1856.] Cincinnati Hortioultural Sjciety. 



he compares them with Hovey's Seedling as a standard. We find in 

 this catalogue, seventy-eight varieties estimated as superior to Hovey ; 

 fifteen sorts as having equal value ; but not one introduced as being of 

 inferior value to it ! Such remarkable fruits must, it would seem, have 

 attracted the attention of cultivators ; at least in the region where they 

 have been originating during the past ten years. We can scarcely ima- 

 gine, that such superior excellence, demanding such high-sounding titles 

 for its designation, could have lain hidden, and been kept concealed within 

 the narrow limits of a single garden, even if guarded by the extremest 

 diffidence of the most diffident of modest cultivators. 



Let us turn now to the written testimony before us. accompanying 

 Mr. Longworth's communication, consisting of letters from amateur and 

 market gardeners in and about New York City, and from the very 

 neighborhood whence issues this Flushing and flourishing catalogue. 



Mr. Wm. M. AVhite, of New York City, writes that " 3IcAvoijs Supe^ 

 rior, and Longworth's Prolific, are the best table fruit I ever cultivated, 

 of most excellent flavor, and can always be depended on for a good crop. 

 McAvoy's Extra Red, I consider the handsomest fruit, the most abund- 

 ant bearer, and the most uniform in size through the whole crop, of any 

 Strawberry known. It is inferior in flavor to the two others named, but 

 it is equal in flavor to most of the Strawberries sold in New York mar- 

 ket. I have no knowledge of Prince's seedling Strawberries— have 

 made some inquiries among the gardeners, but find no one who grows 

 them, or knows any thing about them.'' (This letter bears date of Sep- 

 tember 18, 1855.) 



Peter B. Mead, a well known amateur in gardening and horticulture, 

 and a gentleman of fine discrimination in such matters, also writing 

 from New York, under date of July 7, 1855, says, "The three best 

 (Strawberries), are the Superior, the Prolific, and the Number One. The 

 latter is a large, handsome, and productive variety, of very fair quality ; 

 there are not many better. The Superior is a better fruit than Hovey's 

 Seedling ; it is of larger size, more productive, and much higher flavored. 

 It is not such a bright berry as Hovey, but that is a matter of but little 

 moment to me." (Mr. Prince objects to the " dark color " of Hovey's.) 

 " The Superior, taken altogether, is ' A. No. 1.' The plants set last fall 

 produced berries nearly six inches in circumference. The Prolific is the 

 most valuable Strawberry I have ever seen. No other kind yields such 

 a large crop of handsome and first rate fruit. I picked thirty-two 

 varieties of Strawberries, numbered them, and called in a neighbor who 

 has good taste in such things, and desired him to taste them all. His 



