U. S. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 441 



Very slight one, is increased size of fruit. A supposed hybrid between the cherry cur- 

 rant and the wild yellow -flowering currant of the west has recently been introduced, 

 with no apparent evidence of such hybridization, either in the account of its origin 

 or the characteristics of either its plant or fruit. The fruit, when cooked, is sprightly 

 and rich in flavor, and would be eminently desirable for such purpose but for the 

 exceeding thickness and toughness of the skin. Neither the plant nor its fruit is, so 

 far, attacked by either insects or fungi; hence the variety may be found useful, if 

 only as the basis for further improvement. Among gooseberries, Houghton is scarcely 

 exceeded, except in size, by Downing and Smith, which, though reported to be natives, 

 possess certain characteristics indicative of at least partial foreign origin. Industry 

 and several other foreign varieties, reported to be less subject to mildew than most other 

 foreigners, are apparently only tolerable in this respect under specially favorable con- 

 ditions. The increased popular demand for this fruit has apparently drawn into 

 public notice several novelties, some of foreign origin and others of at least partial 

 native parentage, nearly all of which have yet to establish a reputation. 



Several alleged varieties of the wild Service Berry which grows in our northern 

 states have been recently introduced, but they can scarcely yet be said to have 

 passed the experimental stage. Plantings have, so far, been generally of limited 

 extent. The fruit, which ripens somewhat in succession, proves so specially attractive 

 to the birds that its value, when planted more extensively, can scarcely be determined. 



None of the species of Vaccinium seem to have been successfully subjected to either 

 garden or field culture, though occasional alleged successes are reported. Apparently 

 the most promising species for such purpose is the swamp blue-berry (V. corymbosum). 

 Success has been reported (we think from New Hampshire) with one of the others 

 (probably V. canadense) in field culture, by burning over the ground to destroy 

 other growths, and thus securing a crop of this fruit after a subsequent growth of one 

 year. 



Hon. D. W. Adams of Tangerine, Fla., in a paper on " Pruning for Cit- 

 rus and Other Fruits for Florida," took the ground that the first and inevit- 

 able result of cutting any tree is to do it a direct and irreparable injury; 

 that pruning either root or top destroys existing balance and makes nec- 

 essary a readjustment of the functions of the roots and foliage, causing a 

 suspension of growth, and as a final result a smaller tree than if it had 

 gone unpruned. Pruning for growth he characterized as absurd. He 

 added: 



Some prune to make trees bear well. There is no doubt it does make them bear, for 

 it is an accepted fact that anything which threatens the vitality of a plant causes it to 

 make an effort to reproduce its kind. The only reason, then, why pruning does make a 

 tree bear is because it threatens its vitality. We complain loudly of the rapid increase 

 of those hostile insects and dangerous diseases which now attack our trees and plants. 

 In my opinion, the prevalence of both is due almost wholly to the low vitality and dis- 

 arranged circulation caused by our defiance of the laws of nature. In attempting to 

 improve upon nature we have got so far removed from her that, continually thwarted, 

 she is unable in her own chosen and proper way to control these diseases and insects. 

 So the duty devolves upon us — with what success, satisfaction, and profit, each can 

 answer for himself. 



Mr. Mortimer Whitehead, special agent in charge of division of agri- 

 culture " B," of the eleventh census, in a paper on " Pomology in the 

 Eleventh Census," presented some startling preliminary figures concerning 

 the magnitude of the fruitgrowing interest of the country. 



The viticultural interest was found to cover 401,261 acres of vines, of 

 which 307,575 acres were in bearing, producing 572,139 tons of grapes. 

 It would require about 60,000 railroad cars to move the commercial crop 

 of grapes in 1889. The industry represented an investment of $155,661,- 

 150, and furnished employment to 200,780 persons. The vines are now 

 growing that will within three years produce a crop of 8,000,000 to 10,000,- 

 000 boxes of raisins. This is more than the present entire consumption of 

 the country, which is about 7,500,000 boxes annually. 

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