98 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



console ourselves for the lack of some which denizens of cities possess. We 

 have our luscious fruits, fresh picked and perfect, from tree and vine. In 

 addition to our cultivated flowers we have the sweet wild-wood blossoms by 

 brookside and meadow, and the song of the happy birds — the sweet, wild birds 

 in their happy freedom. It is delightful to have near one's home a grove to 

 call the birds. Then, in the gray of the morning, one can have the exquisite 

 bird-music, the heavenly melody from a hundred tiny throats, blending 

 together and swelling upward in a sweet song of praise to the Great Creator. 



NEW FRUITS. 



Mr. T. T. Lyon, the honored president of the Michigan State Horticultural 

 Society, presented this subject, saying : 



Since it seems appropriate to the season, we may be pardoned if we confine 

 our remarks mainly to small fruits. If we were to name but one strawberry 

 of recent introduction which for large size, medium quality, superior pro- 

 ductiveness, and health and vigor of plant, after two seasons' fruiting, prom- 

 ises to take the head of the list for market purposes, we would unhesitatingly 

 name the Jewell. For similar reasons we would specify the Parry for the 

 same position in the list for family or home use, since it is quite as large or 

 even larger, even more beautiful in color, and of superior quality nearly equal- 

 ing Prince of Berries in this particular. The plant also is quite satisfactory. 



Cornelia, originating with Mr. Crawford of Ohio, seems equally likely to 

 occupy a leading position as late market variety. 



The chief fault of the Jewell lies in the fact that it is pistillate, and there- 

 fore requires that a perfect-flowering variety be planted near as a fertilizer; 

 and the same is true of the Cornelia. The Parry is bi-sexual. 



If we were to name four varieties giving a succession from the earliest of 

 any value to nearly the latest, we should specify Alpha, Maggie, Bright Ida, 

 and Arnold's Pride. It is a very unusual fact that these were all originated 

 by that notable experimenter, the late Chas. Arnold of Ontario, from a simple 

 batch of seed as a second reproduction from a cross of the Wilson upon a 

 foreign variety — the Dr. Aicaise. These are all large size, of mild, pleasant 

 flavor, and exceedingly productive. Their worst fault, even for market pur- 

 poses, is a slight lack of rich, high color, by some of them. They ripen in 

 the order named, the Alpha coming in within a single day of the very earliest 

 strawberries we have tested. 



Atlantic, Daniel Boone, Indiana, Woodruff's No. 1, Piper, Phelps (Old 

 Ironclad), Early Canada, New Dominion, Mrs. Garfield, Vick, and perhaps 

 others, may be named as just coming short of the mark as successful and 

 leading popular varieties, but which, under favoring or exceptional circum- 

 stances, may be found capable of giving highly satisfactory results. 



Jersey Queen and Connecticut Queen are by no means queenly, either as 

 to productiveness or quality. May King needs a longer trial to determine 

 whether it is really a king or only a pretender. It is promising. 



Ideal seems from its name to assume to be a perfect variety; but we regret 

 to say that, with us, it is merely of fine size and form but lacking decidedly 

 in quality. The plant is fairly vigorous and apparently hardy, but rather 

 lacks productiveness — in fact, quite beneath our standard for the ideal straw- 

 berry. 



Hathaway's Nos. 3, 5 and 9, not yet offered for sale, are doing very well 



