ON SOME ODD BERRIES 



the progeny of the Mexican elder, and the Cali- 

 fornia species already referred to, Sambucus 

 clauga, and the hardy Dakota elders are com- 

 bined. To produce still further variation and fa- 

 cilitate progress, I have also crossed the new elder 

 with species from Ariozna, one of which is a very 

 large tree for an elder. 



From a second generation cross I got prob- 

 ably one individual in forty that bore black ber- 

 ries, but from the third generation not a single 

 one out of several thousands was black. I se- 

 cured, however, one that bore berries of a gray 

 or mulberry color and two or three having a ten- 

 dency to a mixed color. All the rest were white 

 or amber. 



It will appear, then, that a race of elders has 

 thus been produced that bears fruit of an attrac- 

 tive white or amber color and of such quality as 

 to commend it highly, as a substitute for other 

 berries, in regions where the garden fruits in gen- 

 eral do not thrive. Moreover, there is every prob- 

 ability that the experiments now under way will 

 result ultimately in the development of varieties 

 of elder of such improved quality as to make a 

 valuable addition to the orchard even in compe- 

 tition with the most popular fruits. 



The elderberry has qualities of its own that 

 will commend it strongly. If for no other reason, 



[179] 



