156 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



I know little of the newer varieties of raspberrtes from per- 

 sonal experience. The Hilborn and Palmer, in the black caps, 

 I think, are leadiDg, and from what I have heard of them, I think 

 worthy of extended trial. 



I know of no variety of blackberry I could recommend in place 

 of the older varieties. 



Currants and gooseberries are not much grown in my neigh- 

 borhood. The Fay Currant is not proving as prolific as 

 anticipated. 



I wrote to a number of prominent small fruit growers in dif- 

 ferent sections of this and other States, and have received 

 answers from a few of them. 



Mr. K. D. McGeehon, of Atlantic, Iowa, writes: "Yours of 

 the 25th received. The frosts of last June destroyed all 

 my small fruits, and I can say nothing about them from personal 

 knowledge ; but, from what others tell me, the Bubach's No. 5 

 and Warfield's No. 2 are a success wherever tried throughout the 

 "West. The Jessie is not, only in certain localities." 



Mr. Benjamin Buckman, of Farmingdale, 111., writes: "I can 

 not send you any reports of new small fruits, for the reason that 

 I never plant the new varieties until they are pretty well known 

 to be valuable. I don't think the Jessie has come to stay, the 

 way the frost cut the bloom in the spring. The old White Grape 

 Currant has borne better than the Fay. I have half an acre of 

 huckleberries. I don't know the variety. They are called here 

 the 'High-Bushed.' They bore finely — very full — but are slow in 

 coming into bearing." 



Pt'Mr C. H. Cogswell, of Virden, 111., writes: "The Agawam, 

 Barnard, Erie and Ancient Briton blackberries have all given 

 great promise, both in productiveness and quality of fruit. Last 

 winter having been so mild furnished no test as to hardiness. 

 The Agawam is a large and good berry, but suckers too freely. 

 Erie has done very well so far. They don't sucker much. If 

 they prove hardy, I think they will be quite an acquisition. The 

 fruit is much larger and sweeter than Snyder, and has less core. 

 The Jessie Strawberry made a fine, strong growth, _ and produced 

 some fine, large fruit. Gandy is hardy, and a prolific runner and 

 bearer, fruit nearly as large as the Jessie, but later; desirable. 

 Warfield No. 2 produced the finest-appearing fruit, and 

 of very uniform, even shape, with dark, glossy color, which 

 make them very attractive. Bubach's No. 5 blossomed 

 profusely, but set little fruit. Whether this was due to lack of 

 proper fertilizers, or to late frosts and cold, protracted rains, I 

 am not sure. I have fruited the Fay's Prolific Currant, which, 

 undoubtedly, is a fine, showy currant, of good quality; but so far, 

 does not seem to be a prolific bearer. During a protracted rainy 

 spell, about the time of ripening, it showed signs of what ap- 

 peared to be mildew. Industry Gooseberry bore but few spec- 



