434 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



of that year. The stock of plants however was transferred to parties at Kew 

 York, by whom it was disseminated. 



The editor of the Gardners Monthly, in his issue for August. 1867, in speak- 

 ing of specimens grown at New York, says: '*It is large, — Mr. Thompson, of 

 Staten Island, weighed twenty-eight which made one pound, — and the berry is 

 firm, of good flavor, and fine color. The committee of the American Institute 

 (Thurber, Ellis, J. J. Thomas, and Meehan), were favorably impressed with it, 

 and would have awarded the Greeley premium of 150, for the best seedling 

 strawberry, which should equal the Albany Seedling in good qualities, but be 

 superior in flavor, only that of their own knowledge they could not say, — the 

 plants exhibited being only young runners of last fall, — that it would be as 

 productive as Albany. It appeared as if it might do that. 



Speaking of it in 1869, Mr. Charles Downing remarks : " It was grown quite 

 -extensively, and was quite equal to what its originator and friends claimed for 

 it. * * * From all I could see and learn of it from others, it will prove a 

 valuable market and family sort; although one grower in New Jersey said the 

 leaves browned a little in the sun." 



In August, 1869, the editor of the Horticulturist remarks : " It has not 

 been our fortune, in years, to meet with a variety which combines so well the 

 merits of quality and productiveness as this. In quality, it is far superior to 

 the majority of the new kinds, and really better than any of those we have 

 already named (Wilson, Nicanor, Boyden's No. 30, Triomphe de Gand, Agri- 

 culturalist and Jucunda among them), although it has a little acidity about it 

 which the Triomphe and Jucunda do not possess." 



At Boston the success of this variety seems to have been but partial ; 

 although in central Massachusetts an experienced grower considers it the most 

 desirable sort, of medium season. 



In August, 1870, after another year's experience the editor of the Horticult- 

 urist remarks : " Fully equal to all we have ever said of it ; * * * best for 

 family use; not suitable for other than a near market." 



L. S. Fairchild, of Rolling Prairie, Wisconsin, says, in the Gardener's 

 Monthly for October, 1870: "Charles Downing bears well; fruit large and 

 excellent." 



In 1872, in an essay read by James Draper, of Worcester, Mass., before the 

 Worcester county Horticultural Society, on " Strawberries : Their Varieties 

 and Culture," he speaks of this strawberry as successful, and in every respect 

 desirable for that locality. 



In June, 1873, Dr. F. M. Hexanier delivered an interesting address at the 

 rooms of the Farmer's Club, American Institute, New York, which he accom- 

 panied and illustrated with a fine display of about thirty varieties of strawber- 

 ries. He says: ^^ For the main crop, there is one kind which has stood the 

 test of years on all soils. Of it there are more raised and sold than of the 

 thousand other varieties combined. It is sour but firm, carries well, looks 

 well, and is good for everything, except to eat for the connoisseur. It is, how- 

 ever, the great berry, and its name of course is Wilson. Its rival is the Charles 

 Downing, which seems to be proving itself fully as hardy, fully as prolific, and 

 ■on the whole, the most valuable acquisition we have gained in the past six 

 years. If there was but one single variety he would choose above all others, for 

 all purposes, it would be the Charles Doiomig. It succeeds well in either 

 sandy soils, heavy clay soils, in beds, hills, or rows, unless choked with weeds." 



An equally high report of its success in Montgomery county, Ohio, is given 



