Notes and Gleanings. 41 



were purchased of a nursery-man who generally procured such stock from East- 

 ern establishments, and, like most others in the trade, would not hesitate to sell 

 Franconia for Red Antwerp, when the latter was called for and was not on 

 hand ; especially as the former is a better variety of the same class and color. 

 The gardener told us explicitly that the plants were not deemed hardy, and he 

 covered them every winter; while all who claimed to have the Naomi assured 

 us the plants were perfectly hardy, and never had protection. 



Mr. Campbell is also mistaken in his recollection of the remarks of Mr. Elliott 

 at the annual meeting of the Horticultural Society. Having carefully taken notes 

 at the time, I am sure he did not say, as Mr. Campbell asserts, " the Naomi was 

 so exactly identical with the Franconia, that it was impossible to distinguish 

 them ; " but he said that it was so nearly identical as to make it difficult to dis- 

 tinguish them ; but, he said, he had both varieties in his grounds, and there 

 were slight points of difference, and especially that the Naomi was hardier. In 

 proof that this is the correct version of Mr. Elliott's remarks, I refer to a com- 

 munication from his own pen, published in " The Ohio Farmer," of 20th March 

 last, in which, after explaining how the plants of the different seedlings pro- 

 duced by Mrs. Wood had been allowed to become mixed, and inferior ones dis- 

 seminated for Naomi, he says, — 



"I think it was in 1867 that I first made my description, and published it in 

 'The Ohio Farmer ; ' and at that time I proposed to take the plant, the fruit of 

 which I had described, and propagate it on shares ; but the proposition was not 

 accepted. . . . Years have passed, and not until recently has there been much 

 notice or knowledge of the variety. Now I see it advertised by several parties ; 

 and I have no hesitation in saying that whoever purchases trite Naomi will have 

 no cause to regret the outlay. As I have said, Mrs. Wood grew seedlings, ac- 

 cording to her own statement, from fruit of Red Antwerp and Franconia ; and my 

 observation of Naomi induces me to think it sprang from the Franconia. The 

 cane is somewhat like the Franconia, not quite as strong or stout, and for many 

 years has proved here, on the Lake shore, perfectly hardy, even to the tops. 

 The fruit is about the same size as Franconia, a little more conical, grains not 

 quite as large, equally or perhaps more firm, not quite as acid, but richer and of 

 better flavor." 



I need not inform the readers of the Journal that Mr. Elliott is the secretary 

 of the American Pomological Society, and one of the most careful observers and 

 correct delineators of fruits. He is everywhere regarded as standard authority 

 in questions of pomology ; and, furthermore, in describing and introducing 

 to the public the Naomi Raspberry, he had no personal interest to promote : 

 while on the other hand he had his reputation to preserve : our committee 

 therefore felt quite safe in relying upon his testimony in regard to the origin and 

 identity of the Naomi ; and that it was sufficiently distinct from other varieties 

 to deserve a separate name. Of its quality and productiveness they could judge 

 for themselves ; and the ability of the plants to withstand the winters perfectly, 

 for the past ten years, around Cleveland, was proven by abundant testimony. 



As mentioned in my former communication, samples of the Naomi fruit were 

 sent last summer to leading horticulturists in a number of different States, 



VOL. VI. 6 



