1883.] TRANSACTIONS. 5 



Rubus Idceus, and inseparable from them as it will be found ; 

 not one of the Pomologists addressed by Mr. Thomas even so 

 much as referred to the existence of that unequalled and pre- 

 eminent variety. Neither is there a solitarj^ mention of Fastolf, 

 Franconia, Knevett's Giant, Hornet ; nor even of the Northum- 

 berland Fillbasket, — whose late offspring — Baumforth's Seed- 

 ling, — holds out such luscious and encouraging promise. Of the 

 varieties that have found approval among the critical growers of 

 this established Society ; the Cnthbert alone receives commenda- 

 tion. Although a defect is alleged, curious enough to those who 

 have seen it in Worcester, in its "rather dark color"! But with 

 this solitary exception, not a single first-class Raspberry is men- 

 tioned by those " eminent fruit-growers", whose judgment was 

 solicited. You read of Souhegan, and Gregg ; of Ohio, and 

 Tyler; of Hopkins, and Mammoth Cluster; and realize that the 

 whole pother has been, after all, only about Thimble-berries! 



Perhaps this is the aspect of the question, as viewed by the 

 market-grower, and huckster. But how is it presented to the 

 members of a Society which exists for the explicit and declared 

 pui-pose of " advancing the science, and encouraging and im- 

 proving the Practice of Horticulture " ? An indiscriminate 

 mention of Raspberries by their generic name; no distinction, 

 save by title, which only informs experts already instructed, of 

 the Rubus Idoeus from the opposite species Occidentalis. And 

 then the accidental, hap-hazard election ; for the public which 

 would grow its own stock ; of a little better berry than is found 

 by every road-side, over that which is a feast to set before Presi- 

 dents ! For, bear in mind, always, — that of all these countless 

 varieties of Rubus Occidentalis — (Thimbleberry), not one is put 

 forward, because a seedling! That, on the contrary, all are 

 recommended because their original and obvious superiority to 

 others growing wild had been observed and appreciated. Were 

 the art of man traceable ! could you refer to deliberate semina- 

 tion, and subsequent fruition, by any one ; could you, in short, 

 point to the origin of one new and valuable variety of the Occi- 

 dentalis, through assiduous experiment, care, and cultivation, as 

 you can to that of the Brinckle's Orange ; then indeed, might 

 the spirit of mortal be proud. But, it was found in a pasture, — 



