The Romance of the “HONEYSWEET” BLACK RASPBERRY Discovered, Developed and distributed by A. B. KATKAMIER, - MACEDON, N. Y. THE DISCOVERY. HrHIS valuable addition to the berry fruits of the world was discovered in 1912. One July evening, after a day of strenuous work, I sat down on a pile of old boards to rest a moment before going heme. By chance my eyes rested on a black raspberry bush growing by the side of an old building. The berries on the bush were nearly all ripe and glistening in the mellow sunlight like great clusters of gems. I tasted the berries and lound them to be of an unusual, distinct flavor, sweet and luscious. They were unlike any black raspberry I had ever seen, even though I had for years made a practise of testing and, if of merit, introducing into the com- munity all the new varieties of berry fruits. I determined to propagate plants from the original bush, and the year it was found I secured seven tip plants and from these I now have six acres of bearing bushes. GETTING A NAME. The past summer of 1918 much of the fruit was sold on the public market at Rochester, N. Y. The berries soon became known for their large size, glossy black color and delicious flavor. One morning a Russian Jew huckster who had previously bought a few crates of the berries asked me if I had “ more of the honey sweet berries for him.” No sooner had he pronounced the words ‘‘honey” and “sweet” than I concluded to combine the words for a name for the berry, especially as these words so nicely describe the quality of the fruit. The berry now is called “The Honeysweet.” The Honeysweet black raspberry was found in the center of the greatest raspberry pro- ducing section of the world, comprising the counties of Yates, Ontario, Monroe and Wayne. It has been viewed and tested by many of the best berry growers in this locality and pronounced by them “ O. K.” I believe that the Honeysweet is a cross of the Plum Farmer and the Gregg, as I formerly grew these well known varieties in the vicinity of the old building. A MONEY MAKER. Had I not rested a moment on that pile of old boards — not a very comfortable seat ’tis true — it is doubtful if the Honeysweet would have been discovered. "Whether it was “good luck,” or Providential, or chance or whatever it was that led me to observe that seedling raspberry, certain it is that the gold of the sunset on that July evening became real gold of the coin of the realm, for the fruit has made many dollars for me. Customers come back for more of the delicious berries. They are willing to pay the highest market price for them. The full quarts of the shining black fruits, which they know have such an attractive quality, open the pocket-book without a regret. Selling the berries at the prices of the last few years was like finding money. There is every prospect of even better prices during the next few years — even if the war closes before another crop is ripe. In these times of a scarcity of help the Honeysweet will appeal favorably to fruit growers, because the berries can be left on the bushes longer without injury than can the berries of any other variety, thus making it possible to harvest a large acreage with a mini- mum number of pickers. The inherent firmness of the berries permits the crop being picked, if necessary, at two pickings. I have tried this out satisfactorily. Other varieties became slippery and mouldy. Ripening early mid-season, it is more than half harvested before the Columbian needs picking. Because of the large amount of fruit-sugar in the Honeysweet, a given quantity of the fresh fruit will make a larger weight of dried stock than any other variety, and the berries will dry more quickly and with less heat. GOOD QUALITIES. The Honeysweet black raspberry is hardy. It passed through the severe fruit tree killing weather of the winter of 1917-18 without apparent injury. In four acres of young bushes there is hardly a plant missing. This field of yearlings is said by fruit growers to be the finest and healthiest plot of raspberries they have ever seen. The vigorous canes covered with leaves of a distinctive light green color make a pleasing sight. The Honeysweet is productive. The many clusters of big black raspberries seem to cover the bushes. At a time when so many black raspberry fields have gone wrong and become unproductive, the finding of this new variety seems very fortunate. The Honeysweet is glossy-black. It does not have the bloom which makes some berries objectionable on the market. The Honeysweet is firm. The fruit pulp surrounding the seeds is so full of