448 Pomological Gossip. 



including our friend Mr. Longworth, of Cincinnati. I have, 

 for many years, as you are aware, paid especial attention to 

 the acquisition of every vahiable variety from distant regions, 

 and to the rearing of seedling strawberries from the choicest 

 varieties, thus concentrated. One great object avowed by 

 amateurs has been to surpass '' Hovey's Seedling " and the 

 ''Boston Pine," which were originated by yourself, and 1 

 have each succeeding year been convinced that this was no 

 easy task, although many have deemed it one of ready ac- 

 complishment. The production of those two splendid varie- 

 ties, at so early a period of amateur strawberry culture, was 

 a most astonishing circumstance, and although I readily 

 concede to you the merit of science and zeal in that labor, I 

 am also satisfied that you owe much to " good luck " for so 

 propitious a result. Immediately after your reference to my 

 collection of strawberries, you insert a notice of the "Moya- 

 mensing Pine," and you quote the remarks of "a cultivator 

 in New Jersey," who states it to be " superior in every feature 

 (except size) to Hovey's Seedling, which was its parent." 

 To begin with the last remark, the Moyamensing Pine could 

 never have been grown from a seed of the Hovey's Seedling, 

 as the entire growth and the fruit of the plant show it to be 

 a seedling of the Hudson, and it has not one characteristic 

 in common with the former. It is a vigorous plant, the fruit 

 of a fine crimson color, on strong stems, secondary in size, 

 of conical form, juicy, not sweet, and deficient in flavor. It 

 is very productive, and when all points are considered, may 

 be deemed rather valuable, and of the same rank as the old 

 Hudson, which has some quite valuable properties, although 

 much slighted. 



It is those varieties which combine size, beauty of color, 

 fine flavor and productiveness, that must now command 

 precedence ; and I will on a future occasion describe such as 

 I have found to possess these points of excellence ; but at 

 present I will name only the "Le Baron" and "Triumph" 

 as highly estimable varieties. Yours, very respectfully, Wm. 

 R. Prince. August 28, '52." 



