light colored beneath. Inrloresence racemose Feeemese upon newly grown latcrial and terminal spurs, peduncles slender and drooping, either simple or two or three flowered, not aggregeted at the top of the cane. Petals wnitc, as iong as tne sevals, fruit light red variable in size but usually small and rich flavored. Granules closely compacted, watcry, and each provided with a wavy bristle. The specific name Strigosus signivies covered with strigae, i.e. hairs. The number of varieties dcrived from this species is increasing annually, as sardners are coming to see the immense advantage in hardiness which tney possess over foreign varieties. There cain scarcely ve a doubt that if the same persistcnt efforts were put forth to improve our native Red Raspberry that nave been lavished on foreign Cuthbert. (7) ones, we would now have c great numbdcr orf varieties far superior to those rom abroad. Of the varities now in cultivation only a few are suitable for market berries because they are so soft and watery. Chief among the exceptions to this rule is the Cuthbert. It was originated by Thomas Cuthbert of N. J. and had recently been widcly disseminated. It ripons from July 15th to the cnd of the month and is a general favorite for both home and market use. The rruiit is largo, conical and of a bright red color. ‘The granules are large, closely set and hairy, berries of a sprightly, agrceable flavor, very juicy and very solid, canes stout, upright, of e« reddish brorm color and about four fect high; the bark often vresents a cracked surface and is seantily covered with weak, straignt bristles. The canes often branch and by heading in are made to send out numerous latcrial snoots which greatly incrcase the num- ber or bearing spurs, they are vory hardy and proauce a Turner. GOLDEN Qucen. (8) large crop or fruit. Next to the Cuthbert in desirable qualities we would pPlacc the Turner. This berry ripons rrom July loth to the 25th ana is suitable for both home and narket pur- posCcSe Fruit conical, of a bricht red color, granules small and closely set, juiey and well flavored. ‘The canes are uprisht, or a brorvnish color, about four feet high and are scantily clovned with straight brovnish bristies. They arc quite hardy and yield well but the fruit is soft and watery when fully ripe. The Golden Qucen variety, although of a yellowish color, is classed as a desccondant of nk. strigosus, having upright stalks and straight ycliovisnh-brovwn bristles. It ripons irom July lith to the end of the month; it is used chictly ror dessert purposes; is long and conical in form, cream colored with bloom, grenules closely set and has a rich sricy flavor. It is e hardy vine and very Marlboro. “ Kirtlend. 7, a wee ee ne ee ee wee we ee ee ee er <2 ee ee eer. 7 ne ERE See cen 8 i ee oe ee tk nme ee productive. The tiarlboro ripens trom July 10th to the c4thn, isa good raniliy and market variety, large, oval in rorm and of a bricht red color. YThe granules are large, but closely set and very solid and the perry is of excciient flavor. Canes seanty in size and reclining so tnat they stand only two and one helf feet high. Bristies scanty, of a reddish brown color and straisht. The vines are not very hardy and yleld only an average crop. The Kirtland is a desirable variety because of its @arliness. Iv ripons as scon as July 10th and lasts untill about the 20th. Iv is cultivated for family use only, as it is tco watory for shivsing. Fruit cone snaped, of a bright red coior, graiules closely set, sweet, closely re- sembling in flavor the wiid specics. The canes are upright, abdout three feet high, having a brovnisn rough bark clothed with a scanty covering of stright vristlices. Vines nardy and productivo. (10) Javon chara- Tne tvo specics i.. Ideaeus and R. strigosus form a toristics of srouv or plants wnieh aiffer from the other species in - Idacus &{| the fact that they propagate wholly by root cuttings or . Stvigo.uus.