SECRETAKY'S PORTFOLIO. 331 



YIELD OF FRUIT. 



Mr. 0. J3. Gahislui, Morris, 111., wlio raised this year about 12,000 quarts of 

 strawberries of some tliirt}' varieties, reports to Tlic Western Kiii-al that tiic 

 Charles Downinj^ netted him more money than any other, " becausa the 

 vines take care of themselves, do not mat on the gi'onnd along the rows so as 

 to })rcvent full development of the fruit, are exceedingly productive, holding 

 out longer in bearing, pioducing large berries to the last. J3eny of moder- 

 ate firmiiees (fair shijiper) and of fail*, not rich flavor." Of Crescent the fol- 

 lowing is said: *' Largest fair berries 3^ inches round; brilliant color; best 

 quality for table, and moderately firm wliere kept in narrow rows; vines the 

 most i)roductive of any known variety, blossoms fertilize more completely 

 when every third or fourth row is planted with Wilson's or (which is better) 

 Charles Downins:." 



THE MONARCH. 



We consider Monarch of the West one of the best of the well-tested straw- 

 berries, on account of its great vigor, hardiness, productiveness, size and qual- 

 ity of fruit. Its color is too light — its greatest defect. Rev. E. P. Roe says: 

 *'I sent a crate of Monarchs to a leading hotel on Broadway. The proprietor 

 immediately telegraphed, 'Send darker, riper berries.' But as the green, sour 

 things were on hand, he thought he would try to get them eaten. They were 

 eaten, with praise between every mouthful, and before night he again tele- 

 graphed, * Send more of the same kind.' " This berry thrives over the whole 

 country. In California many of the large planters will have nothing else. 

 Nursery agents working about Buffalo biing in oi'ders for Monarchs almost 

 exclusively, claiming that the prices paid for the fruit there are enough higher 

 to pay for the picking and marketing. It appears to do well on sand or clay, 

 and with any manner of culture. — iV'. Y, Tribune. 



NOTES ON THE NEWER STRAWBERRIES. 



The editor of *'The Farm" received a crate containing ten varieties of 

 strawberries on the evening of the '^ist ult. from Geo. W. Bridgman, of Ber- 

 rien county. They were taken from the vines on the 20Lh. and ab:»ut half a 

 box of each variety was preserved until the evening of the '2'SA for the puri)osG 

 of testing their keeping qualities. 



The following li^-t comprisL>s the varieties sent, with a concise statement in 

 tabular form of an estimate upon the quality when roceived, and keei)ing 

 quality as judged by specimens sent: 



