STATE HORTTCULTURA.L SOCIETY. 86 



The most profitable varieties before the advent of the Wilson 

 were Early Scarlet and Hovey's Seedling. The Wilson has pro- 

 duced four and a half bushels and five bushels per square rod by 

 different cultivators, at the rate of 800 bushels per acre. And now 

 a prominent eastern firm says a western man says the " Lacon " 

 strawberry produced from six to fifty times as much as the Wilson 

 growing alongside of it; berries four and a half to five and a half 

 inches, six days earlier than Wilson and later than Kentucky; 213 

 berries ^to a single plant, as firm as Wilson, bright red flesh 

 perfectly hardy; and all this on matted rows without cultivation." 



If you can't believe all that, just take a dose of " Old Ironclad," 

 the first plant valued at $5,000.00. This flourishes when drouth 

 kills everything else; fruit size of Sharpless; ships 300 miles; five 

 days earlier than Wilson; more juicy than Jucunda; the only objec- 

 tion given, it is too large. 



Both these varieties are perfect in the blossom and will do to set 

 beside the '' Manchester," which is the most desirable of 250 kinds 

 raised by a prominent eastern grower; 220 berries on a single 

 plant; flourishes alike in sand or claj'; uniformly large to the last; 

 exquisitely beautiful; a charming scarlet with golden seeds; superb 

 quality; sweeter and richer than any other productive variety; 

 bears twice as much as Wilson, and endures drouth better than any 

 other kind. 



Try, also, " James Vick " with its " 280 berries to a single aver- 

 age plant; good size, form, color, vigorous, productive, healthy, 

 first quality, producing a wall of berries hardly admitting a bug; 

 blossom perfect; will remain on the vine a week after becoming 

 ripe without getting soft or losing quality." 



Then comes "Big Bob," so large you can get but two on a page 

 (I mean pictures) 1 could not get over six in a quart cup the past 

 season, (because I didn't have them), " as much fruit per acre as 

 Wilson; the best thing seen of strawberries; nothing to compare 

 with it in size, productiveness, vigor of growth, hardiness, or flavor; 

 combining more good qualities than any other kind.'^ 



Piper's Seedling — One western grower of many years, experience, 

 '"ha^ planted more of this for market than all other varieties com- 

 bined." It is "large, productive, early and firm berry;" "season rather 

 late;" "stands the trying winters of Illinois remarkably well." 



Plant "Seneca Queen" for quality. One L. I. cultivator who has 

 an acre of this, says it is best of all. While Peter B. Mead says: 

 '^Jersey Queen" is best and the true ideal type of the perfect straw- 

 berry, the largest and most vigorous plant ever seen, thriving under 