| suckers, whilc the other forms of Raspberry propagate most readily by tip layers. | The third s,ecies, Rubus neglectus P, has often been rd Species grouped with Rubus occidentalis, which follows it, but - neglectus.s good authorities now affirm that it constitutes a species by itself with char .ctcristics sufricie:tly well derined to warrant its separa':.ion. The varivies constituting it are not suvposed to have a common origin either on this or the other side of the Atlantic. Its habit is excced~ ingly various, consisting of garden varieties that do not properly fall under either of the other svecics. Its va- ricties are generally hardy and vigorous crowers. The hare.ctoris- | fruit consists of large graincd watery berries varying 3 in color from purple black to bright purple or even yellovw- ish. ‘the stems, in typical “orms, are long, recurved, nr wre re mg ee ee Varieties. Shaffre's Colossal. (IL) and rooting from the tips, they are usually glaucous and provided vith more or less bristies of a hocked nature. -_ aa ——e. — — a eS om ee ee —— mes ome _—_ — ews Inflorescence racemose-cymos, she peduncles short and prickly, mostly stiff, upper ones erect or ascending, symmetrical avove but unequally branched below, some of them aggregated above. tne varieties of R. neglectus in general cultivation are quite limitcd and cnly Shaffre's Colossal, Giadstone and Caroline are wortny of much at- tention. The Shaffer's Colossal ripens from July 10th on to Auge 5th and is used both as a family and market berry. It is oval in form, somevhat flattened, of a dark purple color with bloom, the granules large and inclincd to be loosely compacted, of a peculiar foxy teste. Canes are drooping, from three to rour fect high, vrisiles slightly recurved, few and stout, of a purplish color with bloom on the canes. This is a hardy variety yitel- ding large crops. J Glads‘one..: Sew ele eee eee eee ees > i Caroline., ee ee ee 1 ee OT (12) The Gladstone ripens its fruit from July 1st to the e5the It 18 raised chiefly in gardens ror fanily use, ana is of a flattened spherical Yrorm, purple color with bloom, the granules large end locsely compacted, the flavor foxy and objecvionaole to many until they learn to like it. ‘The canes are upricnt, slightly recurved and about two fect high. The bristles are fev and short, and the park presents a peculiar cracked avcearance. The Gladstone is a tender variety and yields well only when protccted during winter. The Caroline ripons its -ruit from July 10th to the eoth and is used chiefly ‘or desscrte It is oval in form of « yellowish-brown color, granules loosely compacted, and it has an agrecable flavor and sweet taste. the czne are visorous, upricht, recurved, and avout three cand one hal? feet high, covered witn light brown, recurved bris- tles. Iv is very hardy and yields weil. R. neglectus with R. oecciccntalis and R. Canadensis ‘th Species. tl. ocecidcn- ac A i> @ 3 farieties. (13) are propogated by tip layers o:ly. The fourth species, Rubus occidentslis, L. or Black- cap, is confined ynoliy to America. I% is most cormon from Virsinia north and westvard, and its several varieties bear a pleasant tasting fruit in great abundance, with little or ro care. Its stems are iong at maturity, and recurved tending to root at the tips, as this is the only moans or propagation except by sccds, the stem is glaucous, armed with stiff recurved bristles. Leaves pinnately thrce foliate, leavYlets ovate acuminate, light colored beneatne Inflorescence densely cymose, tne pcoduncles all ag- gergatcd near the topmost part of tne cane and bearing stiff prickles. Petals shorter than the sepals, white; fruit depressed, firm, dense and bdlaok, separating from the dry conical receptacle as do also the preccding species. The varieties most worthy or cultivation are Gregg, Gregg. Ohio. (14) Ohios Souhegan and silborn. The Gregg rivcns quite late and on this account should pe cultivated along with the Souhegan one of the earliest sorts. The porry 13 iarge, fliaticined and black with bloom; it ripcns about the 15th of July and lasts into August. It is valuable poth for home and market use. The gran- ules are very closely set and the berry of an excellent flavor. Canes upright recurved, about three and one half feet high, having a purplish bloom and stout hooked bristles. It is a hardy variety and its productiveness is increased by the young canes frequcntly bearing iarge clusters of exccliont fruit at tncir uccer extremities. The Ohio is next to the Gregg in desirable qualities The rruit ripons from July 10th on to the end of the month. It is used for family and market purvoses, is of a flattened spherical form, black with bloom, good sized sounegan Wilbrcn. 