54 EEPORT OF THE BECRETARY OF THE 



inclosing strawberries in a dry closed box, and placing the 

 box in an ice-house, he succeeded, last year, in keeping straw- 

 berries fresh three weeks, and he had good reason to believe 

 the same plan would have kept them good twelve months. 

 This plan should be fully tested, as ripe fresh strawberries at 

 seasons of the year not now provided with them, would be a 

 luxury for which many would be Avilling to pay handsomely ; 

 and with proper facilities provided,^strawberry-dealers need 

 never crowd the fruit into the city markets so as to bring down 

 the price below what is profitable to the producer and dealer. 

 Safes will undoubtedly be constructed for this purpose, and 

 our favorite berry may become an article of every-day con- 

 sumption, instead of a luxury of a few summer weeks. Should 

 this be accomplished, the production of strawberries will 

 become as extensive as that of any stajile article, and much 

 more profitable. 



I have only time to say that the cherry (the other fruit on 

 our programme) is gradually coming into favor among grow- 

 ers. I know of one fruit-grower who is planting 3,000 cherry 

 trees, and others who are intending to increase their planta- 

 tions. Although the improved varieties of cherries are very 

 fine, as a general thing they are not good bearers, whereas the 

 common Duke Morrello — the sour red cherry — are very prolific 

 bearers. For throat diseases, the cherry appears to be a 

 specific of great value. The sour cherry is but little liable to 

 the ravages of either birds or insects, and will bear, year after 

 year, most abundantly. As a canned fruit, the sour cherry 

 preserves its natural flavor and color better than any other 

 fruit, and dried cherries (stoned as they can be by a new 

 patent invention) always command a very high price in the 

 market, — much higher than our best imported fruits. The 

 Morrello cherry will grow vigorously and bear abundantly on 

 the north side of a hill, or in many positions where other trees 

 would fail and become unproductive. For these reasons, I 

 think we should be safe in recommending the extensive culture 

 of the Morrello cherry. 



