THE NINE STRA^^^BERRIES. 



HISTORY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NINE STRAWBERRIES RECOM- 

 MENDED BY THE STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



BY A MICHIGAN STEAWBERRY AMATEUR. 



The Society has recommended nine strawberries for cnlture in this State. 

 Wilson's Albany for market ; for fimily purposes, Wilson's Albany, Charles 

 Downing, Green Prolific, Michigan, Downer's Prolific; for amateur purposes, 

 Downer's Prolific, Michigan, Charles Downing, Agriculturist, Lennig's White, 

 Green Prolific, Kentucky (late), Triomphe de Gaud. 



In attempting a sketch of the origin, introduction, and characteristics of the 

 strawberries recommended by the Pomological Society, it seems to me most 

 convenient and natural to consider each in the order of its origin or introduc- 

 tion ; leaving all questions of precedence on account of season, quality, or pro- 

 ductiveness, to be developed in the course of the discussion. 



Starting out with this purpose, our attention is first drawn to Wilson's 

 Albany, which constitutes the total of the recommendation for market purposes. 



No. 1.— WILSON'S ALBANY. 



We find the first published notice of this variety in the Michigan Farmer 

 for September, 1857, in a note, saying: "Wherever this strawberry has been 

 cultivated the past season it seems to have done well, and to have given satis- 

 faction as a prolific bearer." In the Horticulturist for October, J. Jay Smith, 

 at that time editor, acknowledges the receipt of plants for trial, from the orig- 

 inator, John Wilson, of Albany, New York. It is evident, however, that it 

 had been already considerably disseminated, from the fact that, at a meeting of 

 the Fruit Grower's Society of Western New York, held at Rochester, on June 

 30th, 1858, a vote was had upon sixteen varieties of strawberries to be proposed 

 for market purposes, in which this variety lacked bat a single ballot of standing 

 at the head of the list, its successful competitor being Early Scarlet, — a variety 

 now laid aside and almost forgotten. At the same meeting, a vote was also 

 had upon a list of varieties to be proposed for amateur purposes, in which the 

 highest number of ballots was given to the Hooker, — then new, but now laid 

 aside. In this vote the Wilson stood even with the Hovey, with Burr's New 

 Pine, Early Scarlet, and Hooker, only, in advance of it. In the course of dis- 

 cussion, Mr. Barry, of Eochester, asked Mr. Hooker, the originator and intro- 

 ducer of the Hooker, which he considered the best, the Hooker or the Wil- 

 son ? — a trying question, certainly, under the circumstances. Mr. Hooker, 

 however, seems to have been adequate to the emergency, replying, the Hooker 

 was, in his estimation, best for amateurs, though the other might be best for 

 market. 



