THE WORCESTERBERRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20152, 12 January 1929, Page 12

THE WORCESTERBERRY.

CULTIVATION IN AUCKLAND. NEW HYBRID GROWN. A hybrid berry, the first of its kind to lie grown in New Zealand, has been successfully raised by an Auckland nurseryman. It is called the worceslerberry, and was first produced in England by crossing the gooseberry and the black currant. There is a palatable blending of the flavours of both these fruits iu the hybrid, which iri size is smaller than a gooseberry, although very much larger than a currant. At maturity, it turns almost as black as the latter. The worceslerberry is a prolific cropper and bears its fruit three or four in a bunch. The foliage and habit of growth are identical with the gooseberry, even the thorns being present, but tho hvbrid is a much more rampant grower, and attains a greater size. The grower does not regard the worcesterberry as a commercial acquisition. Tho trouble and labour of harvesting, he states, would precllido the possibility of profitable commercial cultivation, but lie is convinced it would be a popular home-garden novelty. Another hybrid fruit with wluch the same nurseryman is experimenting is the heachberry, a cross between the blackberry and raspberry. This hybrid is reputed to be superior even to the loganberry, but so far it has not been brought to maturity here. The plant is of erect habit, and is characterised by shortjointed growths. An interesting departure in plum culture is represented by a promising variety derived from the Early Jewell and Purple King species. The new plum provides a wonderful blending of the characteristics of the parent varieties, and combines the early# maturity of the Early Jewell with the size and colour of the Purple King. Its blossoms perpetuate the self-pollinat-ing character of the Early .Jewell.