THE OANADTAN HOUTICULTUKIST. 



197 



need of is one that in addition fco other 

 good qualities possesses size and excel- 

 lent flavor. Now, the James Vick is^ 

 not of extra size, and its quality strikes 

 me as nothing better than common va- 

 rieties. But for the market-grower, 

 who wants a berry firm enough to stand 

 the jolting and heat of a two or three 

 hundred-mile trip on the cars, the 

 James Vick seems to be exceedingly 

 desirable, for it is one of the firmest 

 berries in the catalogues — excelling 

 even Wilson in this respect. But firm- 

 ness is only one essential of a market 

 berry ; we want handsome appearance, 

 good size, and especially great produc- 

 tiveness ; and these points seem com- 

 bined in the Vick to a remarkable de- 

 gree In color it is exceedingly Hue — 

 a brilliant red, to which a shade of 

 orange is imparted by its gohlen seeds. 

 Shape, almost round, and almost as 

 regular as if run in a mould, though of 

 coui'se the last berries are not as large 

 as the first — apparently less than five 

 |):ir cent, being in any way deformed. 

 Surface smooth and shining. Size, 

 about like Wilson, or a trifle larger. 

 Productiveness, just as great as any 

 plant can stand without coming out of 

 the ground. As a shipping berry for" 

 market it appears not excelled by Wil- 

 son in any respect, while in the matter 

 of color alone it is considerably better, 

 and it excels in otiiers. On the whole, 

 it impresses me as the best shipping 

 berry to supersede the Wilson that has 

 yet been introduced. 



Bid well has done nobly with me this 

 year. The first berries ripened in the 

 wet, and were ugly, overgrown, green- 

 tipped ex})ressions of acidity. But 

 when our impatience to t;uste the Bid- 

 well slackened, and they got more sun- 

 shine, not only did the tips ripen up, 

 but they developed a delicious, racy 

 sweetness of taste that<lelighted all who 

 got at them, while the shape improved to 

 the ideal form ; and in color and glossi- 



ness they were all that could be desired. 

 Yet thev were not up to the mark in 

 firmness, and I do not recommend them 

 for shipping far. Only on rich, dark 

 loam do I think the plant will mature 

 the immense load of fruit it sets, 

 though the plant is a good grower any- 

 where. It is nearly as large as Sharp- 

 less. Plant for home use or a near 

 market on good moist loam. 



Lacoii was very promising as I saw 

 it at Rochester ; and Daniel Boone and 

 MrM. Garfield at St. Mary's. Time 

 will have much to tell about these. I 

 predict a promising future. 



For home use I have been delighted 

 with Shirts. It is exceedingly sweet 

 and gooil — surpassing even Bidwell — 

 with the flavor of the wild strawberry, 

 and the size and almost the productive- 

 ness of the Bidwell. It makes the 

 most vigorous young plants of any sort 

 on my place, and grows magnificent 

 hills, which are easy to keep in order 

 as it sends out few runners. Color 

 dark and season late. Jerseif Queen 

 and l^riple Crown were the only vari- 

 eties on my place that could compare 

 with Shirts in quality, except Trioinph 

 de Gand. The Triple Crown is very 

 productive, and it i.s very firm, while 

 the Jersey Queen is very large and 

 glossy, but not sufficiently tested with 

 with me as to productiveness. 



Seneca Queen keeps up its reputation 

 witli me as a magnificent early berry 

 for home use — excelled only by Bi(l- 

 well where Bidwell succeeds, but seem- 

 ingly adapted to a wider range of soil. 



The above seem by far the best 

 among the new sorts that have been 

 out long enough to test. 



Of old sorts, Sharpies^ still stands 

 first in size, but when it is so large it is 

 not so sweet as when of moderate di- 

 mensions ; it is certainly worthy of a 

 place yet in the home garden. Wind- 

 sor Chief is also very fine. 



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