132 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Si(p('rh, a moderately vigorous, healthy, and so far as tried, very 

 productive. 



Marlho)'o. — The parties who have all the plants of this variety 

 claim big things for it, which I hope will prove true. From all I 

 can learn it has many good qualities, vigorous, healthy foliage, early 

 and productive. Berries large, bright, red and firm. It will not be 

 offered to the public until the fall of 1884. 



BLACKBERKIES. 



Stone's Hardy fruited this season with me. The plant is not as 

 vigorous as Snyder, but I think c[uite as hardy. Fruit smaller than 

 Snyder. 



EarJij Cluster is a New Jersey seedling Avhich is being highly 

 praised by the disseminator and his friends. Said to be very hardy, 

 prolific, and of good quality. 



Wilson, Jr., is a seedling of Wilson's Early, and is said to be 

 very promising. 



Taylor's Prolific is working its way to the front. It is spoken 

 of highly by good authorities. 



Barnard is also proving meritorious. 



McCracken was found in Fulton County growing wild in the 

 woods. Mr. McCracken moved to Kansas in the Fall of 1872, taking 

 with him some of the plants, and he reports they have done well 

 every year since. He says they are decidedly superior to the Snyder 

 in hardiness and productiveness. 



Staijman's Early. — The disseminator of this variety says: "It is 

 the earliest blackberry grown, combined with hardiness, productive- 

 ness, and delicious flavor. This variety is propagated from tips. 



Early Harvest is gaining friends, and possibly it may prove very 

 valuable on account of its earliness. The fruit is too small to be- 

 come very popular. 



The Fay's Prolific Currant I think a very desirable acquisition 

 to our list of currants. I have seen none but favorable reports of it. 

 and some of them from very high authority. 



I think the most popular of our newer varieties of grapes are: 

 Worden, Martlia, Prentiss, and Moore's Early. 



The Kelff'er pear is having a hard road to travel, but I am in- 

 clined to believe it will become popular for some purposes. Parties 

 who condemned it last season speak more favorably of it this. I 

 certainly think it worthy of further trial. It is good for canning. 



Respectfully submitted^ 



H. K. VICEROY. 



