Discussion on Mr. Bagan's Paper. 163 



with particular emphasis, praises their valuable qualities, there yet seems to 

 have been no systematic effort made looking to their domestication and im- 

 provement. Mr. Fuller says : " The huckleberry is one of those fruits which 

 have always been neglected ; none of our horticultural writers have deemed 

 it worthy of any particular description, and but very few have thought it 

 worthy of mention. Why this neglect I am at a loss to understand, for the 

 huckleberry possesses naturally better qualities than even the currant and 

 gooseberry." The wild berries are gathered and sold in immense quanti- 

 ties in portions of our country, where they form quite an article of trade 

 and commerce among the poor, who bring them to market. In view of the 

 naturally good qualities of the huckleberry, we may well repeat the inquiry 

 of Mr. Fuller, of twenty years standing, " Why this neglect ? " The species, 

 V. corymhosum, seems to be the one most valuable in its native state, and 

 probably worthy of greatest attention. 



THE MULBERRY. {MoTUS.) 



There is considerable horticultural literature devoted to the mulberry, 

 but it is mostly expended upon foreign species, to the neglect of our really 

 more valuable native species. After giving these foreigners an exhaustive 

 trial, as we did foreign grapes, raspberries, strawberries, etc., and finding them 

 wanting, we may discover that it is to our interest to look nearer home. Our 

 native mulberry is quite variable in its character. They are met with oc- 

 casionally that are really valuable. Aside from its fruit-bearing habits, the 

 mulberry is a most valuable timber tree. It is of rapid growth, of handsome 

 form and foliage, and probably the most durable timber which we can grow. 

 It may not be quite equal (especially on account of its larger habits of 

 growth, being, therefore, more difficult to gather the foliage from) for food 

 for silk-worms, but there can be no doubt but first-class silk may be pro- 

 duced from worms, fed wholly, or in great part, upon the foliage of our 

 native mulberry. 



DISCUSSION ON MR. EAGAN's PAPER. 



Mr. Smith, of Wisconsin — What kind of huckleberry is re- 

 ferred to ? 



Mr: Ragan, of Indiana — There are several species of the huckle- 

 berry family (Vaccinium) which are good. I believe Vaccinium 

 corymhosum is generally conceded to have the most good qualities. 



Mr. Van Deman, of Washington, D. C. — What is known in the 

 Alleghany mountain region as the blueberry ( V. Pennsylvanicum) 

 is one of the most valuable species. This and also the dwarf serv- 

 ice-berry, alluded to in the paper, are undergoing the process of do- 

 mestication and improvement. 



