THE NEWER STRAWBERRIES 



IN 1879. 



the Country Gentleman July .'. 



In this vicinity the season of 1879 has been a very favorable one for the 

 strawberry. A somewhat protracted drouth, in May, threatened serious in- 

 jury to the crop, but copious showers about the first of June, at the time 

 the berries were setting, secured a fair crop of finer fruit than is usually 

 seen. In the Rochester market, immense quantities of strawberries have 

 been handled. As an instance of this, I quote from the Union of recent 

 date, as follows: ''The sale of strawberries during the past few days hzs 

 been unprecedented, and a leading groceryman informed a reporter of 

 this paper, that the day before yesterday he sold 2,000 quarts ; yesterday he 

 disposed of 4,000, and this morning before eight o'clock he had sold 1,500 

 quarts." When we consider the large quantity many other grocerymen like 

 the above must have sold, together with what the dealers shipped out of 

 town, we will find that the daily sales of strawberries have been unusually 

 large. At Cleveland, where this fruit is cultivated on a more extensive 

 scale than at Rochester, the sales are said to have amounted to 2,000 buJ> 

 els a day. Besides an increasing demand, it is gratifying to note that the 

 larger and finer-flavored varieties are becoming better known and appreci- 

 ated. When Wilson's was selling at six cents a quart, Sharpless sold for 

 twelve, and Triomphe de Gand, Jucunda, Cumberland Triumph and Mon- 

 arch, for eight and ten cents. Of such varieties there has not been nearly 

 enough fruit to satisfy the demand, and growers will consult their interests 

 by giving more attention to the larger and better kinds. 



The favorable season has afforded us a fine opportunity to test the many 

 new varieties now on trial. These novelties have revived the interest in 

 strawberry culture, and all over the country there are enthusiastic amateurs 

 and growers who are waiting anxiously for the result of this year's experience. 

 We propose to give ours as briefly as possible. 



Arranging the sorts alphabetically, Cinderella first claims attention. It 

 is one of Mr. Felton's seedlings, and was sent out in 1876. The fruit is of 

 medium to large size, conical, regularly formed, and of a bright, glossy- 

 scarlet color ; flesh firm, solid, with a mild, rich, aromatic flavor ; plant 

 vigorous and prolific. It is a handsome strawberry, and in quality fully 

 equal to, if not better, than Triomphe de Gand. It will undoubtedly prove 

 very desirable for the amateur's garden. Continental, another of Mr. Fel- 

 ton's seedlings, and sent out with the above, is of medium to large size, 

 obtusely conical, regularly formed, and of a dark-red, almost black, color 

 when fully ripe ; flesh firm and of fair quality, but inferior to Cinderella ; 

 plant vigorous and very productive. Crescent Seedling, which appeared so 

 promising last year, has disappointed us greatly this season not in produc- 

 tiveness, but in quality. Nevertheless, it is an improvement o the Wilson, 

 and having proved to be wonderfully prolific, must, on that account, still 

 claim a good deal of attention as a market berry. Captain Jack is another 

 variety, the quality of which does not rank high, and it has the serious fault 



