The Canadia)i HorticiiltJirist. 



97 



NOTES ON VARIETIES OF SMALL FRUITS. 



Kv W . \\ . Hii.i;cii<N, I.M'i iJiMi NTAi. Iaum, Oiiawa. 



As the time when planting will 

 soon be at hand, a few notes of 

 varieties of small fruits will perhaps 

 be interesting to some of the readers 

 of the Horticulturist. 



Ninety sorts of strawberries were 

 in full fruiting on the Experimental 

 Farm, Ottawa, last season. The 

 weather was unusuall}- dry during 

 the period of ripening, which had a 

 very injurious effect on the yield of 

 fruit. Late varieties suffered most. 

 Among the new sorts, ^lonniontJi was 

 the most promising for first early ; 

 Biibach produced the largest crop of 

 any new kind in the collection. It 

 will average, large to very large, quite 

 early, not firm enough to stand ship- 

 ment a long distance, but for home 

 use or near market, it promises to be 

 of much value. Jessie is of the same 

 type ; more firm ; better in quality ; a 

 little later in ripening but not as pro- 

 ductive or as vigorous and healthy in 

 plant and foliage Lida was the 

 most wonderfully productive plant 1 

 have ever seen, but it is not vigorous 

 enough in growth. There is not suf- 

 ficient foliage to protect the fruit from 

 being injured by sun scald. To suc- 

 ceed well it must have ver}- strong 

 rich soil and good cultivation. Pine- 

 apple is a promising new sort for 

 home use. It is not firm enoygh for 

 market ; it is of fine flavor; healthy in 

 foliage; plant vigorous and productive. 

 Annie Forrest, Crawford, Daisy, En- 

 hance, Gandy, Ontario, Pearl and 

 Woodhouse are all worthy of trial for 

 market. 



Itasca and Belmont were quite un- 

 productive and the fruit was not of 

 attractive appearance. Covill was 

 very early but after the first picking 

 the fruit ran too small in size. Ex- 

 celsior and Ildjfimni's Seedlinfr of no 

 special value, fruit not large or firm 

 enough. 



Several of the older kinds that have 

 not been very generally tested through- 

 out the country, proved quite promis- 

 ing and should have a more extended 

 trial. They would no doubt prove 

 valuable in many localities. Woodruff 

 made a good showing ; the fruit was 

 large, conical, often wedge-shaped 

 and very firm. The plant, although 

 not large, is very healthy and pro- 

 ductive. Atlantic produced a fine 

 crop of large, beautiful, bright, dark 

 crimson berries, nearlv or quite as 

 firm as Wilson. But few if any, 

 either old or new sort, produced a 

 larger crop than did the Magf!;ie : it 

 is rather dull in color and not firm 

 enough to stand shipment to a distant 

 market. Seneca Queen is valuable 

 for home use, especiallv on light 

 sandy soil. Lacon is a very produc- 

 tive sort, fruit large, irregular, quite 

 acid ; jilant very large and usually 

 liealthy ; it is more easily affected by 

 drought than most sorts. May Kin<r 

 has not thus far proven to be a valu- 

 able market sort, not firm or pro- 

 ductive enough. 



Among the old, well-tested kinds, 

 Crescent, Cap. jfaek, Manchester and 

 IVilson are the most profitable in the 

 order named. 



