436 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



factory results ; and became so well satisfied of its desirableness as a family 

 fruit that, in the spring of 1872, I planted a plat of it for the main crop, — 

 placing but a single plant in a hill, at distances of two and a half feet by one 

 and a half. The runners have been kept closely cut. Last fall the stools from 

 each of these single plants would doubtless have averaged from eighteen to 

 twenty inches across. A few days since, spring of 1873, I counted the blos- 

 soms and fruit npon a few stools and found they varied from 330 to over 350 

 to each plant, and I doubt not the average of the whole plat would have been 

 as high as 300 to each plant; a very large share of which promise to mature 

 fruit unless the drouth of the last few weeks shall prevent. 



Although the variety is hardy, vigorous, and exceedingly prolific, I do not 

 regard it as firm enough to bear transportation, except to near markets, 

 besides which its color is so light even at full maturity that buyers will be 

 inclined to pass it by as unripe. Its lack of firmness is also an objection to it 

 for canning purposes. Still its many valuable qualities render it desirable for 

 home use. Eipe at Plymouth this year (1873) June 16th. 



Mr. Hathaway, in his description of the variety, characterizes it as " stami- 

 nate." This, as generally applied to the strawberry, is understood to mean 

 that the blossom possesses the stamens or male organs in perfection, while the 

 pistils or female organs are imperfect. Such blossoms can seldom, if ever, 

 produce fruit. I infer that Mr. H. meant to be understood that the blossoms 

 are perfect, in both stamens an(> pistils, in which case they should be charac- 

 terized as hermaphrodite, which I understand to be the case with this variety. 



The Michigan is not described in Downing's revised work.* 



No. 9.— THE KENTUCKY 



is yet another seedling originating with that eminently successful originator of 

 new strawberries, the late J. S. Downer, of Kentucky. It was introduced in 

 the year 1869 by Wm, Parry, of Cinnaminson, New Jersey ; who brought it to 

 the notice of the editor of the Gardener's Monthly, by whom the following notice 

 and description was inserted in his issue for August of that year : 



"The Kentucky Late Strav/berry. — While our markets have been well sup- 

 plied with early strawberries, we have not given so much attention to large late 

 varieties as their importance would demand ; consequently good strawberries 

 become scarce before raspberries make their appearance. We v/ere shown some 

 very large fine strawberries on the 19th of June, introduced by Wm. Parry, of 

 Cinnaminson, New Jersey. The plants are strong and vigorous, with long, 

 stout fruit stalks, bearing the berries well up from the ground; blossoms per- 

 fect, fruit very large, bright scarlet red, beautiful and firm, bearing carriage 

 well, excellent quality and very productive; called the 'Kentucky,' a seedling 

 raised by J. S. Downer, of Kentucky, from Downers Prolific, which from all 

 we can learn will prove a valuable late variety." 



The variety was figured also in the next month's issue. 



The editor of the Horticulturist also notices this fruit in his portfolio for 



* Note.— Under date of April, 1874, Mr. B. Hathaway, the originator of the Michigan, writes the Secretary 

 as follows concerning it : " Wlioever knows about the Michigan Strawberry, as it does for me, knows it 

 has not been overpraised ; at least its performance on my grounds has not been overstated. That it has 

 failed on other soils seems probable ; and on the sand I have reason to think it has not given satisfaction. 

 With all the failures conceded that may be claimed, I thiuk it will be found to have been more successful in 

 the west than any one of the hundreds of new sorts brought from the east in the last fifteen years, with the 

 exception alone of the Wilson ; and here it pays me better than that variety, because of its lateness. The 

 drouth last year spoiled all my strawberries ; I only sold $25 worth from one-half acre, and the dry weather 

 was so prolonged that I made but few plants, and the past wiuttr has been ve-y severe on those, not being 

 covered at all.^' 



