36 THE STRAWBERRY IN NORTH AMERICA 



tract attention, as there was no further comment on it 

 that year. The following summer James Wilson showed 

 a number of potted plants of his seedling, each laden with 

 fruit. There was no lack of appreciation then. In the 

 words of a current publication, "Such was the size and 

 number of the berries upon each plant that people were 

 astonished, curiosity was excited, and public attention 

 was aroused to an examination of the claims of this new 

 strawberry." It was then named Wilson's Albany. 



James Wilson was a nurseryman, so he must have real- 

 ized the value of his seedling and the profit that might 

 be derived by keeping it himself for exclusive propagation 

 and sale ; yet he generously divided his stock of plants 

 with his neighbors. Two years later, when demands for 

 plants began to pour in, he had fewer plants to sell than 

 some of his neighbors, and realized very little profit. He 

 died in 1855, leaving the nursery to his eon, John Wilson, 

 who continued to propagate the Wilson strawberry for 

 several years. James Wilson was an unassuming man, 

 who unselfishly declined to take advantage of an oppor- 

 tunity for private gain. Granville Cowing has declared, 

 "The fruit growers and fruit consumers of this country 

 owe him a debt far greater than many that have been 

 paid in costly monuments of bronze and marble." 



THE SWAY OF THE WILSON 



Save in the vicinity of Boston, the stronghold of the 

 Hovey, the Wilson was hailed everywhere as the greatest 

 of market varieties. The rapidity with which it sup- 

 planted other varieties was remarkable, especially since 

 no effort was made to bring it to public notice. It was not 

 exploited by the originator or introducer, as was the 



