p6 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



sorts, to denounce a variety as a "humbug" because it falls short, even 

 far short of its proclaimed excellencies, when grown in different soil or 

 climate from that of its original birth-place. For instance, the Crescent 

 has been called "a humbug of the first class" in my hearing by one 

 fruit-grower in the State, and mentioned quite disparagingly by several 

 others, while a large majority who have grown it rank it as first-class, and 

 some of our best cultivators of the strawberry, after testing varieties of 

 best repute, claim that Crescent surpasses them all. Monarch of the West, 

 about which so much has been written, is another striking example of the 

 influence of soil and location upon the habits of this species. Some soils 

 in the West are so well adapted to develop both plant and fruit that it is 

 placed at the head of the list when grown in them, while in a majority 

 of instances with ordinary culture it is comparatively unprofitable. The 

 reverse seems to be the case at the East, where, if we are to believe the 

 reports in catalogues, it is generally productive. 



But this peculiar sensitiveness of the strawberry to soils and treatment 

 is now so generally admitted that it need not be farther dwelt upon. 



The cold dry weather of last spring retarded the earlier varieties so 

 that there was less difference in time of ripening between them and later 

 sorts than I have before known. 



Upon my grounds the leading varieties ripened their first berries as 

 follows; though the first general picking of each was five or six days later: 

 May 26, Charles Downing; May 27, Crescent, Black Defiance; May 28, 

 Cumberland Triumph; May 31, Prouty, Duchess; June i, Capt. Jack, 

 Champion, Duncan, Cinderella, Col. Cheney, Monarch of the West; 

 June 4, Centennial Favorite, Wilson; June 5, Continental, Forest Rose, 

 Springdale, Windsor Chief; June 7, Great American, Miner's Great 

 Prolific; June 8, Kentucky. 



Cowing's Seedling, . Sterling, Pioneer, Star of the West, Seth 

 Boyden and others, omitted in my notes, ripened their first fruit about 

 medium season. 



It will be seen by these notes that varieties did not follow their 

 regular order in ripening — that this exceptional season affected some 

 more than others in retarding their times of ripening — the result being to 

 bring the earlier and later sorts nearer together in season. 



It will be expected that I recommend a list of varieties ; but for the 

 reason already given no list can be made which would prove the most 

 valuable for all, and any list will require modification nearly every year 

 as improvements are made in varieties and culture. 



The following varieties, in the order named, will generally be found 

 valuable in this State : 



For strong clayey, Loess and rich prairie soils, for near market and 

 home use: Crescent, Miner, Charles Downing, Duchess, Windsor Chief, 

 Cumberland Triumph, Sharpless, Champion, Captain Jack, Duncan, 

 Continental, Seth Boyden, Great American, Prouty. 



For sandy-loam soils, near market and home use : Crescent, Charles 

 Downing, Windsor Chief, Duchess, Black Defiance (home use), Centen- 



