242 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



STRAWBERRIES AT MAPLEHURST. 



HE first fruit of the season, how eagerly sought after, and how much 

 enjoyed by all. Many think only of it as a luxury, after all, and on 

 that ground refuse to furnish their tables with fruit more than for 

 an occasional feast. This is all a mistake, for the strawberry is a 

 nutritious article of diet. About ten per cent, of its substance is 

 dry matter ; one half of which is nitrogenous, or flesh-producing. 

 True, about ninety per cent of the strawberry is water, but eighty- 

 five per cent, of milk is water, and who denies that milk is nourishing food ? 



Unfortunately, this season is not favorable for a good crop of this most 

 delicious fruit. The extreme drouth throughout Southern Ontario has almost 

 ruined the crop, and even the advanced prices do not pay the grower. A grower 

 near Grimsby Park has been irrigating his patch, elevating the water with wind- 

 mill power. His crop, as a result, is almost phenomenal. 



Two varieties among the late comers we have tested for two seasons, and 

 are quite prepared to discard, viz., Michel and Bubach 24. These varieties are 

 both very early, ripening about the ist of June, but both are too unproductive 

 to be profitable. The foliage, also, is very weak, and the whole plant is very 

 sensitive to drouth. These varieties much resemble each other, and are good 

 dessert varieties, but not worth planting in the commercial plantation. 



Mr. T. T. Lyon, of the South Haven (Mich.) fruit- 

 ttsting station, agrees with us in this estimate of those 

 varieties. Under date 12th June, he writes : "The drouth 

 and extreme heat are sadly pinching our strawberries. 

 Michel is now almost past season with us (it ripens the crop 

 almost at once), but yours are, no doubt, genuine. It is not 

 profitable here. Bubach 24 is not quite productive enough 

 here. The fine specimens of this are also gone with us. 

 I doubt if it is at all disseminated. The same of Bubach 

 132 and 137. I have dropped all except 5 in my recent 

 planting." 



Saunders is a fine variety, of large size, and quite pro- 

 ductive. It is about the same season as Williams, begin- 

 ning to ripen the loth of June this year ; quite as produc- 

 tive, as vigorous, about equal in size, and a better berry. 

 It has also something of that agreeably brisk flavor, 

 so characteristic of the old Wilson. This season, how- 

 ever, it is much inferior to last year, owing to the drouth. 

 Laxton'S Noble was so highly commended in the 

 Garden (London) that we expected great things of it ; 

 but, like other foreigners, it is ill adapted to Canadian 

 soil and dry seasons. The foliage is somewhat subject 

 to rust ; the berries, instead of being immense in size as 



they are in England, are quite ordinary in size, and the Kk; 75)2. 



Laxton's Ncblk in '95. 



Fig. 791. 

 Saunders in '95. 



