LIGHT FROM THE SOCIETIES. 



693 



fertilization. The law is, that fertilization is the union 

 of two masses of living matter ; and it should be remem- 

 bered that in the fertilization of flowering plants we have 

 the same union of individual masses, and that as a 

 consequence of the union of the male and female cells, 

 there begins a growth in the young seed which results 

 in the formation of the embryo found in every seed. 

 This fertilization — that is, the joining of the substance 

 of the pollen-cell with that of the seed-cell — does not 

 differ in any essential respect from that taking place in 

 the simplest plant. 



New and Promising Small Fruits. — To a true lover 

 of fruits the mere description of many novelties is the 

 most interesting fiction of the day. He soon learns that 

 new and promising small fruits may in some respects 

 be compared to human beings. There are men who 

 make promises freely but rarely do anything else. We 

 have them among the small fruits. Then there are 

 ladies known as fickle. Vox a season they will smile 

 upon you beautifully, causing you to be unspeakably 

 happy, when of a sudden they change and leave you to 

 the cold mercies of the world. These we have among 

 the small fruits also. On the other hand there are the 

 solid men of the day. They make no special fuss 

 about it, but when you come to make a report of their 

 acts you will find them performing their part well, each 

 and every time. In the pursuit of this interesting study, 

 the following characteristics of fruits have come under 

 the essayist's personal observation : 



Raspberries. — Among the blackcaps worthy of note 

 may be mentioned the Kansas and fAivett. The former 

 is a blackcap after the style of the Gregg — fully equal- 

 ing it in size, and ripening a week earlier. It is also far 

 more prolific with me, has less bloom upon the fruit, 

 and is a freer and stronger grower. It is thus far 

 hardy with me ; but the Gregg is usually hardy, also, the 

 first year of fruiting. 



Palmer is a variety of the Doolittle type resembling 

 closely the Souhegan or Tyler, ripening with it. I have 

 failed to note any property possessed by it wherein it is 

 superior to that very valuable sort. These remarks 

 apply to the Cromwell and Carman with equal force. 



Progress or is an improvement upon Souhegan 



in some respects, but it is not so early by three or four 

 days. The fruit is identical in size, appearance and 

 quality, but the canes are of much stronger growth and 

 yield nearly double the quantity of fruit upon a given 

 space of land. It also possesses the very desirable 

 property of adhering firmly to the peduncle when fully 

 ripe. 



Older is a variety worthy of more than passing notice, 

 being one of the very few entirely distinct blackcaps 

 that have appeared in a long time. In fruit, cane and 

 foliage it is so unlike any other variety as to be notice- 

 able at a glance. In size it is large to very large, rival- 

 ing though not equaling the Gregg ; is almost destitute 

 of bloom upon the fruit, hence very black, and although 

 firm, is of superior, rich and high quality. In growth 



of cane and productiveness it may be compared to the 

 Souhegan, Season, second early, ripening with the 

 Ohio, 



Thompson' s Early Prolifie is an early red variety that 

 has proved superior, all things considered, to any I have 

 grown. Were the berries larger and canes of stronger 

 growth it would approach closely the ideal raspberry 

 for market growing. It is among the earliest to ripen 

 and is prolific. In size it compares favorably with the 

 Hansell and Brandywine, and in firmness and brilliant 

 color it nearly or quite equals these two varieties. Its 

 quality is fair to good. 



Japanese IVineherry is perhaps worthy of mention. 

 The cane is of very strong growth and ornamental 

 enough to be worthy a place upon the lawn. The ber- 

 ries, which ripen at the close of the raspberry season, 

 are rather below the average size of red raspberries. 

 They are deep amber in color, turning to the color of 

 sherry, are translucent and sparkle in the sunlight 

 and hence are very attractive. They are too soft for 

 transportation, and although rich are too acid to be en- 

 joyed by any except those who are fond of acid fruit. 

 Properly cooked I have found it exceedingly palatable, 

 and from it pretty and superior jelly can be readily 

 made. The large calyxes or burrs which enclose each 

 berry until fully ripe impart to the hand a viscous 

 substance upon the slightest touch, that is decidedly 

 unpleasant. 



Blackberries. — It is to be greatly lamented, 'yet 

 must, I fear, be recognized as a fact, that the trend of 

 this most important member of the small fruit family 

 is retrograde. 



Early King se.&mi, to possess much merit as all early 

 sort, especially for the home garden. In size it is about 

 medium, larger than Snyder, Taylor's Prolific, etc., 

 but smaller than the Wilson. It lacks firmness for 

 long shipment, but is of superior quality and is very 

 hardy. The cane is of moderate growth and fairly' 

 prolific, giving us our first blackberries. 



Tliompson' s Early Mammoth is evidently a seedling of 

 Wilson's Early and very much like it in many ways. 



Afinne-coaskt has proved with me the best substitute 

 for the Kittatinny, since we can no longer successfully 

 fruit that old favorite. 'I he canes are of good growth, 

 fairly prolific, healthy and hardy ; berries of good to 

 large size, firm, attractive and excellent. It has not 

 proved especially early, ripening with Snyder and'' 

 Kittatinny, or ten days after the Wilson. 



Lovetf s Best, taking all things into consideration, is the 

 most promising of the new varieties. 



CJiilds' Everbearing Tree Blackberry ox Topsy I think 

 is a hybrid of Rubtis cuneifoliiishy Rnhus villosiis, retain- 

 ing the stout upright cane and villainous spines of the 

 former and the large fruit of the latter. On ordinary fer- 

 tile soil the canes attain a height of three to fourfeet, are 

 erect, very strong and rigid. It branches freely and is 

 densely covered with rather small foliage of a thick, 

 leathery texture. I have never known it to be attacked 

 by orange rust or any other diseases. It is exceedingly 



