BLACKBERRIES of Four English Varieties Are Introduced Into U. S.

Two European varieties of blackberries have become important in the United States—the Evergreen (known also as the Oregon Evergreen, Black Diamond, Star, Wonder, etc.) and the Himalaya. The Evergreen was introduced from England into Oregon and Washington about 75 years ago and into New Jersey more than 25 years ago. It has become important in both regions because of its healthy plant, enormous yield, and firm fruit. The Himalaya is apparently identical with the Theodor Reimer, a German variety, and was introduced into this country between 1890 and 1900. It is prized on the Pacific coast for its vigor and productiveness and the delicious flavor of its fruit.


FIGURE 29.—The Evergreen blackberry, an important commercial variety

Because of the value of these two varieties in this country, all new English varieties are of interest. The United States Department of Agriculture has introduced three such varieties—Pollock, Sherlock jr., and Edward Langley. A fourth variety, Common British, was introduced by the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, and plants were sent to the United States Department of Agriculture for testing. The Common British resembles the broad-leaved type of the Evergreen found in New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington. Its leaves are not so finely divided, and the berries ripen several days earlier and seem slightly larger. In other fruit and plant characteristics, including vigor and type of growth, it is not easily distinguished from the Evergreen. It should be tested in comparison with the Evergreen, especially because it ripens somewhat earlier and may extend the marketing season.

Two Vigorous and Productive Varieties
"The Pollock and Sherlock jr. resemble each other closely, and it is not certain that more than one should be grown. The Sherlock jr. does not seem to be quite so hardy as the Evergreen, hence it may be most value in the milder portions of the regions where the Evergreen is grown and in those with still milder climates. The plants are as vigorous as the Evergreen, healthy and productive, and the crop ripens several days before that variety. The hairy canes are biennial at Washington, D. C., but are perennial, like those of the Himalaya, in California, where they bear year after year on the same canes.  The berries are of fair size, firm like those of the Evergreen, with excellent flavor,and are easily picked from the long lateral fruit branches.

The Edward Langley does not produce quite as vigorous canes as the others; it is earlier than Himalaya; its leaves are mostly trifoliate, although some have five leaflets; its clusters are much more compact than the other European sorts; its berries are fully as soft as the Himalaya, but its seeds are much smaller, and its flavor is excellent.  It is productive, but in California the berries are reported to separate with difficulty from the stems. In Maryland no such difficulty has been encountered.  If it does not prove generally difficult to pick, its high quality and small seeds commend it. It seems more promising for Pacific coast conditions than for the eastern United States.

Sherlock jr., Pollock, and Edward Langley should probably all be trained as is the Evergreen in regions where the latter is grown.  They are not adapted to the colder sections, but are recommended or trial in regions where temperatures below zero are rarely encountered.

GEORGE M. DARROW.