440 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



tioned as follows: Thompson's (Early Mammoth), evidently a seedling of 

 Wilson's Early, and very like it in many ways; Minnewaski, the best sub- 

 stitute for Kittatinny, ripening ten days after Wilson; Lovett' s Best, 

 taking all things into consideration, the most promising of the new varie- 

 ties; Child's Everbearing Tree Blackberry, or Topsy, appirentlya hybrid 

 between Bubus cuneifolius and Rubus villosus, retaining the stout, upright 

 cane and villainous spines of the former and the large fruit of the latter, 

 productive, late, large, soft, of good though not high quality, and not 

 hardy. 



Of currants, Mr. Lovett had found Fay a success. He thought North 

 Star to promise well, but not yet sufficiently tested; Black Champion, an 

 improvement upon the old Black Naples, having berries larger and more 

 productive; Crandall, to have some merit for culinary purposes, and to 

 make a good jelly. 



The gooseberry industry has not been successful with Mr. Lovett, the 

 plant having lost its leaves prematurely and failed to ripen its fruit. 



Dwarf Juneberries were reported to have given considerable satisfaction 

 at the East, the chief complaints being lack of productiveness and sus- 

 ceptibility to fungous attacks. The variety, " Success " is best, but is 

 better for canning, etc., than as a dessert fruit. Eleagnus longipes was 

 mentioned as an interesting fruit. It is very productive; its fruit is about 

 three fourths of an inch long by one half an inch in diameter, tender and 

 juicy, with one long, shapely, pointed seed in each berry, but too acid 

 for dessert. It is a substitute for the cranberry. 



Other papers under this head were: "Apple Growing Commercially 

 Considered," Hon. F. Wellhouse, Fairmount, Kans.; " Commercial Peach- 

 growing," J. F. Taylor, Douglas, Mich.; " Berry Culture, Profits, and Fail- 

 ures in Georgia," Dr. Samuel Hape, Atlanta, Ga. 



miscellaneous. 



Concerning " Results of Recent Experiments With Small Fruits," Mr. 

 T. T. Lyon stated that the great mass of recent originations among straw- 

 berries have been accidental seedlings. 



So pronounced is the popular preference for size and color that quality seems to have 

 been almost if not wholly overlooked, till, as a rule, its importance may be said to hold 

 but an inverse proportion to size in the varieties of today as compared with the primi- 

 tive type. That the pistillate varieties are so notably abundant today, and so obviously 

 increasing in number, may be reasonably attributed to the objectionable, though very 

 convenient and common practice of employing pistillates in the process of reproduction 

 from seed — a result in accordance with the universal law of nature, that like may be 

 expected to produce like. 



Of the raspberries, of the Idceus and sti'igosus types, Cuthbert, Golden Queen, Hers- 

 tine, and Reder are among the best. Blackcaps vary but little as yet, perhaps because 

 of their very recent introduction to cultivation. Certain varieties, such as Purple 

 Cane, Shaffer, and a few others, possess so many characteristics in common with the 

 black-caps as to indicate a possible hybridization, and if so, pointing to at least the pos- 

 sibility of even greater improvement in the same direction. 



Among blackberries, but few, if any, of the improved varieties compare favorably 

 with the wild product in regard to quality. Size and productiveness have been 

 increased. White, light-colored, and spineless varieties have from time to time been 

 brought to public notice, but so far few, if any such, have proved valuable, indicating 

 at least a possibility that these variations may be due to lack of constitutional health 

 or vigor. No variety has so far shown absolute hardiness in the open ground, and it 

 may fairly be deemed improbable that such condition can ever be realized. 



None of the recent introductions among currants surpass, if indeed they equal, in real 

 value the oldest varieties upon our lists. The chief alleged improvement, and that a 



