Production of New Varieties of Fruit. 39 



testimonials. Having gone thus far who shall dare limit our possi- 

 ble attainments? My great trouble has been to get actual sight 

 of what I read so much about. When President Smith s;ets within 

 tasting distance, he will of course consider it his official duty to 

 notify us all by telegraph. 



You will agree with me that this ideal berry would be a great 

 acquisition; perhaps some of you will commence earnest efforts for 

 its production. If you succeed, your fortune is made, sure. But 

 in our prospective success let us not forget the good things already 

 gained, and let us not fail to get the greatest possible good from 

 them. In the Wilson we have si/.e and productiveness, capable of 

 yielding two or three bushels per square rod. We also have 

 great firmness, enabling us to handle easily and ship long distances, 

 or carrying it through a day or two of rainy weather, without seri- 

 ous loss. We call it sour, and with some reason, yet much of that 

 fault may be overcome by letting it thoroughly mature before gath- 

 ering. I know of no other that will carry its fruit one or two 

 days after fully ripe without loss, and being thus ripened it will 

 hardly be recognized by those who have only used it as soon as 

 colored. Free and liberal use of sugar is said to improve its flavor. 

 In this mixture the acid and the sweet are so ming-led and blended 

 as to add greatly to the interest of both. Most palates take to it 

 kindly from the first, and all are convinced after a few trials, that 

 the Wilson is not only endurable but really a pretty good treat to 

 set before one's neighbors and friends. 



In Green Prolific, Boyden, Prouty, and others, we have excel- 

 lence of quality, size, vigor and fair productiveness. In several 

 varieties we have great vigor of plants, immense size, good quality, 

 but only moderate production. I think, say ten of our most valu- 

 able kinds give us materials with which to produce market crops 

 which will please the consumer and pay the producer; materials, 

 also, with which to get up a very pleasing exhibition, to laden a 

 show-table with plates of fruit that will stimulate not only the de- 

 sire but the firm resolve of each beholder to produce on his own 

 grounds an abundance of the same, and to show the enthusiastic 

 amateur visions of future crops, which by his special care and skill 

 shall far exceed the present. We have heard of the spirited exhi- 

 bitions of the English gooseberry-growers. Gooseberry exhibi- 

 tions are not practicable with us, but it seems to me that this first 



