242 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the market; but its quality is decidedly poor, It will doubtless sell; but such fruits do 

 not aid in building up prices or in increasing sales. It so far proves hardy here at the 

 lake shore. 



Johnston's Sweet is a new blackcap, not yet offered to the public, of which trial 

 plants were received last spring from R. Johnston, of Shortsville, N. Y., also, later, a 

 quantity of the dessicated fruit. The plant is a vigorous grower, and, apparently, the fruit 

 is fairly entitled to be called sweet. It also appears to be much less seedy than most 

 blackcaps. There seems to be ground for the hope that this fruit is yielding to the mod- 

 ifying influences of culture; and that this may prove to be the parent of a new race of 

 blackcaps, by means of which we may, by possibility, secure the desirable qualities of 

 the fruit of the Idaeus and Strigosus classes, combined with the hardiness and non- 

 suckering qualities of Occidentals. 



Blackberries. 



Bonanza comes to us without a history, and has not been, as yet, fully proved. It 

 appears to be nearly hardy here, and the fruit is of large size. It also gives indications 

 of productiveness; but as to its qualities in general, little can as yet be said. From its 

 name we may fairly suspect that its originator either had a very high opinion of it, or 

 that he desired the fortuitous aid of a name in selling the plants. 



Brunton has much the same habit of growth as Early Harvest, and they have, by 

 some persons, been suspected to be identical: but growing and wintering the plants in 

 the same plat, and with the same treatment, proves that Brunton is very much the 

 hardier in plant, and, perhaps for that reason, much more productive. 



Dehring is an early variety of some note, although not very widely disseminated. 

 In hardiness and productiveness, it does not differ greatly from Brunton, although clearly 

 a distinct variety. 



Early Cluster comes to us from New Jersey, where the introducer claims for it hardi- 

 ness and very great productiveness, as well as earliness. It proves hardy here, so far, 

 and the fruit is of fair size and quality. Of its other characteristics, it is yet too soon 

 to speak confidently. 



Freed is a variety originated fifteen years since, by George Freed, of Columbiana 

 county. Ohio. It has so far shown itself moderately hardy, of medium size, and fairly 

 productive. 



Knox is also a comparatively recent variety, which commands little attention, appar- 

 ently for the reason that no one is pushing it into notice. It is larger and better than 

 some varieties more sought after. It is about as hardy as Kittatinny, and as large. 



McCracken was introduced several years since, but has not been much disseminated. 

 So far we are unable to discover anything to recommend it above numerous others. 



"Wilson. Jr. was originated from seed of Wilson's Early, by Win. Parry, of New Jer- 

 sey, who well understands the business of advertising, and has made much of it as the 

 "Pedigree Blackberry." It is evidently a good bearer, with all the peculiar character- 

 istics of the old Wilson, apparently, in both plant and fruit. The plant, like its alleged 

 parent, has sometliing of the trailing, low habit of the dewberry, and like it, roots 

 from the tips of the branches, though somewhat reluctantly. Its advantages over 

 Wilson's Earl}-, if any, are, in this locality, yet to be determined. 



Peaches. 



A seedling peach was received on July 21, 1886, from Eugene Gibson, of New Rich- 

 mond, Allegan county. Michigan. It was fully mature when received. The foliage 

 was serrate, which fact indicates a probably inherent tendency to mildew. Fruit rather 

 below medium (perhaps on account of the severe drought at the time), roundish, com- 

 pressed toward the suture: color creamy white, with bright red in the sun, and dark 

 red in exposed specimens; flesh greenish and yellowish white, tender, melting, juicy, 

 mild, sprightly, vinous, " good." Pit rather small. A semi-cling; hardly equal to Ams- 

 den in size or quality. 



Another seedling peach was received on August 5, 1886, from C. C. Door, of Grass 

 Lake. Jackson county, Michigan. The specimens were ripe when received. They were 

 of medium size, creamy white, with a red cheek, with pale greenish white flesh, tender, 

 melting, juicy, mild, vinous, " very good;" glands obscurely reniform. Not as early as 

 Amsden, but similar in quality. The flesh separates from the pit more freely than any 

 other of the very early peaches. The originator says it is usually nearly free. We 

 regard this as eminently worthy of a careful trial. It originated with a neighbor of 

 Mr. Door — Mr. A. A. Brooks, of Sharon. 



A seedling peach (No. 1), originated by C. Engle, of Paw Paw, from the seed of Late 

 Crawford fertilized with the pollen of Hale"s Early, was received from him August 18, 

 1886, with the statement that its actual season is about August 15. The tree is hardy 