27 Wor ee, em ee (15) granules closely set, with excelicent flavor. The canes are upright, recurved and avcut three feet high. Bris- tles are few, stout, recurved; bark is covcred with a purple blocm. Pients are vigorous and hardy and good yiclders. the Souhegan is escecially desirable to cultivate as an early blackcap variety. itv ripens from July 5th to July 20th and is excelient both for family and market use, It is of a flattened sphcrical form, black,granules close- ly set, very solid and juicy and o* excellcnt flavor. The cenes are upright, recurved, about two fcct high, park covered vith purple bloom and clothed with a few recurved stout bristles. It is hardy and a good yielder. The Hilborn ripcns soon efter the Soughegan and lasts until July 20th. It is « «ood variety for family or market use, of an oval form, sranules compact, black with whitish bloom, juicy and sweet. The canes are up- right, straight and spreading, abcut two ond one nalf uh Svecie '. Viliosu Speciric Nareeter- stics. S De (16 ) feet in heisht. Brisiles arc numerous, purple bpioom, and ahardy vine. It ylelds a fino crod with sood care and well draincd soil. The fifth species, Rubus vil_osus, Ait., is the High Blackverry found almost cvcrywhere, in “enee rows and “orest oponings. The stem is shrubpoy, rom tro to eignt fect high, grooved, upright and veset with formida- ble recurved szincs. Its roots spread rapidly and propo- gate by suckers or root cuttings very frcely. Leaflets thrce to five, ovate, acuminate, serrate, petioles prick- ly. ‘the plant varies greatly in size. Inriorescence ra- cemose, raceme lcaflets a sort of spur, both laverial and terminal, many rlowvercd, bocaring elonsetcd oval berries. Petcls longer then scsals and conspicuously large and white. Fruit sranular, vhe groins usually closcly sev and clinsine to the small pithy reeeptacle;, when picked this breaks orf with the berry. Yarietics. ‘aylor's 7 rolilic. harly (17) The variczies of Blackberry arc not numcrous, as it has only becn acsittcd to garden cultivation for @ few years and is still uncerscing ravid improvemcnt. The most aitraetive variezics are Taylor's Prolific, Karly Wilson, Snyder, ‘ncient Britton and Minnewaskli. Taylor's Prolific ripens ‘rom July 25th to the end of Aucust. It is an a:tractive berry both ror ramily and market use; in Yorm it is elongated, oval, shiny black color, medium size, grezules thickly sct, solid, juicy and sweet. The canc are of stout upright growth, some- what grooved, beset with Snarp, sicut recurved bristics. It grows three or feur rect high, has a grecnish prom 4 c bark, is hardy end a good yielder. The Early Wilson ripens its fruit at nearly the same time as the Taylor anc is crovrn both vor family and market usee Berry is elongated conical, sniny black, granules closcly set, flavor cxceciicnt.e The cicnes are stout, lurge and thorny, vout are best onydcr. Ancient Britton. (18 ) managed when trinmed to three or four feet high; tne bark is brovnish and the cenes very hardy ard productive. Fruit on numerous short scurs in « 1ioose panicle. The Srydcr is a little lator then the foregoing, and ripens from August first to the cond cf the month. It is a family anda market berry, elongatcd conical, shiny black, vith thickly set granules, the truit or ne- Gium size and excelent flavor. The cores arc medium sized, from threo to four fect hign, heving grcenish recurved bristles. ‘he rruit in this variety is avund:nt, end in ioosc panicles near the upper end of whe cenes. The Ancient Britton ripons its fruit from July 28th on tnroucgh August. It is cultivated mainly for family use, as 1% is not quite so productive as those alrcady deseribede Fruit cicngeted, shiny black, granules large ard com,act, of a rich flavor and very sveet and juicy. 6th Species R. Canadery+ Varieties. (19) Canes stout, three fcet high, grooved, brovmish spines straight and numerous. It is a hardy variety and fair yielider. The Miinnewaski is cultivated as a late variety, ri- pening its fruit from August 10th on through the montne It is ror family or market use; clongated conical, of a shiny black color and rich flavor. Canes smaller than many others but vigorous and straight, grooved,of a gree ish brown color, having numerous recurved bristles; hard and 2 ood yiclder when not affected by drouth. The sixth species, Rubus Canadensis is the Northern Dewberry, or trailing blackberry. Canes slightly prickly, of a grecnish color and not sufficiently rigid to supcort itself. Leaves three foll- ate, learlets eliptical or rnomb-oval, acuminate, thin; pediccls long; in loose panicle. Frit large and sweet, about tivo weeks ecrlier than the blackberry. ‘The only varieties worthy of cultivation are the Everett and Everett ° Lucretia. rfayh Species R. cuncifc- 11ius. (20 ) Lucretia. the Everett ripcns its fruit about July 2Oth and may be classed as a family berry. Graiules large and loosely sets; making an irregular shaped berry, shiny, black, svicetish, juicy and seedy. Vines trailing, greenish brow beset with small recurved bristles. Fruit on single pediecls in a loose ~yanicle. A hardy vine