VARIETIES, CHARACTER, ETC. 123 



New Jersey last summer, I was urged to visit a small place 

 on which was growing a wonderful new berry. The mo- 

 ment I saw the fruit and foliage, I recognized the Col. 

 Cheney, forced into unusual luxuriance by very favorable 

 conditions. Other experienced growers, whose attention I 

 called to the distinguishing marks of this variety, agreed 

 with me at once ; but the proprietor, who probably had 

 never seen the Cheney before and did not know where the 

 plants came from, thought it was a remarkable new variety, 

 and as such it might have been honestly sent out. Trial- 

 beds at once detect the old kinds with new names, and 

 thus may save the public from a vast deal of imposition. 



Such beds would also be of very great ser\'ice in suggest- 

 ing the varieties that can be grown with profit in certain 

 localities. While the behavior of different kinds differs 

 greatly in varying soils and latitudes, there is no such arbi- 

 trary mystery in the matter as many imagine. I am satis- 

 fied that the sorts which did best in my trial-bed give the 

 best promise of success wherever the soil and climate are 

 similar. In contrast, let a trial-bed be made on a light soil 

 in Delaware or Virginia, and lOO varieties be planted. Many 

 that are justly favorites in our locality would there shrivel 

 and bum, proving valueless ; but those that did thrive and 

 produce well, exhibiting a power to endure a Southern sun, 

 and to flourish in sand, should be the choice for all that re- 

 gion. To the far South and North, and in the extremes of 

 the East and West, trial-beds would give still varying re- 

 sults ; but such results would apply to the soils and climate 

 of the region if proper culture were given. A horse can be 

 mismanaged on a Kentucky stock-farm, and there are those 

 who would have ill luck with strawberries in the Garden of 

 Eden, — they are so skilful and persistent in doing the wrong 

 thing. It would well remunerate large planters to maintain 



