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5 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
There is a class of people who do not believe 
in progress, who think the world had reached 
perfection when they were young, and that 
it has gone backward since. But who could, 
50 years ago, have imagined the wonderful 
progress of the present day, and who can con¬ 
ceive what progressive ideas and progressive 
minds and progressive men will accomplish in 
another half century? We may at times go 
too fast and make missteps, or we may put on 
too much steam and burst a boiler, but what 
of that?—what does the brave soldier care if 
he must lose his life that his brothers may 
march to viclojy ? 
He who does not believe in progress is the 
most virulent sore on the body of the com¬ 
munity, the most dangerous enemy to society, 
the state, and mankind ; far better that he 
should perish than impede the wheel of pro¬ 
gress. 
-» ♦ ♦- 
SMALL FRUITS IN ARKANSAS, 
DR. JOHN A. WARDER. 
Attending a recent meeting of the State 
Horticultural Society at Little Rock, the capital 
of Arkansas, it was pleasant to find so ener¬ 
getic a band of intelligent fruit-growers as¬ 
sembled. All were earnest and enthusiastic 
respecting the new industry which here, as 
elsewhere, follows close upon the heels of the 
iron horse, whose snorting career, though ap¬ 
palling to the ceyote, the bear, the bison and 
the deer of the primitive regions, is always 
accompanied by the more gentle and useful 
animals of domestic and civilized life as the 
assistants of ten a-culture. 
SHIllTS. — FIG. 123- SHIRTS.— FIG 124. 
To one who had visited this region in days 
long past—say 18M1—when access could only 
be had hy steamboats along the rivers, it was 
most natural to draw a comparison and to ob¬ 
serve the contrast in the surrom ding condi¬ 
tions. King Cotton still bears swsyin the low¬ 
land regions, and the long-leaved pines still 
wave their illumed tops on many of the up¬ 
lands; but iu all favorable sites, farms with 
mixed agriculture and fruitful orchards are 
asserting their claims to attention, and are, 
evidently yielding satisfactory results to their 
owners. The verv capital itself, from being a 
quiet cluster of elegant residences for the own¬ 
ers of the great cotton plantations a’ong the 
rivers, has become a busy mart of trade, a 
thriving rail-road town in constant communi¬ 
cation with the outside world, and contribut¬ 
ing liberally of luxurious f i uits to distant mar¬ 
kets. Of these, the small fruits, especially the 
strawberry and the peach, seek the Northern 
cities by way of St Louis, while the famous 
apples may find a ready demand southward in 
Texas and Louisiana. 
The attendant members of the Society were 
evidently encouraged by their success in fruit¬ 
growing and appeared to be quite well posted 
as to the best varieties, with which they ap¬ 
peared to be as familiar as we of the older So¬ 
cieties in the North. I heard constant and 
high praiseB of their great “ Fruit Belt ’’ and 
on inquiry as to its limits, was informed that 
it extended across the Btate along the line of 
the St. Louie, Iron 
Mountain and South¬ 
ern Railway, from Pop¬ 
lar Bluff iu Southeast¬ 
ern Missouri to the 
southwestern corner of 
the State near Texarka¬ 
na on the Red liiver, 
especially for the fruits 
already named and for 
grapes in several places 
where they have al¬ 
ready hem plauted, 
while apples and peach¬ 
es succeed in all the 
upland regions of the 
northwestern quarter endicott's seedling. 
of the State, and pear **&■ 135 - 
trees have thriven in the southern parts since 
the early settlements made by the French, who 
also introduced the fig, and trained the native 
Muscadine or Scuppernong GrapeB on their 
primitive arbors. This 1 b still the favorite 
method of training these peculiar grapes. 
The happy geographical range of this region, 
with its fertile soil and its fortunate climatic 
conditions, would seem to promise the best 
results for horticultural efforts. The latitude 
gives early products for the supply of North¬ 
ern markets, while, in the elevated regions, 
where the apple thrives so admirably, there 
need be no lack of demand to the south and 
southwest, in Louisiana and Texas, where this 
noble fruit cannot be produced, and where a 
constantly increasing population stands ready 
to consume all their surplus and, like Oliver, 
ask for more. 
-- 
THE BID WELL AND OTHER NEW STRAW¬ 
BERRIES, NEW RASPBERRIES, ETC. 
E. P. ROE. 
Evert year I grow more conservative and 
less ready to drop the old standards for highly- 
praised newcomers. At the same time I be¬ 
lieve we are destined to see a steady advance 
in the good qualities of the several small fruits, 
brought about by the efforts and discriminating 
observation of the many intelligent men 
engaged in their propagation and culture. The 
standard is now so high and the knowledge of 
good sorts so general that a worthless variety 
stands little chance of dissemination. Cer¬ 
tainly do honest man ought to send out a fourth 
or fifth-rate novelty. There is one poiut on 
which the best iu formed are liable to error, and 
that is, the power of a given variety to thrive 
in different and widely separated localities. 
