150 
THE FLORIST. 
i 
grown in a rich compost. The fruit of these Vines was exhibited on your 
tables last March. 
“ As the object of nature is to reproduce its species, it follows that the great 
labour of the Vine is in maturing the seed. And just in proportion to the ease 
with which this is perfected will be the size of the pulp or fruit, and the time of 
ripening lessened. Such being the case, all stimulants not tending to assist 
the Vine in this direction are injurious ; inasmuch as they stimulate the Vine 
to an unnatural growth of wood— a condition unfavourable to the production of 
fruit. 
“ Yours truly, 
“ E. A. Brackett.” 
At page 25 we find an old acquaintance of oiir schoolboy days intro¬ 
duced. Here it is :— 
“ Blackberries. —Under the head of premiums awarded for this fruit, it 
will be seen that the High-bush has carried off all the premiums. The Lawton 
is a valuable acquisition, but without detracting at all from its merits your 
Committee would state that in their opinion, for general cultivation, the High- 
bush is altogether a superior berry, quite as large, of equal flavour, and 
possessing that all-important requisite for such a fruit, solidity, which enables 
the grower to take it to market in fine order, which he cannot well do with the 
Lawton. The Blackberry, according to Mr. Merriam, who has had great 
success in growing it, should be trained horizontally; this causes every eye to 
break, and the shoots are literally loaded with fruit; if trained upright they 
only break freely at the top.” 
Why should not the Blackberry engage the attention of English 
horticulturists ? What is to prevent there being an improved race of 
this fruit ? Who will do this ? 
The Stan wick Nectarine has undergone its trial in the United 
States, and the new English Strawberries also. The report states, at 
page 25:— 
“Nectarines. —None worthy of particular mention have been shown, 
except theStanwick, exhibited by H. H. Hunnewell, to which was awarded the 
Society’s silver medal. If others are as successful in growing this as has been 
Mr. Harris, gardener to Mr. H., it will probably be grown to the exclusion of 
most other varieties. 
“ Strawberries. —The Jenny Lind, a seedling raised by Mr. Fay, having 
proved an early and prolific bearer in the hands of others than the originator, 
the Committee awarded to Isaac Fay the Society’s Special Prize of the Lyman 
Plate, valued at fifty dollars, for the Jenny Lind, as the best seedling after 
three years’ trial.” 
“ The past season has been prolific in the introduction of new and valuable 
varieties from abroad, amongst which may be mentioned Sir Harry, Admiral 
Dundas, and Sir Charles Napier, shown by Messrs. Hovey, as the leading and 
most desirable of some twenty-five varieties of recent introduction, the Admiral 
Dundas, the largest of the above named, requiring only about eighteen to the 
pound. Sir Harry received the first prize, as being superior in flavour to any 
other variety of .the season. The Admiral Dundas, on account of size, would 
have received the second prize, but that the contributor is one of the Fruit 
Committee, and declined assenting to the award made by all other members.” 
Knowing as we do that our friends the Americans have for many 
years been the greatest customers for all the best European fruits, and 
the attention and care they bestow in raising and cultivating fruits of 
native origin—of which many higJily valuable kinds have already found 
their way to our gardens—we need feel no surprise at the success they 
have attained in the culture of hardy fruits, for which the greater part 
of the American climate is admirably adapted. In fruit forcing they are 
