248 ANNUAL REPOKT 



The planting of currants has iiicreasefl considerably over that of 

 other years. The crop was light, not over half a yieid, caused by late 

 frosts and dry weather. The white grape currant, with its great 

 shining crystal berries and long bunches, is not well appreciated, t 

 see but few of them on the market, so they command a better price 

 than reds. 



Fay's Prolific fruited this past season, is immense in size and mod- 

 erately prolific; when ihe price of plants gets to be reasonable, if 

 they prove hardy enough for onr climate, they will pay to plant 

 largely. 



Downing's gooseberry is a failure with us, on account of mildew. 

 Smith's Seedling and Houghton are good, but unless we can obtain 

 something larger and better than we have yet found in gooseberries, it 

 will not pay to attempt their cultivation. 



Ancient Briton, Snyder and Stone's Hardy blackberries have been 

 planted in small quantities, with the intention of bending down and 

 covering with earth to protect in winter; no variety will succeed with- 

 out this care. A few of the Lucretia Dewberries have been planted, 

 with a fair promise of fruit another season. 



There are but few making a success of growing raspberries with any 

 varieties except the Turner, for want of care at proper time and win- 

 ter protection. Cuthbert stands well, and holds a high rank as a first- 

 class market berry, and yet it has a good competitor in the Marlboro, 

 which with me has proved the most valuable of all The berries are 

 more nearly round than Cuthbert, and have a deeper red, holding their 

 color to the last; they stand shipping extremely well, as it is quite a 

 firm berry and hangs on the bushes well af^er it is ripe. We com- 

 menced picking Marlow the twenty-sixth of June, and picked the 

 last about the twenty-fifth of July. I believe it to be the most val- 

 uable red raspberry ever introduced in the Northwest, especially if it 

 does as well in other localities. We commend it for trial every- 

 where. 



The piist season has been a very favorable one for grapes, the yield 

 generally being a good one and quite free from disease and insects. As 

 yet, for market purposes I do not think we have any variety in red 

 superior to the Delaware; in black, Moore's Early and Worden are 

 probably the most valuable. Of the newer varieties that have fruited 

 with me, th^ Jessica has proved exceedingly valuable, as the vines are 

 very vigorous, free from disease, very prolific and as early as Moore's 

 Early; in quality as good as the Delaware; it is one of the best of 

 white grapes. 