Iuthis respect even I have learned that there 
are several very safe principles for our guid¬ 
ance. Parentage has an influence over a varie¬ 
ty, which can never be eradicated or wholly 
overcome. As a general rule, we can cflirm 
that to the degree that a variety of strawbeny. 
raspberry, etc., contains foreign blood it will 
fail in southern latitudes and under a hot sun. 
For the people of the lower latitudes to con¬ 
demn such varieties is just as absurd as it 
would be for us to condemn figs and oranges 
because we cannot grow them. Oo the heavy 
soils around Cleveiard, Ohio. I am iufoimed 
that the Jucunda proves one of the most profit¬ 
able kinds that can be raised. Ou the light 
land of New Jersey and farther soutbit is a flat 
failure, except in pome soils peculiarly favota- 
ble. Take the countiy over, it can belaid down 
as a safe practical truth that the varieties best 
adapted to general cultuie are those which 
spring from Onr robust native species—the Fra- 
garia Virginian a or Rubue strigosus, etc. 
Suppose the origin of a kind is obscure and the 
character of its parents cannot be leai tied, what 
then ? Simply this—w e must test the new candi¬ 
date. Having once thoroughly made himself fa¬ 
miliar with the maiks of foreign parentage, an 
experienced fruitgrower can soon discover them 
in any newcomer. There will be a certain odor 
in the frnlt. a tendency of the foliage to burn 
iu M.dsuramer, and other distinctions which 
will not escape the practiced eye. Chief of all 
a feeble or fastidious kind will not thrive on a 
light, thin soil, no matter how far north it may 
be planted. I have only to set out a newcomer 
ou the thinnest and lightest soils of my place 
in order to guess very correctly whether it will 
thrive In New Jersey and farther south. It 
was my ignorance of these principles which 
led me to send out the Pride- if-the-Hudson 
Raspberry. It bore the most beautiful fruit 
that I have ever seen anywhere, and Mr. Wm. 
Parry, the veteran fruit grower of New Jersey, 
alter examining the bushes aud measuring the 
berries, ordered five hundred plants on the 
spot and that, too, when they were held at 
fitly cents each. A riper and costly experience 
proved that, although it originated in this 
country, it was a child of the Antwerp and es¬ 
sentially an Antwerp in character, and I stated 
the fact in my catalogue as soon as I dbcov¬ 
ered it. I believe it would thrive well in Eng¬ 
land. 
Is the Bidwell Strawberry destined to thrive 
North and South, East and West? I honestly 
believe that it is ; for, daring the last hot and 
singulaily dry Summer, it showed a hardiness 
and vigor unsurpassed by aDy other variety on 
my place. I have tested it for two years on my 
driest as well as heaviest soils, aud it appears 
to ask only half a chance anywhere. I also 
know that it has thriven ou the light soils of 
other growers. 1 have never seen the slightest 
tendency to burn in its foliage, and It bore 
such enormous crops of very large, delicious 
bright-colored berries that I am led to believe 
it more valuable than the Sharpless. 
At the same time it ripened so much 
earlier than the Sharpless that it will not 
interfere with that berry as a market kind. 
I am proving my faith by planting it more 
largely than any other variety. And yet, In 
spite of my sanguine hopes and beliefs, I dis¬ 
tinctly state that it is a novelty untested a* yet 
by the breadth of the continent. He is dishon¬ 
est or else very ignorant who claims that an 
untested variety is certain to succeed in general 
cultivation. Mr. BerckmanB, of Georgia, 
proved what a sound horticulturist he was by 
saying that he would not give a final and un¬ 
qualified opinion as to a fruit until after ten 
years of trial. 
The Bidwell is a novelty, but it is indorsed 
by a man so thoroughly worthy of respect as 
Mr. T. T. Lyon, who introduced it to the pub¬ 
lic, and I have been so strongly impressed with 
its value that I have bought all the plants he 
has for sale * We should also remember that 
all the standai d varieties we now have were 
once novelties, and that the money was made 
by those most prompt to recognize their value, 
and to plant them. A pint of first-class berries 
brings as much as, and often more than, quarts 
of inferior ones. 
The Oliver Goldsmith is a competitor in 
n*y grounds witli the Bidwtll, and I have been 
so much impressed by its value that. I have 
bought the entire stock from the originator 
I shall have more to say concerning it 
after another year of fruiting. 
The Triple Crown is one of the most dis¬ 
tinct and delicious varieties on my place, but 
while it is exceedingly vigorous with me, its 
fruit indicates a foreign origin in part. 
The Warren I recommend, but not the 
Longfellow, the latter being poor in flavor and 
a feeble grower. 
The Sharpless did admirably with me last 
year. but. like all of our large, showy kinds, 
it is not adapted to ihiek or matted culture. 
The Shirts impresses me very favorably, 
but I have not fairly fruited it yet. 
