86 AlfNUAL REPOET 



all circumstances, firm, brilliant and beautiful, melting, high-flav- 

 ored and luscious. "(Oh, how ray mouth waters.)" Never falters 

 in drouth and heat; passes unhurt, when nearly every other variety 

 is winter-killed; takes the first prize at Gillraore's Gardens after 

 three days on exhibition, yet in fine condition. This I think should 

 have been called " Wonderful," perhaps the "Jersey" attachment 

 may help it among stock men. 



But the most delicious strawberry known, says an eastern firm, 

 is "Pautuxet,''' measuring four inches, productive, spicy, sweet, very 

 jucy, delicious, perfect. 



Finch's Prolific claims to be the best market berry produced in 

 twenty-five years; good fiavor; keeps six days after picking: no juice 

 in handling; very firm; holding its size to the last; perfect blossom; 

 vigorous, hardy and prolific. 



"Longfellow," says one, "is enormously large, giving good pick- 

 ings for three weeks, and has more good qualities than fifteen 

 other choice kinds." 



Most of the above quotations are taken from eastern growers, 

 many of whom are considered of sound mind and usually reliable. 

 Just think of a strawberry weighing a pound, measuring 14 inches, 

 only 1 to the quart, 1.000 bushels to the acre, never winter kills, 

 needs no cultivation, in bearing six weeks, will keep a week after 

 being picked, and of the most exquisite flavor. Some of this talk 

 is hard to believe, but from what little fruit I have seen of some of 

 the kinds, I am fully convinced that the best of them will pro- 

 duce berries that many of them will weigh a pound. 



While we are waiting for that " good time coming," which is 

 almost here, let us plant a thousand acres of " Countess." Of 

 this pickers have picked from 150 to 239 quarts in a day. I saw 

 the record last June of one picker who had tallied 112 quarts in 6 

 hours and another 80, and they expected to add 10 to 20 quarts 

 each to that afternoon's pick. 



This variety was sent out from Washington. It very nearly re- 

 sembles Downer's Prolific, but the great quantity that pickers can 

 gather, leads me to believe it is a new and distinct variety well 

 adapted to light soils and near market. 



" Crescent " has paid me the best in the last five years of any 

 kind I have thoroughly tried. From 100 plants cultivated one 

 year, one boy picked 100 quarts in 9 hours, and that same row 

 produced not less than 500 quarts that season. This variety is 

 well adapted to all soils, but especially sandy soil, and a plantation 

 I turned under last spring after three years' successive crops, gave 



