STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



199 



Crescent, sent into the State three years since by H. H. Smith, of 

 Connecticut, has proved the most productive of any variety, and, when 

 confined to narrow rows, fertilized by planting a more strongly staminate 

 sort, like Wilson, Charles Downing or Capt. Jack, near it, and receiving 

 even moderately good cultivation, has given the highest satisfaction, but 

 where neglected and left to mat the surface and where not properly 

 fertilized it has disappointed the hopes of the planter in size and firm- 

 ness of the fruit, and induced a few to cry "humbug." Grown as it 

 should be, and as it is easy to do, it will produce uniformly immense 

 crops on all sorts of soil on which any varieties can grow, and of fruit 

 of large size, good flavor, glossy and attractive in appearance, and 

 sufficiently firm to carry well sixty miles to market. The blossoms are 

 not generally furnished with sufficient pollen to fertilize the ovaries, and 

 hence it is important to plant strongly staminate sorts in [)roximity — say 

 one row of others to three of Crescent. 



Sharpless is a robust plant, has perfect blossoms, produces good 

 crops of very large showy fruit of fair flavor (sub-acid) and sufficiently 

 firm for shipping 100 to 200 miles. 



J//«<fr ("Miner's Great Prolific") — so named after the noted and 

 now lamented T. B. Miner, who originated it — is indeed worthy the 

 worthy name it bears. The vines are vigorous and very productive ; 

 blossoms perfect, fruit of large size, rich, and as firm as that of the 

 Charles Downing, which is shipped from Alton to Chicago. I look for 

 an increase in the popularity of this variety. 



Centennial Favorite should stand next in the list with me. The 

 vines are good growers, healthy, and immensely productive of fruit, 

 generally large (some very large) and of the highest flavor — a combina- 

 tion of sugar, acid and pleasing aroma — making it the most satisfying 

 fruit to eat fresh from the vines that I have known since the days of the 

 "Hooker" and "Burr's New Pine." This, I think, is destined to be 

 extensively planted for home use and for fancy berries. The blossoms are 

 self-fertilizers. 



Duchess deserves a place in every garden. The plants are robust, 

 though generally not worthy the name of vines — so disinclined are they 

 to form runners — and are literally loaded early in the season with bright 

 round berries of medium quality and firmness and a little above medium 

 size. Blossoms perfect. 



Windsor Chief is a rampant grower, a profuse bearer; blossoms not 

 fully self-fertilizing ; fruit above medium size, of only fair quality, not 

 sufficiently firm for distant shipment ; but it is one of the most profitable 

 varieties for a near or home market. 



Cinderella deserves a prominent place with those who cultivate well 

 either for near or moderately remote market. The vines are good growers, 

 very productive, and the fruit of fine size and good quality. A medium 

 early sort. 



Captain Jack. — This variety, though of rather recent introduction, 

 has made its way to the head of the li^t of market sorts with many of our 

 best cultivators. It is strictly a market berry. Like its parent, the 



