88 



SOME WILD AMERICAN FRUITS. 



to the cultivation of the cranberry may also be suitable 

 for this. 



Joseph Meehan says that of many plants of V. Penn- 

 sylvaniciim, taken from the New Jersey and Pennsylvania 

 woods, cut down one-half, and planted in ordinary gar- 

 den soil in the full sun, nearly every one grew and bore 

 berries the second year, giving promise of a good berry- 

 patch in two or three years. It is emphasized that the 

 plants should be secured in the spring and cut down one- 

 half before they are transplanted. 



Wonders have been wrought by careful attention to 

 our native grapes. The genus ribes, to which belong 

 currants and gooseberries, contains native species as yet 

 uncultivated that seem full of promise. The red cur- 

 rant (A", rubruni), from which the numerous red and 

 white varieties have been derived, is a native of the 

 United States. The golden currant {^R. aiireiim') of the 

 west, usually cultivated for its flowers, is now receiving 

 considerable attention for its fruit. Another species 

 worthy of much attention is the mountain or skunk 

 currant {R. prostratut)i). It is often found growing in 

 the tamarac swamps of Michigan, the prostrate shrubs 

 attaining a far larger size than the common red currant, 

 and sometimes forming compact masses three or four 

 feet high and from five to eight in diameter. The ber. 

 ries are at least one-third larger than those of the com- 

 mon red currant, and grow in bunches nearly twice as 

 large. Even if the flavor of this fruit is peculiar and 

 not altogether pleasant to our palates, is the fact any 

 sign that the same attention as is given to the grape and 

 apple, will not result in as great a transformation as has 

 taken place in these fruits ? Wood's Class-book of 

 Botany states that the fruit of the wild black currant {R . 

 I'/oridii/ii) is insipid. That description cannot apply to 

 the wild black currants of southeastern Michigan, for 

 they have a delicious subacid flavor, and are highly 

 prized by those acquainted with them, both when eaten 

 from the hand and when cooked. Their savor is far 

 superior to that of the black currant (R. nigrum), hav- 

 ing none of the flavor so disagreeable to American 

 palates, and, besides, the berries are larger and hand- 

 somer. I believe this to be one of the most promising 

 of the genus. 



Most of the smooth cultivated varieties of gooseberries 

 are derived from R. hiytellum. R. oxycanthoides is a 

 smoother shrub, and I believe deserving of as much at- 

 tention. Were it not that the swamp gooseberry {R. 

 laciistrc) grows farther north than any other species, I 

 would not think that it deserved especial attention, as 

 the dark-colored prickly fruit has a disagreeable flavor. 

 The prickly gooseberry (R. cynosbati) bears large, prickly, 

 but finely flavored berries. It varies greatly in the wild 

 state and seems promising. 



The choke-cherry may yet come to be the most valuable 

 class of cherries. The dark red fruit is rather 1 arge and 

 in large clusters, and, although disagreeably astringent, 

 is no worse than many of our cultivated fruits. The 

 fact that it is an abundant bearer, although a small tree, 

 is much in its favor. Besides, it yields numerous ra- 



cemes of handsome, fragrant, white flowers in early 

 spring. 



Our native plums are receiving considerable attention. 

 All are variable when wild, some varieties having much 

 better fruit than others. Four species grow east of the 

 Mississippi river : the red or yellow plum {^Primus Amer- 

 icana'), the beach plum {P. marilima), the P. umbellata 

 of the south, and the Chickasaw plum {P. Chtcasa). 

 Several varieties of P. Americana, as the Hawk-eye, 

 Rolling-stone, Lendlofif, Cheney, Gaylord, Le Due and 

 Kopp, are said to be of good quality. Among the vari- 

 teies of P. umhellaia, the Wayland is pronounced very 

 excellent. The Wild-goose is a variety of P. Chicasa. 

 Considering the short time given to the cultivation of 

 wild plums, there certainly is good promise that great 

 things may yet be expected from our native kinds. 



The high-bush cranberry ( Viburnum Opulus) is worthy 

 of a place among the jelly-producing fruits. There are 

 three species of viburnums, natives of Michigan, bear- 

 ing rich, sweet berries — the sweet viburnum {V. Len- 

 tago), the black haw or sloe {V. prunifolium), and V. 

 nudum \ of the latter there is a quite distinct variety 

 which grows along the shores of Lake Superior, and is 

 sometimes called V. cassinoides. V. obovatum is another 

 species, with sweet-flavored fruit. I know that the acid 

 or subacid fruits are most in demand, yet from these 

 species may yet be produced fruit of much value. 



The black elder (Savibucus Canadensis) is well worthy 

 of cultivation as a fruit and ornamental shrub. 



There are several species of the genus rubus besides 

 the blackberry (A', viliosus), the dewberry {R. Cana- 

 densis), the black raspberry (A', occidenlalis), and the 

 red raspberry (A', strigosus), that may pay for a thorough 

 test. Among these are the sand-blackberry {R. cunei- 

 folius), the southern dewberry (A", trivialis), the two 

 species known as flowering raspberries, the purple-flow- 

 ered raspberry (A*, odoraius), with large, bright red, 

 sweet-flavored fruits, and the white-flowered raspberry, 

 (A'. Nutkanus), with bright scarlet, acid, but very seedy 

 fruits, an inch in diameter, the cloudberry (A'. Lhamcc- 

 morus), a herbaceous plant bearing large amber-colored, 

 sweet fruits, and R. trijlorus. 



In Michigan we have a species of blackberry called 

 low blackberry, which is very different in appearance 

 from A', villosus. The stems are four or five feet long, 

 rather slender, never erect, usually leaning over other low 

 shrubs, and raised about two feet from the ground, never 

 trailing like the dewberry. Its stems, leaves, flowers 

 and fruit are very different from those of R. villosus, 

 and just as unlike those of R. Canadensis. The large 

 fruit is generally borne in large clusters, hanging be- 

 neath the stem. 



The last native fruit which I shall notice, and which I 

 consider the most promising of all, is the sweet-scented 

 crab {Pyrus coronaria). It varies greatly in the wild 

 state, some varieties bearing fruit very much larger than 

 others. The fruits, which are naturally very sour and 

 astringent, can be made into delicious jelly and marma- 

 lade. They can be picked and kept like other apples. 



