330 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



I notice that at Muskegon the society cut down the standing of the Wilson 

 from 10 to 9. I think, had justice been done, it would have been raised, if 

 possible, instead, nor do I believe berry growers will stop growing the Wilson^ 

 because of such a change. No doubt I sluill run against some ono^s opinion in 

 this article, but I talk from a berry grower's stand-point, and consumers too. 



South Haven, June 30^ 1879. A. G. Gulley. 



N^UMBER TWO. 



I was not a little surprised in reading Mr. Gulley's article on strawberries. 

 He is evidently behind the times, but if he will post himself fully in the 

 progress of strawberry culture made in the near past he will be convinced that 

 ''it will not pay to grow the little Wilson any longer.'^ I have five new 

 varieties all better than it, and three of them more productive, larger, better 

 in quality and color. One variety produced 2G quarts on a row, the Wilson 

 only 14, the ground and culture the same, as they stood side by side. The 

 AVilson sold for six cents per quart, while the other sold readily at ten cents. 

 Remember that this was on trial ground. I am fully aware that a large 

 majority of the people have for a long time considered the Wilson as the 

 ne plus ultra of that delicious fruit, and yet both you and Mr. Gulley will 

 readily admit that it is a poor, sour berry, and can hardly be classed any better 

 than third rate. It is hardy, productive, and ships well, and that is all any one 

 can say in its favor. I see by Mr. Gulley's article that some of Rip Van 

 Winkle's race are still abroad. Is it not the duty of all fruit-growers to 

 improve the taste of the people in every possible way, and more particularly so 

 in small fruit':* J eke mi ah Brown. 



Battle Crcclc, July 14, 1879. 



AND STILL A THIRD. 



President J. M. Smith of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society hasn't 

 found any strawberry yet to supersede the Wilson in his somewhat extensive 

 plantations; and he tells the Western Rural that he is *'dis£justed*' when he 

 thinks how much money and time he has spent during the past twenty years 

 iu a vain effort in this direction. lie estimates that the cost of tlie latest 

 experiment — with certain of the newer varieties set out last season, including 

 Duncan, Kentucky, Prouty's, Red Jacket, Crescent, Seth Boyden, and ''others 

 not worth naming" — was ^150 at least. ]5y this he means that "if tlie land 

 had been planted to Wilson and cared for in the same numner it would have 

 produced that amount more in value of fruit than it did." The Crescent 

 is the only kind that made any sort of show in comparison with the standard, 

 and though not yet convinced that it is not a pistilate variety (" which would 

 prove a very serious objection to it for goicral cultivation") ho esteems it 

 highly enough to have set half an acre for next year. Kentucky gave a 

 beautiful dish after Wilson became small, and so is continued for trial a little 

 further; the rest serve as green manure for fresh Wilsons, having been plowed 

 under to make room for that old standby. 



