1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup shortening or butter
5 eggs, beaten until smooth
2 cups granulated sugar
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground allspice
2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups blackberries

Add baking soda to buttermilk. Mix flour, spices and salt together. Add all remaining ingredients except blackberries to the buttermilk-soda mixture; mix well. Add the blackberries (drain all juice, if frozen or canned), and beat until well mixed. Batter will be thick. Grease and flour a tube cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.

May be served plain or with whipped cream.