THE NINE STRAWBERRIES. '131 



"Some of us have had considerable experience in strawberry culture, and we 

 are unanimously of the opinion that, taking all the qualities of this strawberry 

 into consideration, it is, for this latitude, worth more than every other variety 

 of this fruit with which we are acquainted." 



This certificate Avas signed by six gentlemen, whose high character and 

 standing were certified to, under the seal of the county court, by the clerk of 

 Todd county, Ky. 



No special effort seems to have been made to attract public attention to this 

 fruit; hence it was but slowly disseminated, still we hear of it from time to 

 time and almost always favorably. At a strawberry show at Poughkeepsie, N. 

 Y,, in June, 1864, it ranked along with Triomphe de Gand, Wilson, and 

 Russell, as best. 



In 1866, F. E. Elliot says, in an article contributed to the Horticulturist: 

 " "We have fruited it for several years, and do not feel that we can do without 

 it, although it is too soft for market purposes. It is a great bearer, carrying 

 its fruit high and clear of the ground. It commences ripening among the very 

 earliest, and holds it until the very last. In quality, unless fully ripe, it is too 

 acid; but when fully ripe it is delicious, and, with a little sugar, makes cer- 

 tainly as good, if not the best mingling of sugar and acid of any of the straw- 

 berry family." 



From the reports of the West Jersey Fruit Grower's Association in 1866, the 

 Downer's Prolific seems to have stood third on the list of desirable and profit- 

 able varieties ; and in one or two localities it was even said to yield one-half 

 more than Wilson. 



Under the head of editorials the following very just 3nd well considered 

 notice of this variety will be found in the issue of the Horticulturist for July, 

 1867: "Comparatively little known, the Downer is nevertheless a variety of 

 considerable value, in its hardiness of vine, great productiveness, almost if not 

 quite equaling the Wilson, and in maturing its fruit very early, among the 

 very earliest, and continuing it until the last. Too soft for market, Avhere 

 transportation by cars is necessary, and if picked before fully ripe a little acid, 

 yet in the garden of the amateur, where it can fully ripen, there is hardly any 

 one early sort its superior, all things considered." 



Almost uj)on its first introduction, it fell into the hands of one of the most 

 enthusiastic and successful cultivators at that time in the vicinity of Detroit, 

 and with whom it was eminently successful. Plants obtained of him also 

 proved highly satisfactory in my own grounds. I add Mr. Downing's descrip- 

 tion — " Raised by J. S. Downer, Kentucky. Hermaphrodite. Plant vigorous, 

 very productive, early. Valuable for near market growing. Fruit medium to 

 large, roundish conical, light clear scarlet. Flesh rather soft, juicy, rich, but a 

 little acid." 



No. 4.— LENNIG'S WHITE 



seems to have been first prominently noticed at the session of the American 

 Pomological Society held at Boston in the year 1862, where it was introduced 

 for discussion by Wm. R. Prince, of Flushing, Long Island, and, as Lennig's 

 White Pine Apple, he characterized it as follows: "A very large fruit, white, 

 tinged with pink, and extremely delicate. It is the only strawberry to which 

 the epithet buttery can be, with entire propriety, applied. It is thoroughly 

 buttery, and of the most exquisite flavor." 



At the Agriculturist's strawberry show in June, 1861:, it took the first prize 

 among the white strawberries. 



