FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 133 



great cities call for such enormous supplies 

 of fruit, that they must be brought from 

 vast distances, and as a consequence those 

 varieties are encouraged which will bear 

 preservation and transportation. In soft 

 fruits, therefore, especially strawberries and 

 peaches, there is a tendency to sacrifice 

 flavour and delicacy for these qualities of 

 permanence, until Dr. Boteler, or Butler, 

 might not be able always to recognize the 

 berry that he loved. 



One of my neighbours called upon me yes 

 terday to accompany her over the hill to 

 investigate a shrub or small tree which had 

 aroused her curiosity. It proved to be the 

 prickly ash or toothache tree, of which I 

 have many in my wood, a tree worth cul 

 tivating, especially on account of its bright 

 berries. This particular specimen showed 

 a peculiarity which I have not noticed in 

 others, a tendency in some of the branches 

 to flatten at the joints or intersections, and 

 to form ridges something like acock s-comb. 

 The books do not seem to refer to this. I 

 shall have to examine further to determine 

 whether it is constitutional, simply an 

 idiosyncrasy, or due to insect or fungoid 

 igency. The two latter causes of peculiar 

 egetable growth are so multifarious in 



