The ranch., February 15, 1903, Page 5, Image 5

About The ranch. (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914

Image provided by: Washington State Library; Olympia, WA

                
BURBANK'S HIMALAYA GIANT
BLACKBERRY.
This bulletin is issued for the pur
pose of acquainting the people of
Western Washington with a berry
which, from among the various tests
of varieties of black-berries at this
station during the past three years,
stands out conspicuously as one well
adapted to this portion of the country.
This berry has been examined during
the past two years by many of the
berry growers of the country and has
been pronounced by all as a plant of
exceptional promise.
Origin and History.—Burbank's
Himalaya Giant is a seedling raised
from some seed obtained from the
Himalaya mountains in Asia some
eight or ten years ago. It was intro
duced into this country by Luther
Burbank, of Santa Rosa, Cal., who se
lected the best plant from this seed
and propagated it.
Three years ago a comparative test
of varieties of small fruit was begun
at this station and a number of vari
eties of blackberries were introduced,
among which was the Himalaya Giant.
These were planted in good sandy
loam—a type of the best berry land
in the Puyallup valley.
About the same time Mr. A. Mc-
Murray, of TumWater, Washington, in
troduced the same Tariety from Cali
fornia and planted it on shot clay up
land, below which, at a depth of two
or three feet, was a subsoil of sand.
On both hill and bottom land the
growth of this berry has been remark
able.
Habits. —In habit and appearance it
greatly resembles the Evergreen
blackberry, Rubus lactiniatus Willd.
It has long trailing canes which are
strong and thick varying from one
to one and a half inches in diamteer
on the bottom land. It is a ranker
grower than the Evergreen and has to
be trained to the trellis while young
and pliable or it will soon get beyond
control. At the station this year the
new canes made a growth of between
25 and 30 feet. On the hill land at
Tumwater the growth was not nearly
so rank as on the sandy bottom, part
ly due lo tlie nature of the soil and
partly' to, lack of cultivation. The
plant is, however, strong and healthy
and is considered by Mr. McMurray
as the best berry in his nursery.
The Fruit. —Compared with the Ev
ergreen the berries are about the
same size, the seeds are smaller and
the flavor better. It ripens its fruit
about the same time as the Snyder
and Kittatinny, being a much earlier
berry than the Evergreen. The season
is long, lasting this year from August
1, date of first picking, to September
13, date of last picking.
Last year comparative tests of the
keeping qualities of a number of vari
eties of blackberries were made as
follows: Boxes of Erie, S'nyder, Kit
tatinny, Early Harvest and Himalaya
Giant were carefully picked and laid
away in a cool place. At the end of
seven days upon examination the
Himilaya; Giant was found to be in
splendid condition, while all the oth
ers were covered with mould. This
year another test was made with the
same result. Shipping tests made last
year resulted in its being carried to
St. Paul in excellent condition without
the refrigerator.
Planting and Cultivation. —In plant
ing, the hills should be at least 25
feet apart in the row on account of
the great length of canes. The rows
should be about 8 feet apart to admit
of proper cultivation. The usual mode
of training the Evergreen has been
used at the station with good success,
i. c., the canes are trained both ways
on a trellis. All laterals should be
kept cut off during the growing season
else they will soon occupy all the
space between the rows.
Thorough cultivation is necessary
for best results, as this plant is a vig
orous grower and needs plenty of
moisture in order to mature its fruit.
It readily responds to applications of
liquid during the ripening of the fruit.
As yet we have not been able to
make a fair estimate of the yield of
this berry, but in comparison with the
Evergreen it promises to be superior
in that respect.
Other Features.—The plant is very
hardy, its canes are smooth and clean,
and as yet has shown no tendency to
ward disease. It may be propagated
from suckers, which it produces in
abundance in the autumn, and from
the tips of the canes which take root
readily if covered with soil early in
the season.
Conclusions. —Here in Western
Washington there are many localities
pre-eminently adapted to the culture
of berries, and in some, particularly
the Puyallup Valley, berry growing
has become one of the principal indus
tries. A large amount of berries is
shipped each year to points in Mon
tana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, etc., and
to supply this market varieties are
much sought for which possess the
qualities of productiveness, firmness,
good flavor, etc. In the two years'
study of Burbank's Himalaya Giant
here it has exhibited all these qual
ities to a greater degree than any oth
er variety now known to the berry
growers of this section.
While our experience with it is lim
ited, we feel safe in recommending
it to those of our fruit growers who
help to supply a distant market and
who desire a healthy, hardy and pro
ductive blackberry.
D. A. BRODIE,
Supt. Puyallup Experiment Station.
An Interesting Experiment.
The department of chemistry, as
sisted by the department of agricul
ture, of the experiment station at
Pullman, is engaged in an interesting
experiment to determine the effect up
on lard of cotton seed meal fed to
hogs. Chemists have hitherto relied
chiefly upon a certain test to show the
presence of cotton seed oil in adulter
ated lard. There seems to be some in
dication that lard from hogs fed with
cotton seed meal will respond to the
same test. While this would seem
contrary to the accepted principles of
metabolism, yet the evidence is sif
ficient to warrant careful examination.
The two departments above mention
ed are at work upon the problem.
They were at supper. Between the
courses the young man with the vo
racious appetite discoursed eloquent
ly on things in general.
"Do you know, Miss Dash," he re
marked, "I think there is a very inti
mate relation between our food and
our character. I believe, don't you
know, that we grow like what we are
most fond of."
The fair girl smiled sweetly.
"How Interesting!" she murmured.
"May I pass you the ham, Mr. Jones?
I am sure you will like it-."
And the young man relapsed into
deep thought.—From London An
swers.
THE RANCH.
International Harvester Trust (to the dealers): — "We have piped unto
you and ye have not danced." —Matthew XI: 17.
(See proceedings of Dealers' Conventions at Dcs Moines, Wichita,
Sioux Falls, etc., etc.)
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