70 Cincinnati Horticultural Society. [February, 



occasionally bring only five thoiiscmd quarts per day to market, can, 

 with less labor greatly increase the quantity. Again — Mr. Prince says, 

 the Primates, and two or three other uf his hermaphrodites " compiise 

 the only varieties with large fruit, that produce large crops." It seems 

 our Prolific does not : — advise us if such be the fact. He describes the 

 Prolific as only two-thirds the size of our Superior, " of weaker growth 

 than aijy other Cincinnati varieties, leaves thin, and very subject to be 

 burned by the sun." He says, as regards the Ohio varieties, "gross 

 confusion exists." Is such the character of the Proliiic? He says, 

 " the sexual character of the Strawberry was discovered by them, and 

 made known in 182S, and that we in Ohio have adopted his vieivs." 

 Correct me, if I have in frequent publications committed a gross error, 

 for I deem the discovery worth millions of dollars. I supposed the dis- 

 covery was made from an illiterate German female gardener, who for 

 years raised five times the quantity of fruit her neighbors could, in the 

 vicinity of Philadelphia, some forty years since, and here some thirty 

 years since, in our vicinity, and of larger size, and made a fortune by it. 

 That a chance observation of her son, taught us to throw aside the doc- 

 trine of Linn93us, and adopt that of the illiterate market woman. The 

 result was, the fruit went down to one-fourth its former price. But 

 some of the wise botanists of the East, still stick to Linnseus, and will, 

 till they plant a bed of Strawberry plants. 



When East, I inquired of their leading horticulturist, Mr. Thorburn, 

 Sen., if he could advise me of any new variety of Strawberry, of superior 

 value. He said not, but advised me to go to the garden of Mr. White, 

 in New York, five miles above the Astor House, who paid more attention 

 to the Strawberry plant than any other person, and cultivated a greater 

 variety. I went to the garden of Mr. White, and inquired of him, how 

 many varieties he cultivated? The answer was, -'three kinds only." 

 " Three !" said I. " I was told that you cultivated a greater variety than 

 any other person." " I did," said he, " and threw them all awa}- but 

 three kinds." I inquired their names, and the answer was, " Three 

 Cincinnati seedlings — the Prolific, Superior, and Extra Eed." I wrote 

 him lately to get his opinion of the "most worthless and vile trash " of 

 all Strawberries, the Extra Ped. I send you his answer. It would 

 appear that but little attention is paid to the Strawberry plant. East, as 

 it appears that the gardeners about New York are not advised of the 

 value of Mr. Prince's new seedlings. I trust your Eeport may draw 

 their attention to the subject, and make their superior value known. 



Your's, truly, 



N. LONGWORTH. 



