42 NATIVE FRUITS. 



Strawberries. 



So many new varieties are now on trial and opinions differ so much as 

 to their value that it is a difficult matter to select those which merit particu- 

 lar notice. 



Crystal City, one of the newest sorts, appears to meet with favor every 

 where on account of its extreme earliness and good quality. It is the first 

 to ripen with us. The fruit, however, is so soft as to render it unfit for 

 long carriage. The plant is very vigorous and productive, and requires hill 

 culture. 



Cinderella is growing in estimation as a choice garden sort. 



Sharpless has succeeded beyond the anticipations of the most sanguine- 

 According to all accounts it has failed in but a few localities. 



Glendale will perhaps be valuable for market on account of its bright 

 color, lateness and productiveness, but the flavor is not of such a character 

 as to render it desirable for garden cultivation. I saw it at Cleveland when 

 it was first exhibited two years ago, and I concluded at once that its poor 

 flavor would be a great drawback to its successful introduction. 



Glossy Cone, one of the more recent introductions of Mr. Durand, is a 

 handsome fruit, but this season it rotted before it was fully ripe, and the 

 flavor was indifferent. The plant is vigorous and productive. I notice 

 that this variety usually is highly recommended. 



Crescent Seedling is wonderfully productive, and when grown in hills is 

 a success on nearly all soils. 



Miner's Great Prolific produces large, handsome fruit, but it is dry and 

 spongy. Plant very vigorous and productive. 



Champion and Windsor Chief as we have them are distinct. The 

 former is a moderate, low grower and produces medium sized fruit which is 

 very acid. It ripened June Qth. The latter is a strong grower and yields 

 abundantly large, fine flavored berries. Ripened June i6th. We received 

 the Windsor Chief from Michigan and the Champion from a grower in 

 New York State. 



Panic, raised near Waterloo, is a good shaped, high flavored fruit, nearly 

 equal to Triomphe de Grande. The plant is more vigorous and the fruit 

 more perfect. 



M. Roe, in response to an inquiry kindly furnishes the following notes : 



"I regard the Bid well as the most promising new variety of Strawberries. 

 It was originated in Michigan by a Mr. Bidwell and was first sent out Mr. 

 T. T. Lyon. The plant is a rapid and vigorous grower, forms immense 

 stools, foliage light green, and there was not a sign of curl leaf, burning or 

 scalding during the entire season. Very productive. Fruit large, conical, 

 regular, of a bright, glossy crimson color, with a glazed neck. Flesh firm, 

 pink, rich, meaty and of the genuine strawberry flavor. Mr. Downing and 

 many others who saw it, thought it the most promising of the new berries. 

 Season early." 



Oliver Goldsmith is a variety originated by Mr. Wm. Bennison, Dela- 

 ware, Ohio, in 1874, and is a cross between Charles Downing and the 

 Monarch of the West. I have been so impressed with the value of this 

 variety that I have purchased the entire stock. The plant is strong, vigor- 

 ous and very productive; the fruit large and of good quality." 



