354 



ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF SMALL FRUITS. 



Of course, every precaution will be exer- 

 cised to ensure success ; and our labors are 

 frequently rewarded by the production of 

 varieties every way better than their pa- 

 rents. Hybrids generally partake most 

 strongly of the parent furnishiiig the pol- 

 len; it is, therefore, of very great conse- 

 quence to make the selection with this fact 

 strongly impressed upon the mind. 



What can be done for the Raspberry? 

 This is rather a difficult question to an- 

 swer ; for, among the large list of sorts cul- 

 tivated, there are qualities to be found pret- 

 ty nearly suited to various tastes. The 

 writer in the Gardeners'' Journal does not 

 think that as much improvement is to be 

 looked for with this fruit as with the others. 

 In size, appearance, and flavor, the Fastolff, 

 Franconia and Antwerp^, when well grown, 

 are as good as Raspberries need be. Whe- 

 ther or not " the God of Nature planted but 

 one edible species in the eastern hemis- 

 phere," is not here a matter of any conse- 

 quence; the cultivators of Europe have done 

 their part in improving what they had ; and 

 our best varieties, at present, are of foreign 

 growth. True, there are some American 

 varieties said to be " beautiful and estima- 

 ble," and of a peculiar colour ; but they are 

 not better than those specified — perhaps not 

 so good. Something very promising may 

 be anticipated by those who read, that a 

 Long Island nurseryman has " numerous 

 seedlings, partly hybridized, of the Ameri- 

 can White, Ohio Monthly, Franconia, and 

 Red and White Antwerp varieties." It 

 would be interesting to know how this par- 

 tial hybridization was effected, and whether 

 or not there was a definite object sought for 

 in the experiment. 



In two particulars, the Raspberry can cer- 

 tainly be very much improved, viz., in the 

 solidity or firmness of the berry, and late- 

 ness of bearing. The season of this fruit 



with the finest kinds, is much too short; 

 and when fully ripe, they do not bear car* 

 riage as well as some others not quite as 

 much esteemed. Very interesting products 

 might be reasonably anticipated, from fer- 

 tilizing the Antwerps, Fastolff" and Franco- 

 nia, with the English double bearing Red, 

 and the true Alpine. Important results are 

 far more likely to follow when artificial 

 means are resorted to, than when the seed 

 is planted without it ; and the grower relies 

 altogether on the chances of his seedling 

 lottery. He may obtain a prize ; but it is 

 a thousand to one that he does not. 



What can be done for the Gooseberry? 

 If the question were, what has been done 

 in America, we should be obliged to say — 

 nothing. In England, this fruit is far more 

 esteemed and extensively grown than with 

 us. An improvement would certainly be, 

 to impart high flavor to the larger sorts. 

 Quality is as much a desideratum as size, 

 and much more of a recommendation with 

 amateurs generally. New forms, lateness 

 of maturity, and increased size, would all 

 be regarded as improvements; and "these 

 results are only waiting the well directed 

 efforts of some zealous individual to meet a 

 full realization." In many of our gardens 

 this fruit mildews badly ; the causes — poor 

 soil, and a want of uniform moisture at the 

 root. The remedies are obvious. 



What can be done for the Currant ? Why 

 cannot these be grown as large as grapes, 

 and as sweet, too ? These properties would 

 indeed be improvements, and give to the 

 fruit a character it has never yet possessed. 

 The largest varieties at present cultivated 

 with us, will bear no comparison with even 

 the smallest grapes ; and their flavor is 

 more or less acid. The Gondouin Red, 

 Cherry Red, Haughton Castle, and Goliah, 

 are new varieties, not imported that we 

 know of, and not of an established charac 



