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The Blackberry

If the strawberry, with its combined tartness, sweetness, brilliance yet shyness of beauty may be regarded as a feminine type the blackberry may as truly be said to possess masculine characteristics. The blackberry vine's vigour, its happy-go-lucky, sturdy habit of growth, its wandering prodigality, its riotous, rollicking insistence of right-to-be, and thorny defence against aggression are marked traits (modified, of course, by training) of the "eternal boy." The blackberry and strawberry might well be considered brother and sister since both belong to the Rose Family. The blackberry (Rubus) shows in its generic and "nick" names similar Roman and Anglo-Saxon associations, Rubus being connected with the Latin ruber (red), and "blackberry" derived from the Anglo-Saxon blackberige and Old English Blackberye. "Bramble," applied to both black and raspberries, takes its meaning from the Anglo-Saxon brembel, or brember, that which tears or lacerates.

The blackberry is rather unusual among fruits as being astringent instead of laxative; fruit, young leaves, and roots all partaking of this quality. It is said to contain iron and from its general tonic composition effectually tones up the system. The Greeks made from the pressed young shoots of the plant a thick syrup to be given internally for throat, mouth, and eye troubles, but more commonly the berries and roots have been used for various specifics, particularly the roots for troubles related to dysentery. The sugar of the berries makes them more palatable and nourishing and the mild acids are cooling to the blood. Blackberry cordial is an excellent remedy for diarrhœa and blackberry wine is tonic in effect while the jams and syrups made from the berry are very pleasing forms of throat remedies. The decoction from the roots is prepared by "boiling down an ounce of the smaller roots, or of the bark of the larger, in a pint and a half of water, down to a pint; of which from one to two fluid-ounces may be given to an adult three or four times, or more frequently during the twenty-four hours." (Wood & Bache: U. S.

Dispensatory.) The Dewberry is but a variety, with sub-varieties, of blackberry, the coating of which is considered to resemble dew.