202 SMALL FRUIT CULTURIST. 



The Mormons claim to have several valuable varieties na- 

 tive of the Salt Lake region, but whether they will prove 

 valuable or worthy of being extensively cultivated is very 

 uncertain. There is one thing quite certain, and that is 

 that we have native species that possess qualities equal, if 

 not superior, to those found in any other country, and 

 equally susceptible of improvement. 



FOREIGN VARIETIES. 



Before proceeding to describe the different kinds, I wiL 

 give a brief synopsis of the difficulties that I have met in 

 endeavoring to ascertain which were distinct varieties. 



It is well known that plants of similar kinds often be- 

 come intermingled through the carelessness of workmen. 

 Sometimes packages will become broken while being 

 transported from one portion of the country to another, 

 and several kinds become mixed together. Thus it will 

 be seen that mixed varieties become very common from 

 accidental causes. 



About ten years ago, I commenced collecting the vari- 

 ous kinds of Currants with the express purpose of ascer- 

 taining their true merits, and to determine which were 

 really distinct varieties. 



To do this has cost me infinitely more labor and 

 money than I shall be likely to receive from the proceeds 

 of this volume, and still I fear that the results will be less 

 satisfactory to the public than any other portion of the 

 work. 



I have not depended upon varieties obtained from any 

 one source, either in Europe or America, but have gath- 

 ered them from the best nurseries of France, Prussia, 

 Germany, England, Ireland, and the United States. 



In the prosecution of my labors and researches, I have 

 had the good fortune to be able to avail myself of the in- 

 valuable experience and extensive collection of Mr. Chas. 

 Downing. His experience extends over a period of more 



