SELECTION OF VARIETIES. 49 
foot-stalks, trusses of fruit full and usually well formed, 
but occasionally a berry not entirely filled out; the 
runners are not so numerous as to be troublesome; 
fruit very large, often over five inches in circumference, 
rich dark color until over-ripe; irregular, conical, 
roundish ; large seeds, slightly sunk ; flesh crimson and 
white, tender, juicy, with a core of rather open and 
coarse texture. 
Ripens medium season, and rather too tender for a 
market fruit, except for short carriage distance. 
HOVEY’ SEEDLING. 
This has been truly called a noble fruit, and is an 
honor to the originator, Mr. C. M. Hovey, of Boston. 
It has undoubtedly taken more prizes in the various 
Horticultural Exhibitions of our country, from Maine 
to Louisiana, than any other variety, and it retains the 
same position at the present time, although it is not 
equal in flavor to Burr’s New Pine and others, or of 
the average size of McAvoy’s Superior and some other 
varieties; and in almost every quarter, we hear more 
or less complaints of its fickleness in bearing, mingled 
with the strongest approvals of its productiveness. 
Notwithstanding all murmurs, its flavor is good 
when well ripened; it is too often picked and tasted 
when first colored and unripe; and some of its berries 
so surpass all other varieties in size—often five and 
six and sometimes over ezght inches in circumference— 