SHIRTS.—FIG. 128. SHIRTS.—FIG. 129. 
The Marvin is a very fine,firm, late berry, but 
resembles tl^e Jucunda so closely iu its require¬ 
ments and habit of growth that I am almost 
certain it will not succeed in the South or on 
light soils. 
Red Jacket I have found one of the most 
promising of the new early berries. Although 
I have an endless quantity of plants I do not 
recommend Ci vital City at all, except for the 
one quality of extreme earliness. I think it is 
the earliest berry we have. Of the old stan¬ 
dard varieties, the ChaB. Downing, Champion 
(Windsor Chief;, Duchess and Kentucky are 
taking the lead. In regard to the 
Ccthuert Raspberry, I share in the opinion 
once expressed to me by Mr. Chas. Downing— 
thatitis the best for general cultivation. From 
the first I was so sure of its value that I paid a 
laige bonus, in addition to the price of the 
plants, to obtaiu stock that 1 could trace di¬ 
rectly to Mr. Cuthhert’s garden, t also ob¬ 
tained some plants from the original patch in 
the garden where it originated, and have made 
these the t Laud aid by which to test my stock; 
for It Is of great importance that a variety des¬ 
tined to have such a wide popularity should 
be sent out uumixed, by ail propagating it. 
Side by side with Mr. Cuthbert’s plants I have 
• it is but Just to state that otUw dsaler* have the 
Bidwell for Bille.—E ds. 
grown the Queen of the Market for two years 
or more, and I fail to see, even under the 
microscope, the slightest difference between 
them. (Mr. Parry still offers them as distinct.— 
Eds.] 
The Gregg I consider a decided acquisition. 
It is somewhat larger and a little later than the 
Mammoth Cluster and so prolongs the season. 
This variety was originally sent ontvery much 
mixed, and much loss and disappointment will 
no doubt occur from this. The true Gregg is 
a distinct and uniform berry and wheu once 
known will maintain its place and superiority. 
I cannot6ee wherein the 
Huddleston's favorite.—fig. 130. 
Western Triumph and Sweet Home, as I 
have received them, differ from the Gregg. 
My specimen beds put an end to many an ar¬ 
gument among ray horticultural visitors. 
When no distinctions can be observed between 
two so-called different kinds grown side by 
side under precisely the same conditions, 
nature settles the question. The productive¬ 
ness of my 
Snyder Blackberries excited the astonish¬ 
ment of all who saw them last Summer, and 
this variety certain’y competes equally with 
the Kittatinny for the home garden. Taylor’s 
Prolific promises exceedingly well, but Ido not 
regard the Wachuset Thornless as worthy of 
cultivation. 
I have given in the above theresnltof somelit- 
tle observation and outlines of my own exper¬ 
ience. After the fruita.e of another Summer 
my miud will be much clearer in regard to 
many kinds now on probation. I believe we 
shall ever attain onr beet success by a docile 
subserviency to the teachings of nature. If 
she is on onr side we cannot be wroDg, and the 
most eminent authority cannot be right if she 
declines indorsement. My plan is to accept 
her decisions promptly, even though some of 
them are entirely contrary to cherished hopes 
and desires. 
Cornwall-on-the-Hudscn. N. T 
— -*•♦•*■ - 
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF CATALOGUES FOR 
1881 RECEIVED UP TO DATE. 
The Rural New-Yorker begs to state that it 
will announce the Catalogues of all reputable 
seedsmen, nurserymen, etc,, us they are received. 
Readers are referred to our advertising columns 
for particulars not staled under such announce¬ 
ments. Jt is plainly desirable on all accounts 
that our readers, in sending for such Catalogin's, 
should mention the Rural N rw-Youkbr. This 
should insure due attention to (heir requests, 
while it seems an acl of respectful appreciation 
of this journal. In future Issues, we shall take 
pleasure in referring to specialties offered in the 
Catalogues received. respecting which our readers 
have made inquiry. 
Ellwangek <fc Barry. Rochester, N. Y. De¬ 
scriptive Price List of Strawberries und other 
Small Fruits. Sent free to our subscribers. 
E. P. Rob. Cornwall-on-thc-Hudson, N Y. 
Spring Catalogue for 1881 of Strawberry anil 
other Small Fruits and Grape-vines. This 
catalogue, like Mr. Roe’s beautiful work 
“ Success with Small Fruits.” iuvests the usu¬ 
ally routine language of such publications with 
the interest of u well-told stoiy. This will be 
mailed to our subscribers without charge. 
Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y. A 
Descriptive Catalogue of Select Roses, with a 
cowing’s seedling.—fig. 131. 
beautiful colored plate. Among the praise¬ 
worthy and new features of this catalogue we 
may mention that the name* of the raisers; 
the year when the varieties were sent out, the 
parentage of the varieties, are given. This 
will be sent to our subscribers without charge. 
