38 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



drawback to the successful cultivation of the cherry is the birds, espe- 

 cially out in the open country, where the robins make great havoc with 

 the crop. Since the cultivation of the pear and grape has attracted so 

 much attention the cherry has been neglected, though in former years it 

 was quite a source of income on some farms. The varieties shown were 

 Black Tartarian, Downer, May Duke and Black Eagle. 



The raspberries ripen with the cherries, and are a fine fruit, coming at 

 a thne when they are very acceptalile. This fruit too, is receiving less 

 attention than formerly. Tliore were but two contributors, both of 

 whom showed Knevett's Giant, one of the very best varieties. The 

 prizes were not all awarded this year, and the same has been true for 

 one or two years past. Is it true that we are retrograding in the culti- 

 vation of the small fruits'? It would certain!}^ seem to be the case, judg- 

 ing from our AVeekly Exhiljitions. The raspberry is much less difficult 

 of cultivation than the black1)erry, and gives quite as good results. It 

 is true that five or six years ago the price ran down too low to pay the 

 growers, but so it will be with most everything else. There are times 

 when there seems to be a glut in the market, but this should not lead to 

 t\ie entire abandonment of a fruit. Horticulturists, of all others, 

 should sow and plant in faith, and patiently wait for results, and not be 

 discouraged if some of their pet projects occasionally fail. We are not 

 ready to give up the raspberr}'. 



During the warm season we seem to desire some acid fruit, and the 

 currant comes at just the right time to supply this extensive want. 

 Great improvement has been made in the size of the currant, within a 

 few years, by the introduction of new varieties, but we fear that for qual- 

 ity they are no improvement on the Red and White Dutch, which are old 

 favorites. The cultivation of this fruit was somewhat discouraging to 

 the market gardener during the high prices of sugar, or before we became 

 accustomed to high prices, and many dug up their plantations because 

 they did not pay. This is not a good way. This fruit is worthy of cul- 

 tivation, and through a term of years will pay in dollars and cents, as 

 well as in the satisfaction that one may derive from the free use of the 

 fi'uit for himself and family. There were fivecontribiitors, who exhibit- 

 ed specimens of but three varieties, La Versaillaise, Dana's Transparent, 

 and Bed Dutch. Surely this does not show very well for our large So- 

 ciety, embracing as it does, most of the prominent fruit growers of this 

 part of the State. !N'o excuse can be made by any man for not raising 

 a few currants, if he has any land upon which to plant a bush, or even a 

 slip, for no fruit can be more easily grown, and none will adapt itself bo 

 readily to a variety of soil and climate. 



Of gooseberries, we can say but little, for it has never been a favorite 

 fruit in this part of the country. The sorts that flourish so M'ell in the 

 more genial climate of England seem to fail here, while those that with- 



