1895.] TRANSACTIONS. 21 



largest fruiterers a striking novelty in Cherries, reputed to have 

 come from Oregon, which had been duly christened, or nick- 

 named in sport, "Black Republican " ! Despite its long journey 

 and suspicious name it was perfectly sound, and so remained, 

 plainly manifest, for days. Its flesh was very hard, of a liver 

 color, and its size was almost half again that of a fully-grown 

 Tartarian. The texture of its flesh was such as to suggest 

 Tradescant's Black Heart, sometimes misnamed Elkhorn. If 

 that variety from the Pacific coast, under its slang or true name, 

 can be naturalized here in Worcester, it ought to prove a de- 

 cided acquisition. And that it can be so naturalized its perfect 

 condition, after prolonged exposure, would seem to establish 

 beyond question. 



Malum^ Pyrumque^ — first cousins as it were, — many of like 

 exquisite beauty and perfection of flavor ; yet, for some reason 

 hitherto inexplicable, while one will bear profusely during suc- 

 cessive years, the other coyly refuses aught more generous than 

 a biennial harvest. This year, as last, Bartlett, Bonne de Jer- 

 sey, Bosc and Comice, bend beneath their superabundant bur- 

 den ; but Astrachan, Baldwin, Greening and Northern Spy, A. 

 D. 1895, are apparent only in that vacuum pronounced the ab- 

 horrence of Nature, and yet for which Nature through her mys- 

 terious processes, must be held responsible. Shall nothing be 

 found out to remedy this grave defect in pomological genera- 

 tion? Shall we fold our hands in supine indifference to an iner- 

 tia of Nature so seriously affecting our material interests and, 

 not less, our bodily welfare? The Treasury of the Common- 

 wealth is depleted in a futile struggle to countervail Insect Fe- 

 cundity. Has the first practical step been taken to determine if 

 it is utterly hopeless to expect, sometime in the future it may be, 

 an annual harvest of Apples ? Individual effort can accomplish 

 little. Any of countless obstacles may interrupt private ex- 

 periment even should not Death intervene between the trial and 

 its prosecution. But the Agricultural Colleges and Experiment 

 Stations, founded by Federal, and fostered by State, bounty, 



endure co-eval with civil institutions, and to them we have a 

 3 



