STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 113 



for market, aud their cultivation is said to have improved them. 

 Though the varieties in cultivation have been selected from superior 

 wild ones, or from chance seedlings of marked character, so far as I 

 know no choice variety has originated through cultivation alone. 



Although they have b«en successfully cultivated in this vicinity for 

 a series of years, without winter protection, the last few winters 

 have shown that they are not entirely hardy here, which also proba- 

 bly accounts for the disappearance of the fruit of the wild ones. 



Black raspberries were not found here till about the year 1864, or 

 twelve years after settlement. They made their first appearance in 

 the alluvial deposits along the streams, but have now found a home 

 along the roadside, and even in the crevices of the rocky bluffs, and 

 upon the uplands. They have repeatedly been transplanted to 

 the gardens for cultivation, but the results do not seem to justify 

 the labor. It is found that the improved kinds are hardier, more 

 productive, and better in quality than any that have been brought to 

 notice selected indiscriminately from wild ones. , 



Red raspberry bushes are often found in the hazelnut brush, and 

 sometimes in other localities; but they rarely fruit here in a wild 

 state, as the tendency of all of them is to swamp themselves with 

 suckers. 



In very moist land they have a little fruit, but it does not compare 

 in size and quality to the varieties commonly cultivated, 



GroOvSe berries, both rough and smooth, and black currants are quite 

 common in the moist sandy soils near the streams, and here also is 

 found the wild grape, often in great abundance. These are gathered 

 in considerable quantities nearly every season and used in domestic 

 wine making. 



Highbush cranberries, the black haw, the thorn apple and wild 

 crab apple are also found in similar locations. The fruits of all these 

 are sometimes utilized, but no attempts have been made to improve 

 them. The trees or bushes have been transplanted for ornament, or 

 from curiosity, and they often thrive and appear to do well, and may 

 all be made to serve some useful purpose. 



We also have the ^.Juneberry, the choke cherry, and a dwarf black 

 cherry, mostly found on the soil of the valleys. 



The sand cherry is only found on the gravelly prairies formed by the 

 Mississippi river. 



If there should prove to be an important truth in top grafting hardy 

 stocks, to secure the production of fruit in this climate, the sand cher- 

 ry may yet be found very valuable. 

 8 



