358 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Since it is often asserted that there is no strawberry to take the place of the 

 famous Wilson for long shipment, and since it is a fact that there are at least 

 a dozen varieties, which, when on the market at the same time as Wilson, will 

 bring from one-third to one-half more, it becomes a serious question with those 

 growers who live at a longdistance from market, and especially those of south- 

 ern Illinois whose lands are peculiarly adapted to fruit growing, whether there 

 is any variety of strawberry which can be shipped 300 to 400 miles and bring a 

 first-class price after having been twenty-four hours in market. Right here is 

 the place for another important consideration, viz. : that the time has already 

 come when commission men in Chicago must abandon the hope of handling all 

 the fruit which Illinois and western Michigan produces. Growers must and 

 will ship directly to the towns where the fruit is to be consumed, thus saving 

 expenses of re-shipments and commissions in Chicago, and, more than all, 

 losses caused by delays and longer journeys. This plan has been adopted by 

 very many growers already with success and must very soon become general in 

 marketing perishable fruits. This fact taken in connection with the considera- 

 tion that the Wilson can no longer compete with better sorts in the markets, 

 leads me to say that there are several varieties which may be substituted to a 

 decided advantage to the grower. It is quite probable that most, if not all of 

 these will require more care in growing, and the occasional application of 

 manures to the soil. 



The most prominent among these sorts at present is, perhaps, Capt. Jack, a 

 seedling of the Wilson, inheriting the prolific habit of its parent in an increased 

 degree, equally as hardy in vine, fruit larger, of decidedly better quality, and 

 bearing transportation almost if not quite as well as the Wilson. 



The Continental is the firmest berry in more than thirty varieties on my 

 grounds, is large, sweet, and must command a high price in market wherever 

 known. The vines are as prolific as Wilson. 



Prouty is more productive than Wilson, and berries of about same size when 

 kept in rows on rich ground. The berries are beautiful, rich and firm enough 

 to ship well from Cairo to Chicago. 



Sharpless and Miner — " Miner's Great Prolific" are two sorts of recent 

 introduction, of about equal merit in every respect; larger than either of the 

 previously named sorts, vines hardy and very productive, and the fruit will 

 carry well to a quite distant market. These berries, exposed for sale in almost 

 any large town side by side with Wilson, would be taken in preference to it at 

 nearly double the price. 



I am very favorably impressed with Centennial Favorite and Glendale as 

 shipping varieties, but dare not give a decided opinion until after another 

 season's fruitage. 



HOW TO GROW GOOD STRAWBERRIES. 



The following excellent paper is from the March proceedings of the Ingham 

 County Horticultural Society, and was written by Ezra Jones of Lansing: 



To grow poor fruit is not difficult. It requires neither thought nor skill nor 

 even much physical labor. 



Of all sorts of fruit, whether the large or small, there are some varieties that 

 will yield moderate crops under neglect. The shiftless, lazy man, who goes 



