DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



should be made, and opportunity be offered for 

 their examination, after being subjected to the 

 process. With a view to the gratification of 

 the committee in this particular, Mr. Curtis is 

 about commencing, under their inspection, 

 some experiments with the early and soft fruits, 

 to be continued with other kinds, as they come 

 into season. 



In addition to the discovery of a mode of 

 preserving fruit, Mr. Curtis seems also to have 

 succeeded in finding out a process by which 

 such varieties as are difhculty to ripen, maybe 

 brought to perfection, — a discovery of almost 

 as much interest to cultivators, as that by which 

 the season of all varieties is so greatly prolonged 

 and their safe transmission to distant places 

 secured. 



That the discoveries of Mr. Curtis are im- 

 portant, and that he is justly entitled to an 

 honorary and pecuniary recompense at the 

 hands of the Society, as well as that a know- 

 ledge of the process should be, if possible, pro- 

 cured for tlie use of its members, your com- 

 mittee entertain no doubt, and tliey believe 

 that it will be but fulfilling some of the objects 

 for which it was instituted, in testifying by 

 such recompense, a proper a{)preciation of the 

 merits and discoveries of Mr. Curtis, and in 

 procuring for the public the means of availing 

 itself of the advantages to be derived there- 

 from. 



Under existing circumstances, however, 

 while they wi.sh now to place on record such 

 evidence of the claims of Mr. Curtis as is af- 

 forded by this expression of their opinions and 

 statements of facts, your committee are of 

 opinion that the final action of the Society, in 

 relation to this matter, should yet be delayed 

 until the result of the ex])eriments referred to 

 are ascertained, and such further information 

 with respect to the expense attending the pro- 

 cess and the mode of practicing it procured, 

 as will enable them, in view of the beneficial 

 results of which it is capable, the better to re- 

 commend, and the Society to adopt, such mea- 

 sures in relation to these discoveries, as Mr. 

 Curtis seems to deserve and its own interest to 

 demand. 



With these views, your committee ask that 

 the whole subject may yet be left in their hands, 

 and that further time be allowed them to con- 

 sider what action it is proper that the Society 

 should take in reference thereto. Joseph S. 

 Cabot, Chairman. 



White Blackberktes. — They were first 

 grown in the garden of Mr. J. S. Needham, 

 West Danvers, and seem to possess some re- 

 markable characteristics which emineutly enti- 



tle them to general cultivation. The first speci 

 mens of this new species were exhibited in 

 Boston the last season, and were pronounced 

 by competent judges, a curiosity, as well as a 

 most palatable fruit; in which opinion I think 

 you will fully concur. The original plant was 

 discovered growing wild in the midst of a 

 blackberry patch in the State of Maine; and 

 this year, for the first time, it has fully demon- 

 strated what it is capable of producing under 

 garden cultivation. It is a tall, upright bush, 

 growing to the height of four and five feet, and 

 is prolific to an extent scarcely credible to one 

 who has not seen it in bearing. The bush from 

 which these, which I send you, were picked, 

 produced eleven quarts of marketable berries! 

 The size as well as the quantity of the fruit 

 would doubtless have been larger, if nearly 

 half of the fruit had not been removed in the 

 spring in separating the shoots from the parent 

 stock, for the purpose of propagation. Besides 

 being a great bearer the plant is hardy and 

 needs no artificial protection during the winter. 



The flavor of the high blackberry is well 

 Known to be greatly superior to tlie common 

 low blackberry ; yet every cultivator is aware 

 that, except in some favorable localities, the 

 high blackberry is a shj' and capricious bearer, 

 and unworthy of his attention. AVhen brouglit 

 under garden cultivation that plant grows rank ; 

 but the few berries which it bears are ill-foiiued, 

 hard and bitter. All these objections this new 

 species obviates, and promises to bring their 

 delectable fruit into general cultivation. 



Mr. Needham has in his possession the origi- 

 nal plant, and all that have been propagated 

 from it; and in the spring he hopes to be able 

 to supply demands for them from abroad. A 

 visit to Mr. Needham's garden would richly 

 compensate one curious in such matters, for 

 his trouble. The cold weather of the past 

 week has given some of the specimens I send 

 a darker color than naturally belongs to them. 

 The berry is usually as light colored and trans- 

 parent as a sweet- water grape. — IBoston Jour. 



A New and Yalcable Cherry. — We re- 

 ceived of James Hyde & Son, nurserymen, 

 Newtown Centre, a lot of fine cherries on the 

 first day of August, which from its lateness 

 and sujterior quality, we thiidc will be a valua- 

 ble acquisition. It originated in that neigh. 

 borhood. The fruit is medial size; obtuse 

 heart shaped; dark red and mottled, light 

 amber in the shade ; stem rather short and slim ; 

 flesh soft, tender, very juicy, sweet, rich, and 

 delicious: stone small; ripe the first day of 

 August. — N. E. Farmer. 