yielding mod- erately well. The Lucretia ripens its rruit aocut the middle or July and is valuable as coming botwoen raspberries and blackberries and also for southern grovers, where the High Blackberry will not succeed. Fruit long, conical; shiny vlack, granules large but somevhat locsely set; berry juicy out somernat foxy, especiaily if srown in the shade. Canes traiiing three or four fect long, having green bark beset with many slightly recurved vrisiles, It is hardy and productive. The sever.th spccics, Rubus cuncifolius, Pursh. or sard Blackberry, is one of the more common species growir from two to three fect high and ripening an abundance of (21 ) well flavored fruit in August. ‘This species is found a- na Cc Yspecific long the castern scabgqrd and has pubescent three foliate Cheractcr- leaves, leaflets wedge ob-ovate, entire at pase, dentate istics. | at tipe Fiowers in loose few flowered racemes, with white showy petcls. The varities of this berry are not comzuon in northern latitudes. 8th Species. The eighth srecies, Rubus Cnamacmorus, L., or Cloud- Re. Chamac- perry, is round growing on the White Mountains and also in Lapland. I% has a decumbent stom, only one foot high, et ane em eee TIOTUS . ) ' gmocth one flowered pedicles and leaves in pairs having five rounded lobes, serrate, inriorcsccnee white, shory, fruit large orange-red; plants propagated by root cutting. General re-! These eight species constitute tne most useful part marks on of the genus Rubus and furnish e large share of our cultivation, garden fruit in great profusion and variety. The soil t ' pest adapted to their cultivation is a dark sandy loam sep culture., deep and rich. In the preparation of the soil for grow- é + | ing berries very vhorough end dcep ylowing and pulvcri- , Zation is desirable. Iv is a vell established truth in mw ee ww Ue Se ee ee Fertilizers bican Cultur Rows. horticulture that we can materially lessen the erlcet of a lons drouth in drying up irmature bevries by icep cul- ture at the time of planting. The soll shoulc rot be lacking in fertility and tnis is best suvvlied by apvulying stable manure or bone dust in the bottom of the ,its before tne plants are sct. Hovever, much ay pe done to enrich the soil by applying the fertilizer to tne surface along the rows and tnen working it in by cultivation. Clean cultire at all times is very helpful in tiding over a drouth, as well as in the increased yield. Berries should always ve kept in straight rows far enough distant for horse culture. Red Raspberries may be srovn readily with rovs four fcet apart and pl:nts two or three feet apart in the row. Lackcaps snould be six feet between the rows so as to give room ror the strong vigorous, recurved cuenes. Blackcerrics should be eisht fect betviecen the rows, with plants sour feet aparte ) Pruning. Vulching. (23 ) As the cenes ere all bi-er:.ials, the bearing canes should be removed evory seccson after the crop is harves- ted, or at least as soon as the roliowing spring. Whiie this is being, done, indced wnile the fruit is being gathered, the growth of the new canes for the next year's fruitage shculd be cererully inspected. Red Raspberries teins propagated generaliy by suck- ers, oniy a sufficicnt number necd be left to supyly the placc of the drying ones. MThesc cen be materially stren- gsthened by heading in; sidc shocts are also thus enccur=- accede. Stakes and other suxvports can generally be renderec useless by attonding to the pruning of the growing canes at the prover time. Another mattocr thet is beginning to command the at- tention of fruit growers is mulching the vines just before the drouth begins to take effeet on the ripening fruit. A thorough cultivation of the soil the last of June fol- lowed by a good mich of straw would doubtless do much to Propagating. Provagat ing Bieeckberricd ee a Nm ge (24) prolong the fruiting scascn, especially of blackKeaps and blackberries. As to provageting the difrerent species of Rubus, the matter has alrcady veen incidentally touched upon. Red Raspoerries are comzuonly propagated by transplanting the suckers thet spring uv frcely avout the old stool. This transplanting may be done citner in the fall while they arc yet green, or the following spring. In cithner ease they should not be alioved to bear the first year after planting, but the nevi canes should be cut back so as to give much of the sap to the growing shoots which are to bear the fruit the second year. Blackperries are treated the same as Red Raspberries and should have the ycung canes cut back to, at most three reet in height.