liEVERS SEED DATA DOdl'E 
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NOVELTIES AND VARIETIES OF 
SPECIAL MERIT FOR 1906 
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Garden Huckleberry 
(SOLANUM NIGRUM) 
A New Vegetable Winter Pie Fruit, 
This is not a plant of striking 
beauty or of any particular attrac- 
tiveness, no indeed it is not, it 
might rather be considered an 
objectional one as it too closely 
resembles the nightshade, one of 
our common weeds: from which it 
differs, however in growth. It is 
erect, about three feet high; with 
berries about eight times larger 
than those of the nightshade, and ^ 
borne in bunches of from 8 to 1 (V. 
In color and shape it resembles 
the shrubby huckleberry, Cut 
above giving natural size. How- 
ever, anyone not knowing of its 
usefulness and secret merits, 
would quickly discard it. as the 
taste of the raw berries is rather 
unpleasant and disagreeable. 1 came very near regarding it so myself, but curio- 
sity tempted me to try some of the 'berries in a pie. The pie was baked and some 
neighbors called in to join in its testing. We commenced with very small bites, 
which soon increased and we found we had eaten something- very delicious. 
Such a hippy transform itiqn was unexpected, and, overjoyed more pies 
were haired and taken to town so that those interested might try them. A nunf- 
ber did so. and the general opinion was most satisfactory, so that I Was assured 
that I was making no mistake in bringing this to the notice of my customers and 
the public in general, and in saving the seed. This was about two weeks before 
the first, frost, and part; of the clusters were saved for later experiments. To as- 
certain keeping qualities, they were placpd in boxes three inches deep, and put 
in the cellar. The stems that hold the hunches were clipped with Scissors, care- 
fully avoiding bunches not ripe. With ordinary care, berries will keep well 
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