Blackberries.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 73, 25 August 1885, Page 2

Blackberries.

[Sydney Ma£Z.] ' : ■ r ' We cannot say we" are any better r off fat fruit than our brethern m the mother, country ; yet although we have plenty of localities where the. blackberry .will grow we only see patches here amLthere along .the roadsides. The good varieties of blackberries arenow quoted as the fruit of the future m the mother-country, and our American cousins are not far behind them m cult : vating.this fruity either for private or commercial purposes, and we doubt not that good samples put into the market at a time when fruit is not over plentiful, as regards variety will find ready sale at remunerative rates. It is said that timber suitable for fencing purposes is both scarce and expensive. If such is the case wherefore not find a I gubstituto ? and as an impenetrable hedge the blackberry might 6e selected for the purpose. Its rattier rambling habit can be easily kept within bounds by a plashing hook, and m the autumn an almost unlimited supply of berries may be obtained that will make preserves ot a far superior quality to any imported tins of mysteries. Our ; experience of colonial-grown English; blackberries: is that m elevated situations the fruit Ja quite eqiral, if not superior to the homegrown, and as a dessert dish, when the berries are fully ripe they are excellent, As regards the varieties, we/have little to say ; we have not 6een the tfuit of the Lawton, and therefore know '-nothing of its qualities ; bnt m fair, good land the old familiar English blackberry leaves nothing to be desired. We therefore .recnminend those who may have sitqatipqa where hedges are requisite to plant the bramble, it serving the twofold purpose of a fence and a means for a supply of fruit.