50 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



efficiency of our work. There would not be the same effort exerted to 

 force success. 



Had you thought of it — that the uncertainty of our business is one 

 of the conditions that greatly blesses it, and is one of the prime factors 

 of success ? But if the uucertainty fill us with anxiety and dread, 

 which becomes to us a terror, then we cannot do our best work. It 

 need not necessarly bring dread and anxiety, and ought never to do so. 

 While we know not what a day may bring forth, there is a certainty in 

 the business if intelligently followed. 



S. W. Gilbert, Thayer, Mo. 



Wednesday, June 5—9 a. m. Subject, " Small Fruits." 



Strawberries at Blufftoii, Missouri, 1895. 



Before going into details on thit' subject, I will boast a little. 

 Quite recently a report comes to me from Iowa, where one of our R. R. 

 conductors sent a crate of my berries to some friends, who wrote back 

 that such fine strawberries were never seen in those parts. The varie- 

 ties sent were Parker Earle, Tindrell, Tennessee Prolific and Princess, 

 and here, I may state, that these form, in my opinion, a select list. 



The earliest was Michel's Early, by only a few days, but so unpro- 

 ductive, that with me, it is not worth having. All the plants of this 

 variety have already been destroyed. 



Columbian — This was to be early as Michel, much larger and pro- 

 ductive. It gave me a few nice berries the first season, but is now 

 utterly worthless. This, also, has been destroyed. 



Beder Wood — The best early one, and in every way a first-rate 

 berry. Size, color, quality and firmness all satisfactory. It is an 

 excellent polenizer for other early and late varieties, and is in fruit for 

 a whole month. This but few varieties will do. 



Tennessee Prolific, Princess, Tindrell, Early ( Riehl's Ko. 6) and 

 Stay man's No. 1 are all that one could wish in this fruit. 



Buback No. 5, Cumberland, Tucker, Splendid, Phillips, Seedling, 

 Richmond, America, Rio, Equinox, Cyclone, Mrs. Cleveland and Lovett 

 are all good ones. 



Edith, the largest of all I have grown, is a superior one, and a real 

 curiosity. 



Marshal has disappointed me by not producing more than a few 

 large, handsome, excellent berries. Must be tried another year. 



