332 ANNUAL EEPORT. 



the Manchester, Berries were found of several shades of color and 

 sizes. Mr. Hovey, after a while abandoned the assertion that the 

 two varieties were identical, but not before the fact that fertilization 

 with different varieties seemed to produce variable results as to 

 <}olor, had been noted. The Manchester, as exhibited at the New 

 York Horticultural Society exhibition this summer, raised by the 

 side of different varieties, clearly proved this assertion, and this on 

 the grounds of several persons, some of whose places were 100 miles 

 apart. Manchester by the side of Cumberland Triumph, gave the 

 same results this season in three cases, one in New Jersey and two 

 in Connecticut, and each widely separated. 



In a conversation with Mr. Durand on the fertilization of varie- 

 ties one with the other, and the effect that it had in the form, 

 shape, color, and llavor of the berry the first year, he said that 

 there was no doubt that certain varieties made much better berries 

 in all respects if planted near one another. This was in respect to 

 the difference observable in the Jersey Queen when planted inclose 

 proximity to some varieties. Last year the most magnificent crop 

 ever seen was on a bed near the Bidwell. The two or three 

 rows next the Bidwell were immense in size, good color, perfect 

 berries, while in the same bed a few rows near the Sharpless, were 

 much inferior and smaller in size. This effect does not seem to be 

 confined to pistillate varieties only; even hermaphrodites partake 

 of the size, shape, color, and flavor one of the other. The present 

 season in my experimental beds, Sharpless and Priuio, set side bj^ sidei 

 it the same row, blossomed about the same time. The Primo 

 partook of the shape of the Sharpless, which were sports, in 

 size two or three fold larger than Primo by themselves; color 

 lighter, and softer than on the other row. The rows from which 

 the plants both of the Sharpless and Primo were taken to set in the 

 row, were turned about but not within the same soil or eight feet 

 from one another, produced as to Sharpless the same general 

 ■characteristics of berry as the other. The Primo, however, had 

 only the average berries as to size, shape, and color, whereas the 

 Primo fertilized with Sharpless were the largest specimens ever 

 seen. A prominent nurseryman wishing to have a sample of the 

 Primo engraved for his catalogue, declined the offer of taking such 

 from a quart picked from the plants near the Sharpless, giving as 

 the reason the public would be deceived from the size. In this 

 <3ase the productiveness of the berry was very much increased. 

 From observation and experience I believe that many of the con- 

 tradictory reports had from the new fruits in experimental beds 



