66 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



CURRANTS. 



For a long time the Red and White Dutch were the only currants culti- 

 vated, and seedlings raised from them, with a view to improvement, did not 

 seem essentially to vary in character from their progenitors. Some years 

 since, May's Victoria was produced, and it was at the time expected that it 

 would prove to be a decided improvement. It has not, however, answered 

 the expectations that were formed, for, except that the bunches are much 

 longer, it does not exhibit any superiority. Subsequently, the Red and 

 White Gondoin and Fertile de Paillau were originated, and these, particu- 

 larly the two first, proved to be an improvement on the old red and white 

 varieties. Within the last year or two, several new varieties of foreign 

 origin have been introduced, that it now seems probable will, from their 

 superiority, supersede the old sorts. Among such are the P^ertile d'Angers, 

 La Caucase, La Versaillaise, Macrocarpa, the Champagne, Hatif de Bertin, 

 and Blanc Transparente, though this last may prove to be the same as the 

 White grape. 



Several of these varieties have been exhibited the past year in consider- 

 able quantities, and, by their beauty and the great size of both bunches 

 and berries, attracted much attention. Some berries of the Versaillaise 

 were found, on measuring them, to be two inches in circumference. Several 

 of these new currants are fully equal in size to the cherry, a variety too 

 acid for the dessert, and at the same time are sweeter and richer than the 

 old kinds. Among those' that may be safely, it is believed, recommended, 

 are the three first named in the above list. 



BLACKBERRIES. 



The exhibition of blackberries the past year has been confined to the 

 Dorchester and the Lawton, or New Rochelle ; indeed, these are the only 

 ones at present known that are worthy of cultivation. The show of this 

 fruit the past year was very fine, and the premiums offered by the Society 

 excited a spirited competition. In size and beauty the berries of both vari- 

 eties that were exhibited were probably never surpassed. In one instance, 

 thirty-two berries of the Lawton entirely covered the top of the box in 

 which this fruit is usually shown, and twenty five of the berries weighed 

 six and one sixteenth ounces ; while twenty-five berries of the Dorchester 

 weighed five and eleven sixteenths ounces. Still larger berries of the 

 Dorchester were, however, subsequently exhibited, though not weighed. 

 Cultivators in this vicinity esteem the Dorchester decidedly superior to the 

 Lawton : it is much sweeter, and therefore more generally acceptable ; be- 

 sides, that while the Dorchester, upon being gathered, retains its deep lus- 

 trous black color, the Lawton soon becomes of a deep reddish brown or 

 bronze color, and therefore less saleable. Notwithstanding this, the Law- 

 ton, when thoroughly ripe, is, though rather acid, a rich, high flavored berry, 

 and it is thought has hardly had justice done to it. It bears to the Dor- 

 chester a relation somewhat similar to that borne by the fruit of the common 

 trailing bramble to the high bush blackberry, — both are valuable varieties, 

 and leave scarcely anything further to be desired in this species of fruit. 



