j66 Notes and Gleanings. 



Mr. John S. Collins of Burlington County, N.J., v/rites us in relation to the 

 Wilson Early Blackberry, and corrective of some points in Mr. Morris's arti- 

 cle in a previous number of the Journal. He excepts to the statement that the 

 Wilson blossoms in advance of the Lawton ; as with him, only ten miles away 

 from Mr. Morris, the case is very different, having frequently noticed that they 

 do not blossom any earlier. In fact, he generally finds the Lawton to be first in 

 bloom. He says, " I generally see the Lawton blossoms first, sometimes causing 

 me to think they (the Wilson) were going to be behind time that season ; but 

 the blossoms came out nearly together, as does the fruit grow, the smallest ber- 

 ries being quite well grown by the time the first are ripe : hence the short time 

 in which the crop can be gathered. It is questionable with me whether early 

 blossoming is a sure indication of earliness, as our latest varieties of apples blos- 

 som first. And the same may be said of strawberries. The Downer Prolific 

 blossoms late, but ripens early : the Lady-finger blossoms early, but ripens late. 

 Hence the great disparity in the value of the two varieties as a market-crop ; as 

 the last-named is generally cut off by late frosts, while the Downer is one of the 

 most certain : and, for that reason, the Wilson Early is the more valuable on 

 account of its blooming with other varieties." 



Mr. Collins also states that the original plant was not transferred to a garden 

 in which the Lawton had long been domesticated. He saw the mother-plant in 

 the garden referred to, with no Lawton there ; and the proprietor informed him 

 that no Lawton nor any other variety of blackberry had ever been in the gar- 

 den. The Wilson, thus standing alone, had always borne well. But Mr. Collins 

 is now inclined to think it would have borne better had there been some other 

 variety growing near, " As experience shows me, that, however well it may fruit 

 when planted alone, the berries grow more uniformly large, and ripen nearer 

 together, when set out close to Lawton or Kittatinny ; which is little, if any, real 

 disadvantage ; because, if a person wishes to have ten acres of Wilson's Early 

 to fruit, he would be likely to want at least a fourth of Kittatinny or Lawton to 

 continue the use of pickers, boxes, &c. By planting every third or fourth row 

 with the latter varieties, the plantation could be picked with little inconvenience ; 

 and as for getting plants out of a fruiting-plantation, it is poor policy, as are the 

 plants in quality. Better devote a piece of ground to plants exclusively, where 

 they could be dug with roots, or without endangering next season's fruit-crop ; 

 the plants for which should be cultivated, which cannot be done to advantage, 

 and allow suckers to grow, too, between the rows." 



Grapes in 1867. — Some of the Newer Varieties. — The Cynthiana 

 {s}'nony7ne. Red River). — This grape is, perhaps, the most valuable of our 

 native varieties for red wine. It is closely related to the Norton's Virginia, 

 and, in fact, resembles it so closely in foliage, bunch, and berry, that it is only 

 by carefully comparing the fruit, but more especially the wine, that even the 

 best judges can distinguish the difference. I obtained it some nine years ago 

 from Prince & Co. of Flushing, N.Y. It is said to be a native of Arkansas, 

 found on Red River. It has fruited with me eight summers ; has been uni- 

 formly healthy, hardy, and productive ; and I am satisfied that it is well adapted 



