394 Missouri State Horticultural Society. 



is more acid than either the red or black species, and is free from 

 the rank '• medicinal" flavor so common m reds, and the " buggy" 

 flavor of the blacks. My family prefer it for table use, with sugar 

 and cream to any other variety. 



7tli — In size it surpasses any other variety, and can be picked 

 at lialf or two-thirds the cost of any other known to me. 



8th — In color it is first a rather light red, turning quite dark 

 purple when fully ripe. For market the berries should be picked 

 when bright red ; they then cleave from the crown very well, but 

 for family use they should be left until dark and ripe, when the 

 flavor is delicious. 



9th. — As a shipping variety, it is as good as the average, if 

 picked when red. aiid then brings the higiiest market price. 

 Shaffer's shipped one hundred miles, sold in Peoria at from two to 

 three cents per quart more than very fine Cuthberts grown near the 

 city. 



In our impetuous desire for new things, we are apt to discard 

 old sorts ; but I retain as standard varieties Charles Downing, Ken- 

 tucky, Seth Boyden, Cumberland and Trioniphe de Grand. 



And now a word in relation to the immediate influences of 

 pollen on the growing fruit of the strawberry : The discussions at 

 the last session of the American Pomological Societ}-, on this sub- 

 ject, have awakened an interest not before known in this country ; 

 and although our botanists and most experienced fruit growers 

 have not observed these remarkable changes, all are bound to re- 

 spect the opinions of scientific men wh'o are engaged in these 

 investigations. It seems to me, however, that the truth of this 

 theory might easily be obtained by crossing the Manchester Hovey, 

 and other well defined and regularly formed pistillate varieties, 

 under glass, with the Sharpless, and I will join in the effort to 

 obtain reliable results. Nor would I omit the Wilder, and Hervey 

 Davis, a seedling of the latter. These, although not widely culti- 

 vated, for beauty and excellence, are always to be perj^etuated. — 

 Rural Neiv Yorker. 



RASPBERRIES I?I" 1884 — RED OXES. 



First ripe, June 11th, Scarlet Gem, bearing a fine crop of 

 large, handsome, excellent berries. Crimson Beauty and Stayman's 

 K"o. 2, five days later and bearing a good crop ; Crimson Beauty is 

 perhaps the most valuable of the three, but there is very little 

 difference, all are valuable, particularly as they bear nearly all 

 summer. Last season I thought it might be accident, but they 



