238 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



In the consideration of this question, much depends upon what is 

 to be done, with the fruit after it is produced, and upon the demands 

 of the market where it is to be disposed of. If it can be disposed of 

 at a near market where it will be used up in a short time, without much 

 handling, then the varieties that have size and quality would, without 

 doubt, be the most profitable, and on that account the most desirable, 

 especially if they are of average merit in other respects. 



But if a distant market is to be reached, requiring much handling 

 and several hours spent in transit, then firmness is of the first impor- 

 tance while quality and large size are left quite in the background. 



In this paper it is taken for granted that by " the best berries » is 

 meant the ones that are considered as the best for market purposes. 

 And it is believed that those varieties called " market berries"— those 

 which, while they are very productive of good, even-sized, handsome 

 berries, are possessed of great firmness — are in the main the most 

 profitable. 



Coming directly now to the subject of varieties, the first to be 



noticed is 



THE STRAWBERRY. 



It is noticed first because it comes first in its season of ripening, 

 in the number and variation of its varieties, and first in point of profit 

 and of ravishing deliciousness. 



As the best three varieties I would name Captain Jack, Crescent 

 and Warfield No. 2. Taken as a whole, they excel all others in yield, in 

 firmness, in hardiness and health of plant, as well as in fine appearance, 

 and even size of fruit. 



The Captain Jack has made more money for the writer than any 

 other variety, under similar circumstances. It is hardy, healthy, the 

 most prolific bearer of all, and excepting its parent, the old Wilson's 

 Albany, it exceeds all others I have seen in firmness, or its ability to 

 stand up for a long time under rough treatment. It is among berries 

 here what the Ben Davis is among apples. It will bear handling and 

 make money for its grower. As illustrating its firmness, I beg to make 

 the following statement, for the truth of which I can vouch in part : 



A few crates of it were shipped by express, the past season, from 

 Carthage to Kingston, N. M., which is in the southwest portion of the 

 territory near the border of Old Mexico. They were four days on the 

 road, and the last forty miles was by stage-coach through the mountains, 

 and yet they reached their destination in fair condition. 



They also run remarkably even in size through the whole season, 

 being larger than Crescent, both in the average size, and in single speci- 

 mens. They also stand the drouth, while fruiting, better than any other 



