Chance Seed, New Raspberry

Northern Advocate, 6 January 1948, Page 5

Chance Seed, New Raspberry

Thanks to a chance seed, presumably dropped by a bird in an English garden some 12 years ago, six acres of a new variety of raspberry are now in full bearing. The seedling was found by Mr A. G. Bird, and, as it happened not to bo in the way, he let it grow. In due course it bore fruit. Struck by the unusual size and fine flavour of the berries, he decided to propagate the strain and eventually had a row across the garden. The raspberries were seen by an expert. who told Mr Bird that he had by sheer luck chanced on something new. The recipient of this gift from the skies thereupon decided to cultivate the raspberry seriously and his patience and enterprise have been rewarded this year by a wonderful crop. PROLIFIC YIELD The Chartham Raspberry, as he has named it, yields prolifically fine bold berries on sturdy canes which stand up remarkably to the buffeting they receive from the strong winds on the hilltop where they are growing. A feature is the long fruiting season. While ripe fruit was being gathered, blossom gave promise of further pickings later on.

Mr Bird, besides reaping a good financial reward from the sale of fruit which had so romantic a beginning, is being asked for supplies of canes by other growers who have seen his crop.