16 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1880. 



they all need winter protection. Tlie black-caps are not attractive 

 nor desirable ; the red berries are next to strawberries in value ; 

 the market can not be glutted. [Mr. Midgeley — Oh yes, yes, 

 I've done it.] I think it would be safe to pledge 12^ cents per 

 quart for all Worcester will grow for three years. The Clarke is 

 the most desirable variety. The " Thwack," a new variety, is 

 highly commended. 



Strawberries are pre-eminent. They need well-rotted manure, 

 unless applied in the autumn as a nnilch. He would plant so 

 that the crown will come just even with the soil, and would press 

 the soil very closely ; be sure to set them firm ; and they will live 

 almost always ; don't let soil get upon the crown. Plants from a 

 distance should be opened and laid in a cool, dark place until 

 ready to set ; the leaves should not be wet in shipping ; shipped 

 plants will shrink 50 per cent, with almost any care ; trim the 

 roots so as to remove all injured or decayed parts. Of varieties 

 he said the Charles Downing is at the head of the list ; for market 

 but few varieties are needed. Next to the Downing, the Jucunda 

 is desirable on a strong, rich soil ; the Monarch of the West is 

 good ; dries off well and is firmer than the Downing ; a good 

 shipping berry. The Downer's Prolific is the earliest, fine flavor- 

 ed and prolific and hardy. He recommended among the new 

 berries the Sharpless as worthy of further trial ; Crescent Seed- 

 ling is fourth rate, about like the Wilson but more prolific. Wilson 

 has become run out in this vicinity. [Strong opposition to the. de- 

 nunciation of the Wilson was shown.] Crescent Seedling is not 

 a good shipper. He said the Wilson is a deceiver; it looks ripe 

 two days before it is ripe ; if picked early it will ship safely and 

 keep on a stand, relieving a retailer from loss : but Horticul- 

 turists ought to repudiate it except when perfectly ripened, and 

 then it is as tender as the other varieties. Crescent is a pistillate 

 and needs a companion.- The Sharpless has a bad form but good 

 quality, and is very productive. In place of the Wilson as an acid 

 berry, he recommended the Capt. Jack ; it has a strong stem, 

 holding the fruit up from the ground. The Glendale, as a new 

 late variety is valuable. Of early berries the Duchess is desirable, 

 but it makes but few runners ; tiie Duncan is of a similar habit. 

 He thought the Sharpless will do well on sandy soil, with plenty 

 of manure. Another berry, the Pioneer, is also likely to be 

 popular. The Sharpless is about as early as the Charles Downing. 



He considered the growing of Plums desirable; a little gas tar 

 burned under the tree every other day, from blossoming till the 

 fruit has a thick skin, alid the curculio can be successfully fought. 



Mr. Thomas A. Dawson said the Sharpless, with one year's 

 experience, is very productive, but as late as the Jucunda. He had 



