410 THE EVOLUTION OF OUR NATIVE FRUITS 



the packing-house or in the field at planting time, all the objec- 

 tions urged against the unproductiveness of the buffalo-berry 

 under cultivation would be overcome. It is a plant worthy 

 of attention for its ornamental nature, and yet more for its 

 valuable jelly-producing fruits. At present we have it only in 

 its native state, unimproved by cultivation, yet we find a red 

 and a yellow-fruited variety well enough marked in this one 

 character to deserve the title of a botanical variety. Nature 

 has here begun what the horticulturist only needs to assist, 

 variation. 



The Elderberry 



The common elderberry is almost certain to become 

 the parent of a race of domestic fruit -bearing plants. 

 Something has already been done towards its improve- 

 ment, by introducing good variations from the wild. 

 Professor Budd writes as follows in "Rural Life," 

 March 15, 1894: "An Improved Elderberry. When 

 R. P. Speer was director of the Iowa Experiment 

 Station he planted out an improved variety of the 

 elderberry found near Cedar Falls. When loaded 

 with fruit last summer, a visitor from Sioux county 

 remarked, in passing the bushes : 



' 'I never saw such sized berries and clusters of 

 elderberry. Where did it come from ? Why don't you 

 send it out ? On the northern prairies it will be valu- 

 able for pie making ! ' 



"This variety really shows that the elderberry is 

 capable of improvement by selection. It differs in 

 leaf, habit, capacity for annual loading with fruit, and 

 in the size of the berries and bunches. Last summer, 

 too, we came to the conclusion that it made better 

 pies than the common sort. To those who make fun 

 of the idea of eating elderberry pie, I will merely say: 



