714 



PROMISING WILD FRUITS— III. 



with a stem two inches in diameter ; but at a short dis- 

 tance back from the lake it assumes its usual low trailing 

 form. 



Professor C. E. Bessey, of Nebraska, states that a 

 western form of this cherry, which is abundant on the 

 more sandy plains of that state, is especially promising, 

 and is occasionally cultivated, with indications of im- 

 provement. In regard to its quality he says: "In 

 nearly every clump of bushes one may always find some 

 which have but little, if any, astringency. I have fre- 

 quently eaten the fresh cherries while rambling over the 

 plains, and have often found specimens which were 

 fully as palatable as many of the cultivated cherries." 



The Utah Hybrid, said to have been produced by 

 pollinating the wild " Potowattomie " plum with pollen 

 of the sand cherry, has proved to be a valuable fruit for 

 southern Utah, where the ordinary cherries do not 

 thrive. 



Pawpaw [Asimina Iriloba). (Fig. i.) This fruit, 

 though not extensively used in the wild state, is usually 

 included among those worthy of efforts toward improve- 

 ment. Dr. Asa Gray regarded it as promising great 

 capabilities, and believed that by cultivation and selec- 

 tion for several generations it might approach in char- 

 acter the custard apple of the West Indies. A. S. 

 Fuller considers the pawpaw as ranking high among our 

 promising wild fruits, and suggests that attempts be 

 made to improve its quality by crossing with some of the 

 tropical fruits of the same family. 



No extended effort seems ever to have been made 

 toward the improvement of the pawpaw, though the tree 

 is occasionally planted, generally for ornamental pur- 

 poses. Dr. Darlington in his remarks on this fruit in 

 his "Flora Cestrica, " seems to convey the idea that its 

 quality is improved by cultivation. Dr. J. P. Kirtland, 

 a well known fruit grower of East Rockport, Ohio, now 

 deceased, is reported to have at one time attempted the 

 improvement of the pawpaw, but nothing can now be 

 learned of the result. 



The pawpaw, being entirely distinct in character from 

 any other fruit of temperate climate, would doubtless 

 find a ready market if its quality were improved to meet 

 the popular taste. The small quantities brought to the 

 markets of some of the eastern cities, mainly by negroes, 

 are usually sold to persons of their own race, or to others 

 who buy it as a curiosity ; there are some who eagerly 

 seek for it as a delicacy. 



The tree is vigorous and healthy, of convenient size, 

 bears young, is readily propagated by seeds and by 

 sprouts from the running roots, and it is sufficiently var- 

 iable to offer an opportunity for selection. The chief 

 effort needed in the improvement ef the pawpaw is in 

 the direction of flavor. 



In regard to its flavor there is a remarkable diversity 

 of testimony which can hardly be accounted for wholly 

 from difference in tastes, though, like many other fruits, 

 the pawpaw is evidently much more palatable to some 

 persons than to others. Many of the statements regard- 

 ing its flavor, however, must be attributed to careless- 



ness or imagination. The flavor has been comparedby 

 different persons to that of the pear, the banana, the 

 pineapple, and even to stale dough ! N. C. Meeker, 

 a well known agricultural writer, regarded the fruit 

 as worthless. Timothy Flint, in his work on the 

 History and Geography of the Mississippi Valley, pub- 

 lished in 1832, pronounces the pawpaw the prince of 

 fruit-bearing shrubs. He says, " The pulp of the fruit 

 resembles egg-custard in consistence and appearance. 

 It has the same creamy feeling in the mouth, and unites 

 the taste of eggs, cream, sugar and spice. It is a natural 

 custard, too luscious for the relish of most people. The 

 fruit is nutritious, and is a great resource to the savages. 

 So many whimsical and unexpected tastes are com- 

 pounded in it, that it is said that a person of the most 

 hypochondriac temperament relaxes into a smile when 

 he tastes the pawpaw for the first time. " This is quite a 

 contrast to the other opinion ! 



The Cloudberry [^Rubus Chaincemorus). This useful 

 little blackberry, which occurs throughout the arctic 

 regions of both hemispheres, is found along our northern 

 borders, and at interior points of high elevation. Wil- 

 liamson, in his history of Maine, says: "It grows on 

 the sides of mountains or exposed and elevated grounds. 

 The shrub bears a single berry on the top of the stem. 

 In size and flavor it resembles a strawberry ; having a 

 greater, though pleasant, smartness, and making excel- 

 lent preserves. Its color is at first scarlet, turning as it 

 ripens to yellow. When eaten with sugar and cream it 

 is delicious, and so cooling as to abate fevers. This 

 fruit lasts about a month." 



In more northern latitudes this fruit often occurs in 

 great abundance, and forms a valuable article of diet. 

 In Norway the fruit is protected by law, no one except 

 the owner being allowed to gather more than he wishes 

 to eat. Attempts have been made in Europe to intro- 

 duce the fruit into cultivation, but they have been un- 

 successful. In Scotland, where the fruit is native on 

 the Grampian Hills, much has been written about it, 

 and several prize essays on the subject may be found in 

 the transactions of the Highland Society. 



The popularity of this little blackberry may be in- 

 ferred from the number of common names which it has 

 received, including, besides the more common one above 

 given, "Bake-apple" in Labrador; "Averon " or 

 "Mountain Bramble" in England ; and in Scandinavia, 

 ' ' Grapes of the North. " 



RuBUS LEUcODERMis. This raspberry, which much 

 resembles the black raspberries of the east, except in the 

 color of its fruit, is found in the mountains of northern 

 California, Oregon and Washington, and in a few local- 

 ities in Utah and Arizona. The fruit is yellowish red, 

 rather large, with a white bloom and an agreeable 

 flavor. It does not seem to have yet been introduced 

 into cultivation, but it appears worthy of attention for 

 the purpose of extending the comparatively limited area 

 to which the raspberries of the black-cap type are 

 adapted. A. A. Crozier. 



Michigan. 



