1897.] ESSAYS. 29 



Amherst there is an effort being made to grow all the known named 

 varieties of the small fruits under as nearly as possible like conditions. 

 They had under cultivation the past year one hundred sixty-four 

 named varieties of grapes and four hundred seedlings — seventeen 

 varieties of currants — twenty-one varieties of blackberries — twenty- 

 four varieties of raspberries — twenty-six varieties of blackcaps — 

 twenty-three varieties of gooseberries — two hundred and six varieties 

 of strawberries and four hundred seedlings. This affords students 

 and visitors an excellent opportunity for comparison of the different 

 varieties in the habit of growth and quality of fruit. 



While fruit supplies one of the most enjoyable luxuries of the 

 table and one of the most substantial articles of food ; while we have 

 a soil and climate unequalled for the production of some of the best 

 known and extensively used fruits that the earth produces ; witli a 

 home market constantly increasing and a foreign market yet in its 

 infancy and confined to a limited number of foreign ports, but 

 capable of much wider expansion, — the fruit growers have encourage- 

 ment to persevere in their calling, with reasonable assurance that 

 their returns shall compare favorably with those engaged in any 

 of the agricultural pursuits. 



