128 SUCCESS WITH SMALL FRUITS. 



nated by Mr. Parmelee, of New Haven, Conn. At first, it 

 received unbounded praise ; now, it gets too much censure. 

 It is a very distinct and remarkable variety, and, like the 

 Wilson, I think, will fill an important place in strawberry 

 culture. Its average size does not much exceed that of the 

 Wilson ; its flavor, when fully ripe, is about equal in the es- 

 timation of those who do not like acid fruit. In produc- 

 tiveness, on many soils, it will far exceed any variety with 

 which I am acquainted. It is just this capacity for growing 

 on thin, poor soils — anywhere and under any circumstances 

 — that gives to it its chief value. In hardiness and vitality 

 it is almost equal to the Canada thistle. The young plants 

 are small, and the foliage is slender and delicate ; but they 

 have the power to live and multiply beyond that of any 

 other variety I have seen. It thrives under the suns of 

 Georgia and Florida, and cares naught for the cold of Can- 

 ada; it practically extends the domain of the strawberry 

 over the continent, and renders the laziest man in the land, 

 who has no strawberries, without excuse. One of my beds 

 yielded at the rate of 346 bushels to the acre, and the 

 bright, handsome scarlet of the berries caused them to sell 

 for as much in the open market as varieties of far better 

 flavor. It is too soft for long carriage by rail. Those to 

 whom flavor and large size are the chief considerations 

 will not plant it, but those who have a near and not 

 very fastidious market, that simply demands quantity 

 and fine appearance, will grow it both largely and prof- 

 itably. The stamens of the Crescent are so imperfectly 

 developed that every tenth row in the field should 

 be Wilsons, or some other early and perfect-flowered 

 variety. 



In the Champion, we have a late market berry that is 

 steadily growing in favor. On rich, moist land it is almost 



