No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 767 



"Tbauksgiving'' bflongs to the ''Fruue" class of plums so populiir 

 wherever known. It originated in Western New York and is being 

 largely planted in that section. It is mealj' and of good quality and 

 not much atlected by curculio. It is not liable to rot, and I have seen 

 them after Thanksgiving. 



CHERRIES. 



"Yan" is a variety of the "Heart'' type which originated in Oregon. 

 It is a large, sweet cherry, black when fully ripe, and bears heavy 

 crops. It is a good shipper and comes East in fine condition. It is 

 one of the best varieties on the Pacific Coast, but has not yet been 

 tested in the eastern part of the United States. 



"Bing" is a large, late black sweet cherry from the same place, a 

 good shipper, and trees are productive, thrifty and vigorous. 



"Lambert" is also from Oregon, and is the largest cherry that 

 grows. I have myself measured specimens one and one-fourth 

 inches in diameter. It is very late, dark red, solid and, among sweet 

 cherries, one of the good ones. 



GRAPES. 



Among the grapes of recent introduction is "McPike"' which ori- 

 ginated in Alton, Illinois. It is a black grape of large cluster and 

 berry, and very good quality, by some, considered superior to Con- 

 cord. The vine is strong and thrifty, and well worthy of trial. 



"Charlton" is a comparatively new variety of grape originated by 

 John Charlton, Rochester, N. Y. It is about the color of Catav^ba, 

 and I have never tasted its equal in the Eastern United States. It 

 has vinefera blood, and as a table grape is par excellence. The 

 berry is about as large as Concord, and in health and vigor the Tine 

 is claimed to be all right. I first saw it in 1897 at Madison Sqnare 

 Garden in New York City. How it Vv^ill do throughout the country 

 at large I cannot say. 



BLACKBERRIES. 



Of the newer blackberries, "Mersereau" and "Rathbun" are worthy 

 of trial. The former is similar to Lawton and Kittatinuy, while 

 "Rathbun" is one of the low- growing type, about half trailer. It 

 is similar to Wilson's Early, but not so tender and a little later. 



CURRANTS. 



Of newer currants, "Chautauqua" is worthy of trial. It originated 

 with Mr. Fay, in Chautauqua county, New York. The bush is thrifty 

 and peculiar in its habit of growth. It is sometimes called the 

 "Climbing Currant," and I have seen plants as high as the ceiling. 

 Its season is long, extending weeks after other varieties are gone. 



