50 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



present time the importance of this branch of horticultural work 

 is not fully recognized by the people of the State. From the 

 very nature of the soil and climate of Maine, we must look to 

 intensive rather than to extensive operations for the most satis- 

 factory returns. With the increasing importance of our sum- 

 mer resorts, new and extensive markets are opened; while the 

 operatives in the factories are always large consumers of fruit. 

 For this reason the culture of small fruits seems to ofifer a 

 specially promising field at the present time. 



With the small fruits there is often a marked change from 

 year to year in the estimated value of the leading varieties. In 

 fact varieties come and go, with the leading growers, before they 

 are even heard of by the great masses of the people. 



The particular kinds of small fruits in which the growers of 

 Maine are, or should be, specially interested are the currant, 

 gooseberry and strawberry. Our conditions are particularly 

 adapted to the production of the best of all these. 



Currants. To the well-known Fay, Red Dutch, and Victoria, 

 Wilder (or President Wilder) was a welcome addition as a 

 profitable market currant as well as a satisfactory home berry. 

 It is a very productive red variety, ripening about with Fay, and 

 is without the unfortunate tendency of the latter, to spread its 

 outer branches and break down in winter. 



Prince Albert is another sort, which while grown for a number 

 of years in New York and other sections, is seldom met in 

 Maine. This is a very vigorous and very productive variety and 

 has two specially valuable characteristics, in the lateness of 

 maturity — after all other sorts are past their prime — and in its 

 relative freedom from fungous diseases which frequently 

 defoliate other sorts early in the season. 



Perfection is the latest claimant for honors and was awarded 

 the Barry gold medal for a new fruit of superior merit, by the 

 Western New York Horticultural Society in 1901. My atten- 

 tion was first called to this variety at the Pan American Expo- 

 sition in 1901 and it was first commercially disseminated in 1902. 

 The variety is the result of a cross between the Fay and White 

 Grape, made by Mr. C. G. Hooker of Rochester, N. Y., in 1887. 

 It was introduced by C. M. Hooker & Son of Rochester. The 

 bush is a strong grower with excellent foliage, and bears the 

 fruit chiefly on the old wood — like the White Grape parent. 

 The fruit cluster as officially described by W. A. Taylor, U. S. 



