LETTERS FROM PROMINENT HORTICULTURISTS. 67 



rank growth before bearing. It looks as if the Keiffer (Standard) 

 was going to stay with us. The LeConte is too tender for any use 

 here. Who has tried the Birket in Nebraska? It works fine on 

 apple stocks and I believe would be good here. 



The best raspberries for here are Tyler, Souhegan, and Ohio. These 

 kinds have given a good crop at Kearney every season during the last 

 four years and are the only kinds I could recommend. There may 

 be others just as good but I don't know it. The Gregg, which is the 

 leader at Bloomington and Normal, 111., is of no value here. Of the 

 reds the Shaffer and Cuthbert have fruited some, though not enough 

 to pay for bothering with them. The Turner does no good. 



Gooseberries— Houghton and Downing have done best. 



Currants — Red Dutch and White Grape. Would not be afraid to 

 plant largely of the Fay. Think it would fruit as well as the others, 

 with the chances that it would do better. 



Strawberries — Crescent, Manchester, Mt. Vernon, Wilson, Sharp- 

 less, and Cap. Jack have all done quite well. 



Snyder blackberry has fruited but once during the four years. 



Grapes — Concord, Elvira, Lady, and Agawam have all fruited 

 nicely when half way cared for. There are others, Perkins, Pock- 

 lington, etc., that will do as well. 



I see my notes are getting long. Fellows like we are that love 

 trees and fruits and flowers and love to plant and grow and care for 

 them are, when they get started on their favorite theme, like a good 

 clock, never stop until they run down. This must be my excuse for 

 continuing. We see so many things neglected that if attended to 

 would help us to make trees, fruits, shrubs, and flowers a success in 

 our beautiful state. There are many difficulties to overcome, many 

 things to learn that will be helpful, but the lack of practical knowl- 

 edge, the carelessness and the slipshod methods advocated and prac- 

 ticed are the greatest drawbacks to success in tree and fruit growing 

 with which we have to contend. Nine-tenths (I believe I am safe in 

 saying this) of the people who buy trees do not really know what 

 well-prepared soil is nor what is necessary to do to make a good plant. 

 Our farmer friends laugh at us for using a 12-inch stirring plow (9- 

 inch would be better) with a heavy team of horses to draw it; say it 

 is too "slow and poky," "fooling time away," etc., but we pulverize 

 the soil just the same and handle the same amount of dirt, the differ- 



