86 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



early and late sorts in the main, with some other better sorts to supplant 

 the old mid-season varieties like Lombard and others. Of these newer 

 ones we have the Field, a seedling of the Bradshaw, ten days earlier, other- 

 wise resembling its parent in size and general appearance. It is very 

 hardy, productive, and promises well. Gueii, Hudson River Purple Egg, 

 Prince of Wales, and Peters' Yellow Gage are all desirable, and cover the 

 ground well at their season of ripening, while Stanton Seedling, Grand 

 Duke, and Monarch aid in extending the plum season late into September 

 and early October, and are wanted in all markets because of their size and 

 style. The Back Diamond, for beauty and productiveness, is unexcelled. 

 It ripens about September 10. 



So far the newly introduced Japanese varieties show themselves very 

 hardy, and productive beyond our powers to describe. The name Botan 

 seems to be a general name for a family, of which we have a number 

 differing quite materially in character. The earliest we have, styled No. 

 26, is the poorest in quality, and yet, by reason of its early ripening, July 

 15, meets with ready sale in our city markets. Botan (Abundance, as it 

 is often sold) is very good, but we believe not equal to True Sweet Botan, 

 or the Yellow Japan; while as regards productiveness, Burbank's Japan 

 excels them all. We have of this variety, grown one hundred fruits to the 

 square foot, while the same branches producing this fruit were making 

 from two to three feet of new wood. 



To those interested in growing Damsons we desire to say, the French 

 Damson is superior in health and productiveness to any of this family, out 

 of seven or eight varieties that we have tested. 



As for cherries, the Montmorenci Ordinaire and English Morello, as 

 sour; and Windsor and Schmidt's Biggareau, as sweets, we regard as more 

 profitable than any others grown. 



DEMAND vs. QUALITY. 



The merchant must cater to the wants of his customers, and just so with 

 the successful fruitgrower. The ma:re^et8 require the very early and late 

 sorts as well as those whose style fit them for retailing from the fruit 

 stands, and in the production of vprieties that meet these requirements as 

 a rule, look for profitable returns. 



We would not be understood as ignoring quality, but if compelled to dis- 

 criminate as between quality and quanity, with style and good handling 

 properties in favor of the latter, we should assuredly cast our ballot in 

 favor of quantity in planting the commercial orchard. 



To illustrate more fully the idea we wish to convey, let us take the cur- 

 rant. That variety having the strongest foliage; that will best resist the 

 depredations of the currant worm, that will produce the largest crop to the 

 acre, that will make the most jelly from a given amount of fruit, of the 

 most attractive color, and hence will give to the producer the largest 

 returns for his labor, is quite beautiful in appearance, and yet, if to be 

 eaten from the hand or from the table, would be regarded as the poorest in 

 quality of any currant grown (indeed, I should regard it as totally unfit 

 for table use), and yet in my opinion it should rank high in the commer- 

 cial orchard. I refer to the Prince Albert. For table use, Moore's Ruby, 

 as a red, and White Imperial as a white, by reason of their excellent qual- 

 ity, should be found in every family garden. 



In like manner we could go through the whole catalogued list of fruits, 



