92 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



saillaise and Cherry currants identical, but in his view there was a 

 difference in the foliage. 



Mr. Smith said that some years ago he exhibited fruit of the 

 Versaillaise currant, which grew on plants procured from William 

 H. Barnes, who had the variety from Maisliall P. Wilder, who 

 originally introduced it into this country-. The basket was decided 

 by the Fruit Committee to contain a mixture of the Versaillaise and 

 Cherry, and consequently Mr. Smith failed of the prize, which, he 

 thought, would otherwise have been awarded to him. The next 

 year a row which he had for the Cherry currant bore fruit, and he 

 selected the long bunches from both rows, exhibited them as Ver- 

 saillaise, and received the first prize. The London Horticultural 

 Society had instituted a careful test of all the reputed varieties of 

 the currant, and the conclusion, as respects the Cherry and Ver- 

 saillaise, was that they are identical. 



Mr. Wilder said that many years ago he imported from Europe a 

 large number of varieties, including the Cherry, Versaillaise, and 

 Fertile de Palluau, from M. Bertin, the originator of the Versail- 

 laise. The Cherr}' and Versaillaise are very much alike except in 

 quality, the former being decidedly- more acid than the latter. 

 Both have long and short bunches, but those of the Versaillaise 

 will average longer than those of the Cherry. The American 

 Pomological Societ}^ has decided that the Cherry is inferior in 

 qualit}' to the Versaillaise. 



The Chairman said that the Cherry is more acid and water}- than 

 the Versaillaise. The growth of the Cherry as compared with the 

 Versaillaise, is more stubbed and shorter jointed, the habit of 

 growth resembling that of the Seckel pear as compared with the 

 Bartlett. He had his plants from M. Transon, of Orleans. 



Mr. Wilder said that the statement of the Chairman concerning 

 the difference in growth of the two varieties was correct. 



Mr. Hadwen had plants under both names from the late John 

 Milton Earle, well known as a most accurate pomologist, and for 

 many years thought them different, the long bunches being Versail- 

 laise and the short. Cherry, but closer examination showed that there 

 was not as much difference as he supposed. He found both kinds 

 growing in the same row, and he thought that the more closely we 

 observed the less difference we should find. If the difference is so 

 slight as to puzzle the most careful liorticulturists, it is of little con- 

 sequence. To show how the same kind is liable to vary, Mr. Had- 



