THE NINE STRAWBERRIES. 433 



" Fruit large, roundish obtuse conical, orange scarlet. Surface soft, centre 

 of flesh firm, rather acid."' 



No. 6.— THE AGRICULTURIST 



came out under circumstances well calculated to attract a large share of public 

 attention. Originated with the late Seth Boyden. of New Jersey, cotempora- 

 neously with Green Prolific, it was first exhibited at the annual strawberry 

 show of the American Agriculturist for the year 1864. The immense crop of 

 enormously large berries exhibited upon the plant, occasioned an excitement of 

 the horticultural portion of our people such as has doubtless left an indelible 

 impression upon the minds of many. The natural result was an immense de- 

 mand for plants, and its dissemination ; indeed so decided was this feeling that 

 its more really valuable cotemporary the Green Prolific, seems to have been in 

 a measure forgotten or ignored. 



At the session of the American Pomological Society held at Rochester, in 

 September, 1864, this variety was discussed and very highly lauded. Mr. Mead, 

 formerly editor of the Horticulturist, had seen berries measuring between 

 seven and eight inches in circumference; color and quality not the best, but 

 good. 



In an article contributed to the Horticulturist, in August, 1866, by F. R. 

 Elliott, of Ohio, the average conclusion of the public after a fair trial of this 

 variety is so well set forth that I extract therefrom as follows : '• This sort, 

 originating at the same time and by the same grower, as the one just named-, 

 (Green Prolific), has had so much more of puffing, that it is found ten times 

 where the Green Prolific is once. Its vines are not as strong and vigorous as 

 the Green Prolific, it is not as good a bearer; the fruit is quite irregular in 

 form, many of them quite a cockscomb shape, while others have a neck, and 

 are long and pointed. It is a handsome scarlet, with long, pointed, light yel- 

 low seeds; flesh, moderately firm, a pleasant flavor, — above mediocrity, but not 

 really rich ; desirable to the amateur, but not to the grower for marketing pur- 

 poses. Its trusses bloom abundantly, but do not set well in all cases; and its 

 footstalks are so low that the fruit lies too much on the ground. In hills, and 

 with extra culture, doubtless it will show well." 



At the fruit-grower's meeting in Western New York, in June, 1867, the 

 Agriculturist received sixteen of the twenty-eight votes, heretofore spoken of, 

 as one of the best six varieties for amateur cultivation. 



The following from a New Jersey grower fully accords with my observa- 

 tion of this variety in Michigan: "Sometimes gives good crops, and when 

 well grown is not surpassed in quality, and about half the berries are of the 

 largest size; but it does not always yield well, and, unless well grown, is fre- 

 quently about as poor a specimen of a strawberry as I ever tasted." 



Downing notices it as follows: "Plant vigorous, foliage dark green; hardy 

 and very productive. Pistillate. 



"Fruit large, roundish conical, elongated, often with a neck. Surface some- 

 what uneven; first berries often cockscomb shape, deep crimson. Flesh dark, 

 red, quite firm, juicy, sweet, and rich." 



No. r.— THE CHARLES DOWNING 



is yet another of the creations of Mr. J. S. Downer, of Kentucky. It was 

 exhibited at New York, in 1867, and was introduced to the notice of the 

 American Pomological Society at its session at St. Louis, Mo., in the September 

 55 



