1882. 



AND HORTICULTURIST: 



239 



does not seem to be planted to any great extent 

 in what might be termed the best apple districts, 

 but in the belt before referred to, on the western 

 side of Lake Ontario, very large orchards were 

 ■ frequently seen. The whole region, however, 

 seemed afflicted by the curl. Indeed it was 

 prevalent to an extent never before met with in 

 the writer's experience. The diseased leaves had 

 here a brownish cast, which led at first to the im- 

 pression that some new form of the curl fungus 

 had been operating so destructively, but it was 

 probably onh' the extent of the injury which gave 

 more color to the results. If we were not mis- 

 taken the disease was almost wholly confined to 

 trees which had borne at least one crop. Young 

 trees seemed free from it. 



These suggestions from recent experiences 

 are thrown out as seasonable hints to those 

 about planting orchards. There is no doubt 

 much in the jiroper selection of varieties ; much 

 in selecting healthy trees ; much in all that the 

 term good culture implies. But with all this 

 there is something in geographical location, and 

 this something cannot be taught by any theo 

 retical reasoning. It is a matter wholly to learn 

 from experience. He, therefore, who would 

 plant wisely should first find out what has al 

 ready been done in his vicinity, and what the 

 result has been. He will then have a better 

 foundation for all success, than anything books 



can teach. 



«-■-» 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



BY H. M. ENGLE, MARIETTA, PA. 



The Sirawberry being such a desirable fruit, 

 that not only the eating thereof stimulates to 

 good nature, but it will also bear much good na- 

 tured talk and correspondence without tiring, 

 in consideration of which I hereby add my mite; 

 hoping it will not prove superfluous or out of 

 place. 



What is the best variety and what the best 

 method of cultivation is, however, an unsettled 

 question, and perhaps will be so long as we mor- 

 tals grow and eat them ; for, so long as soils, and 

 habits of growth, and even tastes, differ, no one 

 variety can receive universal approbation, and 

 it is perhaps better that it is so, or we would all 

 cease to aim higher and consequently settle down 

 to indolence in this as also in general pomologi- 

 cal progress. Having grown Strawberries the 



last twenty years for market, and without stint 

 for our own table, of many varieties, also having 

 at one time over 3,000 seedlings, designedly cross . 

 fertilized by myself, I claim, therefore, not to be 

 altogether a novice in the business. I also claim 

 that I can sympathize with many who in raising 

 a few new seedlings, imagine they have acquired 

 a bonanza, and consequently send out the new 

 comer for public honors witli great flourish of 

 trumpets (on paper), to the sad disappointment 

 of many. My lesson in raising new seedlings 

 has taught me, as it will teach others who are 

 over-confident in similar enterprises, that the 

 chances are few and far between, to originate 

 something superior in every respect to what we 

 already have, and planters generally are getting 

 to be more cautious in receiving novelties with- 

 out being generally approved. I would not for 

 a moment discourage the raising of new seed- 

 lings, but rather strongly encourage it, and also 

 advise to make haste slowly in their dissemina- 

 tion. I have, however, sometimes censured my- 

 self for having been too slow; that instead of 

 keeping so many to test, I should have selected 

 some of the best and destroyed all the rest, as 

 there were some among them much superior to 

 dozens for which we have paid big prices ; but 

 holding on to so many without proper attention, 

 they overran each other and were plowed down. 

 This season I have raised a few thousand quarts 

 of the finest berries I ever saw, and the same 

 expression was made by competent judges; the 

 bulk of which were Sharpless, and of about 

 thirty varieties, which I fruited for several 

 years, some already discarded. Without hesi- 

 tation, I place Sharpless at the head of the list 

 as possessing more desirable qualities than I 

 have yet found in any other variety, 



1st. It is the strongest grower that I have 

 yet seen. 2nd. Resists heat and frost well. 3rd, 

 Largest berry. 4th. Can be eaten before fully 

 ripe, and yet can be left on the stalk longer than 

 most varieties without seeming overripe. 5th. 

 Color, all that could be desired. 6th. Better 

 without sugar than some kinds with it. 7th, 

 Continues to be profitable in the same bed for at 

 least three years. 



Crescent stands next in my estimation ; and 

 these two varieties shall be the bulk of my plant- 

 ings, unless I find their superiors. The merits 

 of the latter are: 1st. Earliness. 2ad. Produc- 

 tiveness. 3rd. Color, for which it has no supe- 

 rior. 4th. Hardiness. 5th. Carries well, and 

 when properly grown will sell with most other 



