If) 8 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



pruning, though it is said to produce larger, better fruit by shortening in 

 the growing canes. Like most of the red sorts, this "suckers" profusely, 

 and must be confined to narrow rows and receive rich and good cultiva- 

 tion to develop its excellencies. I look for an increasing popularity for 

 this variety. 



Brandywine, though the most abundant of any variety in the markets 

 of the East, has not been generally grown in the West. The canes are 

 hardy, very prolific; fruit good, medium size, fair quality and sufficiently 

 firm for market purposes. 



Pride-of -the- Hudson should be left on the Hudson or elsewhere at 

 the East, as the canes cannot endure our extremes of temperature — an 

 utter failure here. 



Highland Hardy has not proved as hardy as the varieties commended 

 above, and I shall discontinue its cultivation. 



Black Raspberries. — The Gregg is a rampant grower, is as hardy as 

 any I have grown and bears large crops. The fruit is a clear black, 

 very large, pulpy, and of a rich, sub-acid flavor. This is unquestionably 

 the largest and best variety of black-cap grown in the State, as its firmness, 

 added to other excellent qualities of cane and fruit, renders it valuable 

 to raise for market purposes. 



Miller's Daily grows as strongly as Gregg, and I think the canes are 

 nearly or quite as hardy; they bear good crops of large berries, which are 

 juicy and of excellent flavor. It is said to produce a few berries for 

 several months after the fruiting season ; but having fruited it but one 

 season I cannot testify upon this point, except that it did not so fruit with 

 me. It may do so when stools are older. It seems to be a decided 

 improvement upon Doolittle, both in size and quality. 



Hybrid Raspberries. — None of the hybrids which have fruited on my 

 place are fitted to become popular market fruits, though the New Rochelle, 

 which fruited abundantly the past season, was the best of all for cooking. 

 The canes are of moderate growth, the fall tips being quite weak as 

 compared with Miller and Gregg, but the productiveness of the variety 

 is unsurpassed by any black-cap. The fruit is large to very large, very 

 juicy, with a sub-acid flavor exceeding any other fruit of its class. 

 The color is blackish, with a clay-colored bloom. It is the best berry 

 for cooking of any on my grounds. The canes, though damaged by the 

 excessive cold of last winter, were less so than those of Philadelphia, 

 Doolittle or McCormick (Mammoth Cluster). 



The Ganargua, another hybrid which has been highly commended, 

 is immensely productive; fruit of medium size and not equal to New 

 Rochelle in flavor. It must be of better quality on some grounds than 

 on mine, else it could not have been commended by as good authority as 

 it has. But I see no reason for wanting more than one sort of this class, 

 as their color prevents their sale in market. 



Strawberries. — To give a list of all the new varieties which have 

 been tested here, with the characteristics of each, would alone be too 

 much matter for a single report. I will, therefore, endeavor to speak 

 specially of those only which have been found worthy of general attention. 



