Our Neglected Native Fruits. 161 



its results as that of cross-fertilization and hybridization, has ever been the 

 true basis of all successful improvements in the whole botanical kingdom. 

 Let such work as this become the leading features of our experimental sta- 

 tions, to be conducted at public expense and for public good. The time 

 and expense necessary to the most rapid progress in this work t-hould be 

 borne equally by all. 



The marvelously rapid progress made in the improvement of our native 

 grapes, plums, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, cran- 

 berries, etc., within the life-time of many who are present, should prompt 

 us to bring under our protecting care and influence still other native 

 species which have equally, if not even greater, natural promise. 



OUR NA.TIVE CRAB. (Pyrus Coronaria.) 



I first mention this species, more because of its relationship to the 

 king of fruits, the apple, than on account of any special promise it may 

 possess as a hopeful species in the hands of the horticulturist, whose arts 

 are siid, and upon well attested grounds, " to mend nature." There are a 

 few cases in which it is claimed, though somewhat doubted by botanists, that 

 hybrids between the cultivated apple and the wild crab exist. The Soulard 

 is one of these. If this is really true, one of the firtt steps in the improve- 

 ment of the native crab has already been taken, and should at least greatly 

 encourage further efforts. A serious obstacle to natural hybridization ex- 

 ists in the disparity of the blooming season of the two species. This may, 

 however, be overcome by artificial means, until a race of hybrids are once 

 established, when, assuming that their offspring may not be infertile, the 

 work of further development can progress without interruption, since 

 these first results would have a uniform period of blooming. But our 

 native crabs may be improved by other means than through hybridization, 

 viz. : by selections and culture. 



THE PAPAW. (Asimina triloba.) 



There is probably no native fruit of greater real value and more promis- 

 ing in its character as likely to yield readily to the domesticating influences 

 of horticulture than the papaw, which yet remains wholly unimproved. It 

 combines a natural disposition to vary greatly in size, quality, season of 

 ripening, fruitfulness, etc., all pointing to the ease with which it may be 

 trained to sport into varieties combining points of excellence adapted to the 

 tastes of the experimenter. I am aware that all tastes do not naturally ad- 

 mire the peculiar qualities of the papaw, but I think there are few persons 

 who may not readily acquire a taste for this rather singular fruit. There 

 certainly are but few native " Hoosiers " who do not like the papaw. There 

 is at least one venerable member of this Society who has been heard to say 

 that he was a " lover of all fruits from a sour Morello cherry up to a papaw." 

 The lamented Warder describes the fruit as " large, succulent, with many 

 large, shining brown seeds; a favorite of the raccoon, relished by men, but 

 rejected by swine." 



