Narrative
For many years Cumberland was the most widely and most commonly grown black raspberry. The assets which gave it high standing were productiveness and hardiness of plant, and large size and high quality of fruit. The fruits are especially firm, and therefore in favor with shippers. The berries hold their size well until the close of the season. It is now losing in popularity because of susceptibility to anthracnose, the streak disease, and rosette. Cumberland originated with David Miller, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, and after having been grown locally for some years was introduced in 1896. In 1899 the American Pomological Society added Cumberland to its fruit catalog list. The variety was supposed to be a seedling of Gregg but this origin is doubtful.Plants tall, vigorous, upright-spreading, unusually hardy, very productive, susceptible to anthracnose and rosette, contract streak disease rapidly; canes smooth, greenish changing to light reddish brown, heavily glaucous; prickles large, long, thick, strong, very numerous, greenish; leaflets 3 to 5, of medium size, broadly ovate, rugose, with dentate margins; petiole medium in length and thickness, prickly, glabrous, glaucous. Flowers early; pedicels prickly, pubescent; calyx smooth. Fruit early midseason, ships well, usually holds up in size to the close of the season; large, conical, attractive black, clings well to the short, small, roundish torus, although the berry is released readily, heavily glaucous; drupelets large, round, with strong coherence so that the berries do not crumble; flesh juicy, firm, sweet, rich; quality very good.
heritage black raspberry cultivar from Appalachian Mountains
NAMED FOR= named for the Cumberland Gap Region of the Appalachian Mts.