thick, sweet juice that the texture of the berry is noticeably resistant to pressure. Fill the quart boxes once full and when the lid of the crate is lifted at the end of a long journey, the boxes will be found still full. There will be no “ slackers.” The Honeysweet is sweet. I have seen purchasers eat nearly half a quart box of the berries without sugar. As a dessert fruit itvdoes not require half the sweetening needed with other varieties. In pies it is supreme. As a canned sauce and as a jam it is relished as a delicacy. I shall plant extensively of the Honeysweet for fruit, and have only a limited number of plants for sale. It will take years for the supply of plants to equal the demand and the alert fruit and plant growers can help meet the need with profit to their customers and satis- factory returns for themselves. I believe no fruit of equal merit was ever introduced at such moderate prices. Five tip plants for $1.00. Twelve tip plants for $2.00. Twenty-five tip plants for $3.7?. Fifty tip plants for $7.00. One hundred tip plants for $12.50. • „ , ■ (Sent postage paid.) ' Columbian tip plants $2.25 per 100, $1.25 per 50, postage paid. Asparagus plants one year old, 75 plants for $1.00, postage paid. Strawberry plants, 60 cents per 50, $1.00 per 100, postage paid. Haverland, Bubach, Sample, Senator Dunlap, Parsons Beauty. NEW STRAWBERRIES. After testing out thousands of seedling strawberry plants, The New York Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva, N. Y., selected the following eight varieties as having merit and placed a few of each variety with me for further testing. I t m delighted with them. I shall set out hundreds of them for fruiting. I can spare a few of each kind at one dollar per dozen, postage paid. For a more detailed description read the station bulletin No. 447 » “ Newer Varieties of Strawberries.” ADDISON, P, mid-season, productive, large, glossy, medium red, firm, good quality. ALDEN, P, mid-season, productive, large, bright glossy red, pleasant flavored. ANGOLA, P, mid-season, productive, large, glossy light red, juicy, sprightly, good quality. ARCADE. S, mid-season, large, productive, attractive red, juicy, firm, good. ARGYLE, S, mid-season, productive, large, glossy dark red, juicy, firm, high qual- ity. ASHTON, S, mid-season, large, productive, glossy dark red, juicy, firm, good. ATHENS, S, mid-season, large, very productive, bright red, sprightly, good. AURORA, S, late mid-season, plants vigorous, glossy, even, medium red, firm, juicy, good, ships well. ALL PLANTS READY OCTOBER 1ST, 1918. FALL SET BERRY PLANTS. For seven years I have set out as far as time would permit, my berry fields in the late fall. I have better results than with spring set plants. This fall of 1918 I plan to set out 30,000 strawberry plants and 25,000 Honeysweet black raspberry plants, beginning Oct, 1 st and containing as other work allows, until the ground freezes permanently — usually the first week in December. These newly set plants will be mulched with such material as is available, covering the plants nicelv out of sight. This prevents their injury by the alternate freezing and thawing of the ground. But the mulch must not be omitted. The plants will remain dormant through the winter and will be ready to start with the first warm weather in the spring before spring set plants can be transplanted. The only way to have the best berry fruits when you want them is to grow them. SEED CORN. Eight years ago I began selecting corn for early maturity. Early types of Michigan Dent, Chinese Poor Land Dent, and State Eight Row Yellow Flint were crossed. Each year a larger number of ears develop to the type I desire. Planted by the 20 th of May in this section, it will be ripe enough to shock for husking the last week in August. On average land it yields above 150 bushels per acre, with many two ear stalks.’ By planting it you will take no chances on Mr. Jack Frost. My neighbors are giving me their orders to plant for their fields. I have named this corn the “August Hybrid. Price $ 6.00 per bushel, freight or express. Forty cents per quart, by mail, postage paid. FOR YOUR LECTURE COURSE. My new lecture for the season of 1918-19 is “ Co-operation the Greatest Human Resource.” This lecture carries sufficient humor to make it heard with pleasure as well as profit by both city and rural audiences. Terms : Ten dollars and actual expenses. A. B. Katkamier, Macedon, N. Y. THE ROMANCE OF THE HONEYSWEET BLACK RASPBERRY Discovered, Developed and Distributed by A. B. Katkamier Macedon, Wayne County, N.Y.