STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 433 



man of undoubted integrity aud he has made the cultivation and 

 propagation of strawberries a study for years. The members of 

 the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society who met at Janes- 

 ville June 16 aud 17, 1886. are too intelligent a set of men to be 

 humbugged. They beheld the berries growing uj^on the origin- 

 ator's grounds and were astonished. It is undoubtedly a won- 

 derful berry where it originated, but will it prove the berry for 

 the million i Will it supersede all other varieties in cultiva- 

 tion? Probably not. From some things I have heard I conclude 

 there are two sides to the question. Some people are not as skill- 

 ful growers of the new varieties as others; some have not the 

 same kind of soil as that upon which it originated, and others may 

 not manipulate the fertilizers just right. I fear it is being too 

 highly praised. In favored situations, with good cultivation, it 

 will probably prove all that is claimed for it, but away from 

 home and with the cultivation ordinarily bestowed upon straw- 

 berries, I doubt if it will prove superior to many other 

 varieties we now have. The Sharpless, Bidwell, Vick and many 

 others had their ''boom.'- Hom' many here in the Northwest 

 who tried them have realized their high expectations? It is 

 hard to get the whole truth about new sorts. Do not understand 

 me as opposing the introduction of this or anj^ other new 

 variety. I am not, but like to have it thoroughly tested in a 

 wide range of localities, and it ought to have been done before 

 the "boom" was started. The most unfortunate thing I see in 

 this is that the originator has given up the entire control of its 

 introduction to a New York nurseryman, reliable, it is true, but 

 many of us know by sad experience the disadvantage of pur-^ 

 chasiug plants that have been reshipped aud repacked over get- 

 ting them direct from the grower. It is a critical time in the 

 life of a strawberry plant while it is out of the ground. It is 

 liable all the time to be taking injury from drying, heating, or 

 from making a blanched growth at the expense of its own 

 vitality, and I would rather risk one plant direct from the 

 grower than five through second hands. 



Those who desire to try the variety should by all means order 

 direct from headquarters. Doubtless every agent that travels 

 the country the coming year will solicit your order for a dozen 

 or more of this variety. If you consult your own interest you 

 will permit them to pass on with their stock undiminished and 

 get your plants direct from the man who raised them or who 

 controls the stock. 

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