HISTORY OF THE BLACKBERRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19952, 20 November 1926, Page 3

HISTORY OF THE BLACKBERRY

Each issue of the Gardeners’ Chronicle contains, under the heading "Gardeners’ Chronicle Seventy-five Years Ago,’ a paragraph referring to something of horticultural interest in the old issues of the paper. In the issue for September 4 a correspondent writes as follows concerning seeds of the blackberry found in an ancient British mound in Dorsetshire: “Having read the article on the subject of seed discovered in opening a barrow or tumulus in this neighbourhood (Waroham) with considerable interest, 1 hasten to forward my recollections of the circumstance, which may perhaps satisfy you that no imposition was practised by the gentleman who supplied you with the account at the time of the discovery. A. barrow was, at the period named, opened on Ridgeway Hill, near the very ancient British hill fort, Maiden Castle, and seeds of the description named, found, some of which I saw at the time; and I then, as Ido still, place implicit faith upon the account which my friend gave me of the discovery. Some time afterwards, I was informed that the experiment of trying whether the seed would vegetate was conducted with great care, and the result had been that of producing the common blackberry plant, upon which, in all probability, the warrior had breakfasted, and, ere the stomach had had power bo act upon the seed, been slain on some neighbouring battle field. As connected with the present subject, I may perhaps be permitted to remark, that no part of England is more rich in relics of our aboriginal ancestry than Dorset, and the counties immediately surrounding it; but, it is a source of daily regret that the hand of the improver (?) should so ruthlessly destroy that which the withering hand of time has scarcely altered through a period of more than 2000 years. In the neighbouring Isle of Purbeck, there are parts of Druidical circles scattered about, some of which have, in my own memory, been split into fragments and employed to construct a drain or a bye-road across the health Within n mile of the very ancient British fastness from which I now address you. Wareham, whose earthen ramparts, though so unique, are shamefully and wilfully destroyed a barrow was opened not long since, solely for the purpose of using the materials to repair the turnpike roads —millions of loads of cxcelleht gravel lying nt the same moment nearer at hand, for the trouble of digging it. In this barrow upwards of 30 urns full of calcined bones and ashes were deposited, and most of them recklessly destroyed.”