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THE GENESEE FARMER. 



same language, and threaded with rapid means of 

 intercommunication, nothing is wanted but careful 

 observation in different localities and a common 

 repository of the results obtained. In regard to 

 the best varieties of fruit adapted for general cul- 

 tivation, the American Pomological Society has 

 brought to light much important information. 

 Something more, however, is requisite. The best 

 varieties in one locality often prove quite inferior 

 in others. There are many varieties in the Socie- 

 ty's List that cannot be grown with advantage in 

 the West, while there are several varieties that do 

 succeed admirably there that are excluded from it. 

 The Society, if it would continue and extend its 

 usefulness, must take up this subject. It might ap- 

 point a committee, either to visit the different fruit 

 sections of the country, or to correspond with fruit 

 growers who have the requisite experience. In 

 , this way we might obtain reliable information. In 

 ' the meantime much good might be accomplished, 

 ' if fruit-growers in various parts of the country 

 would furnish to the agricultural and horticultural 

 journals a list of varieties which have been tested, 

 and with what result. 



' Another thing which should not be neglected, is 

 , a faithful account of the difficulties, diseases, in- 

 , sects, etc., which have to be encountered, and the 

 most effectual means of their removal. Horticul- 

 ture cannot be learned in a day or a year. It is 

 the study of a life-time. No field presents a greater 

 variety, or yields a richer reward. There are 

 thousands of patient, laborious students in this 

 pleasant field of productive industry, and the fu- 

 ture is bright with the promise of better days. 



CULnVATION OF SMALL FRUITS. 



Within a few years, attention has been given in 



an especial manner to the cultivation of small 



fruits. The Currant and Gooseberry have, from 



an early period, been grown to some extent, as 



they would thrive by being set in the fence corners 



or in a row beside the garden walk, and left to 



flourish and fruit as best they could. Recently 



they have claimed a larger share of attention, as it 



^ has been demonstrated that cultivation, pruning. 



manuring and transplanting, improve the fruit 



quite as much as that of the Apple, Pear, or Plum. 



Considerable attention has also been given to the 



; cultivation of the Raspberry. This has, for the 



i most part, been confined to amateurs, and those 



who have grown them for market purposes, near 



the large towns. Very few farmers have succeeded 



in raising many crops of the Antwerps, Fasiolffs, 



or other varieties of the cultivated Raspberries, as 



in most localities they require more attention than 



farmers usually bestow upon such crops,— particu- 



larly some protection from the severity of the 

 winter. 



Strawberries are extensively grown by amateurs 

 and marketers, but very few farmers h.ive as yet 

 taken the pains to plant and attend to this delicious 

 fruit, suiBciently to ensure themselves a supply 

 during their proper season. That they may do so, 

 any one who has observed the ease with whicb 

 good crops are grown by market gardeners will 

 readily believe. The reason why they do not, is 

 simply because it requires some care, attention, and 

 extra time, which most farmers make themselves 

 believe they cannot afford. 



Within a few years, the Blackberry has received 

 much attention. A variety originating in West- 

 chester Co., N. Y,, known as the Neio' Roclulle, or 

 Lawton, has been inti'odiiced into many gardens, 

 and has thus far, when properly ciiltivated, given 

 very general satisfaction. The Sigh Bush, or Dor- 

 chester, is also extensively cultivated. Another 

 variety, originating in Ulster Co., N. Y., has been 

 disseminated under the name of Newmati's Thorn- 

 less Blackierry, — its distinguishing feature, as its 

 name indicates, being the absence of thorns. Of 

 the fruit we have no knowledge, except from hear- 

 say, which has however given us a good opinion of 

 its merits. We are not aware that the common 

 blackberry has been cultivated to any extent, and 

 are unable to say whether it would be improved in 

 size and fruitfulness by transplanting, pruning, and 

 good cultivation. The increasing thrift of fanners, 

 by clearing up all slashes and unsightly hedges, 

 bids fair to banish the Blackberry, as well as the 

 black and red Raspberry, from the country, except 

 as cultivated shrubs for the purpose of supplying 

 the table with their excellent fruit. 



Few small fruits are more susceptible of im- 

 provement by cultivation than the black Raspber- 

 ry, and this we are sure is second to none of the 

 market fruits, except the Strawberry, in flavor and 

 excellence. The markets of Rochester and Bufialo 

 have, for two seasons past, been well supplied with 

 this fruit, — a considerable share of the best of 

 which has come from a small field cultivated by 

 H. H. DooLiTTTE, at Oaks' Corners, N. Y. He 

 has demonstrated that the black Raspberry can be 

 much improved by judicious cultivation and prun- 

 ing ; and his success has also shown that the fruit 

 can be transported without material injury some 

 distance to market — better than the Strawberry, 

 or other varieties of the Raspberry. 



Our purpose in recurring to these fruits at the 

 present time, is to impress their great value and 

 importance upon the great mass of our readers. 

 There is no reason why a farmer who has fifty, one 



