CULTURE OF STRAWBERRIES. 



127 



only proper way to raise strawberries was in 

 this manner. 



Staminatc varieties generally produee more 

 runners than the pistillates ; they should, 

 therefore be set in rows^ between beds of pis- 

 tillates ; and as our best aud most productive 

 varieties are found among the latter class, 

 this arrangement is quite satisfactory. There 

 are, however, some exceptions to the above 

 rule ; as, for example, the Large Early Scar- 

 let (staminate,) which will produce fine crops 

 in beds ; and, on the other hand, the Crimson 

 Cone multiplies so rapidly as to injure the 

 crop, when planted in this manner ; but gene- 

 rally the rule is a good one. 



The Boston Pine (staminate,) is almost 

 worthless, if allowed to grow in masses. A 

 perfect proof of this occurred in our grounds 

 this season. A bed about four feet wide and 

 thirty long, which had produced one crop, 

 was treated as follows : a strip about eight 

 inches wide was left through the middle, al- 

 most the v/hole length ; the rest of the plants 

 for this distance were spaded under, and the 

 runners kept ofi" from the rciw thus formed, 

 while about four feet of one end of the bed 

 remained untouched. This summer the crop 

 upon the row was enormous, — the plants being 

 literally loaded with splendid fruit, — while in 

 the bed at the end, a gi-eat number of little, 

 dry, worthless berries testified mott unequivo- 

 cally to the want of water. 



I ought to say that the first picking of 

 Boston Pine comprised nearh'^ all that were 

 of any value ; the late ripening berries did 

 not fill out well. This remark, however, ap- 

 plies with more or loss force to all the large 

 fruited staminate varieties, — the pistillates 

 being, as a class, much superior in this re- 

 spect. 



The Pted and White Alpines are another 

 example of the utter worthlessness of some 

 valuable sorts, when cultivated in beds. Tf 

 these are kept in hills, where they have an 



unfitiling supply of moisture, the product will 

 go far to convince the skeptic of the truth of 

 the kStoddard story. Both of these varieties 

 will produce a surprising amount of berries, 

 if cultivated in this manner. 



There is, in the mind of the community, a 

 great and growing partiality towards fruits of 

 native origin. In this feeling, I too partici- 

 pate, and fancy that 1 see just cause for it, in 

 some of our new varieties of strawberries. 

 The most productive, high flavored and hardy 

 varieties, now cultivated, are of native origin; 

 and prominent among these, arc some of the 

 varieties recently introduced and raised by 

 Mr. Burr, of Columbus, Ohio. His new 

 Pine is unequalled, in my estimation, by any 

 other berry for family use. The skin is ra- 

 ther too delicate for a market fruit. Some 

 other varieties, originated by Mr. Burr, have 

 proved very valuable in some respects ; as, 

 for example, Scarlet IMclting — exceedingly 

 productive, but rather tender flesh, and not 

 of high flavor; Columbus — beautiful, very 

 'productive, &c. But time and trial must de- 

 termine their real value. 



A few notes upon well known varieties, and 

 I must close this already too long article. 



* Boston Pine proves with us very pro- 

 ductive when grown in rows, and of good 

 size, but decidedly inferior flavor. 



Black Prince — large size, beautiful, and 

 very prolific, but inferior in flavor, and rather 

 watery this season. 



Hovey's Seedling — very large, beautiful, 

 bears good crops, but of second quality. 



Burr's New Pine — large, beautiful, and 

 fine flavored, produces excellent crops of rich 

 and sweet berries. 



* Cashing — very large, hard and produc- 

 tive, but lacking richness and high flavor. 



* Large Early Scarlet — medium size, very 

 productive, and one of the best and earliest 

 varieties ; good for marketing. 



♦ Staminate, or perfect nowcrs. 



