RISE OF COMMERCIAL CULTURE 41 



it for many years thereafter with marked success. The 

 time was ripe for the introduction of a new variety, equally 

 cosmopolitan and tolerant of indifferent culture. The 

 markets wanted a change from the Wilson. The Crescent 

 met the situation. It w^as one of the most productive vari- 

 eties grown up to that time. It was earlier than Wilson, 

 which was more of an advantage then than now. Al- 

 though smaller than Wilson, softer, more poorly colored, 

 and even more inferior in quality, the markets took kindly 

 to it for many years. The chief claim of the Crescent 

 upon popular favor was that it thrived everywhere with a 

 minimum of effort. It was frankly introduced as " the lazy 

 man's berry," especially designed for members of the "No 

 Sweat Club," and fully merited this enticing description. 



The introduction of the Crescent gave a decided impetus 

 to strawberry planting. As it was a pistillate, it was nec- 

 essary to grow a staminate sort with it ; Wilson, Cumber- 

 land Triumph, Sharpless and Miner's Prolific were com- 

 monly used. The Sharpless, introduced in 1877, was the 

 first of the very large-fruited varieties that could be pro- 

 duced without special difiiculty by the commercial grower. 

 Although not as productive as Crescent, it became a stand- 

 ard sort at once because of its size and beauty. When 

 the markets began to tire of Crescent, about 1890, Haver- 

 land, Gandy and Bubach came to the front. 



Three varieties never again can dominate the markets 

 as did Wilson, Crescent and Sharpless between 1858 and 

 1895. These are the great triumvirate of North American 

 varieties. Conclusive proof of this is furnished by the 

 parentage records of North American varieties ; two thirds 

 of all the varieties produced since 1858 of which the 

 parents are known have in them the blood of one or more 

 of these three. 



