IMPROVEMENT NEEDED 135 



and small, imperfect and worthless fruit; the other 

 with large blossoms, vigorous growth, large, plump and 

 glossy fruit. The cuts (Figs. 26 and 27) well illustrate 

 the difference between these two types, which is in itself 

 a ready explanation of many of the conflicting opinions 

 regarding the Lucretia. 



By taking the best of what we already have as a 

 basis for future improvement, there seems to be no 

 reason why the dewberry may not be brought to such 

 a state of perfection as shall render its place as- 

 sured. In the Wilson's Early and Wilson Junior 

 blackberries we have a type intermediate between the 

 dewberry and the blackberry. This form may sug- 

 gest lines of breeding which in time shall produce off- 

 spring far superior to anything which we now have, 

 either in the blackberry or the dewberry. We need 

 more careful and skillful breeders, who shall breed 

 plants as understandingly as animals are bred, and 

 who shall give us in the results of their toil the fruit 

 treasures which ought ere this to have been ours. 



SOIL FOR DEWBERRIES 



The dewberry is very largely found on poor or 

 sandy soils the country over. This in itself is a 

 decided indication that comparatively light, sandy 

 soils will prove best adapted to its cultivation, and 

 the general experience of growers throughout the 

 country seems to substantiate the supposition. It is 

 true that instances are -reported of success from nearly 

 all kinds of soils, but the best results nearly always 



