SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 407 



observed any defect in fruit or cane on either of those two plants that have 

 grown together now for fifteen years, and we believe they are good stock to 

 breed from yet. 



In 1875, we selected some of the largest, best, and most perfectly 

 developed berries from the Wilson's Early plant which grew in the same hill 

 with the Dorchester, planted the seed first in a green-house, and, when large 

 enough to transplant in open field, were set in single hills, four feet apart, 

 in nursery rows, and allowed to remain there with good culture and pruning 

 for four years, until the true character of each was developed, and one proved 

 to be superior to all the others, producing an abundance of fruit, larger 

 and earlier than its parent, the Wilson's Early. That one best plant was 

 called Wilson Junior, and preserved for propagation. All the rest of that 

 family were destroyed. 



In 1867 we again repeated the experiment by selecting the largest and, 

 most perfect berries from the Wilson's Early grown by side of the Dorchester, 

 planted them separately, grew them four years, then selected the best, which 

 is called Eureka, and all the rest of that family were destroyed. 



In 1880 we increased the number of our experimental hills for breeders, by 

 setting one plant of Eureka and one of Wallace in same hill ; also, one plant 

 of Taylor's prolific and one of Eureka in another hill ; and in 1883 

 gathered the best berries from all four varieties, planted the seeds, and now 

 have the plants growing in nursery rows set six feet apart, and all marked 

 with the name of both parents and date for future reference. Also, in 1883 

 we planted strong, healthy young plants of Early Harvest, the earliest black- 

 berry known here, in the row, between the plants near the middle of our 

 Wilson. Jr., plantation. We also planted in 1883, several strong, healthy 

 stocks of Wilson, Jr., in the row of Early Harvest; also strong Early Har- 

 vest in the row of Eureka, and in 1884, when in bloom, we selected the earli- 

 est, largest, and best developed blossom on the plant recently set in its new 

 position for the female parent, and with a pair of small scissors carefully cut 

 out the stamens, so as to remove the pollen before ripe enough to fall on the 

 stigma. Then with a fine camel's hair brush took pollen from the largest 

 and earliest as the male parent, and dusted it on the pistil of the first, and 

 then, to guard against accident or adulteration by either insect or wind carry- 

 ing pollen from other blossoms, each pistil thus operated on and denuded 

 of stamens was carefully enveloped in soft paper, and securely tied. When 

 the berries ripened they were gathered, and the best selected out for seed to 

 breed from, and each variety planted in a small box with the names of the 

 female parent and the male parent both attached, and carefully set away to 

 await the approach of cold weather, when they were carried out doors and 

 permitted to freeze solid; after which they were brought in, thawed oat, and 

 soon came up thick. They will be planted in rows, not nearer to each 

 other than six feet apart each way, there to remain and be carefully culti- 

 vated and pruned annually for three or four years, or until the true char- 

 acter and qualities of each plant shall be fully established, when they will be 

 dealt with according to their merits. If any should prove to be superior in 

 large size, earliness, and productiveness, they will be taken care of, propa- 

 gated, and offered to the public ; but if none are superior to those we have 

 now, none will be saved, but all will be destroyed, same as was the Holcomb 

 and 100 others that never came up to par here. 



