60 'WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1881. 



universally approved varieties which may almost be counted 

 upon the fingers of one hand ? 



Can Strawberries be grown for the market, at a profit ? — in 

 this City and its vicinity ; — is a question mooted as often as the 

 leisure of Winter loosens the tongue. That some of our mem- 

 bers believe their cultivation to be remunerative, cannot be 

 doubted by any one who has kept his eyes open, as he traversed 

 Park Avenue; or three at least of the countless roads to 

 Holden. But have any — the most enthusiastic of our local 

 Fragarians, — the assured faith and easy contentment of that 

 facile writer and most extensive grower of small fruits,* in 

 Western New York, — who declares that so long as he can get 

 ten (10) cents per quart for Strawberries, he will continue to 

 produce them, and make money at that ? Supplied at any such 

 rate — who shall put a limit to the consumption ? Who will buy 

 corned beef, or even porter-house steak, — in the torrid days of 

 .June, — when a quart of first-rate Strawberries can be procured 

 for the same or a less sum ? He is the truest Horticulturist who 

 shall first demonstrate the fact that this delicious fruit can be 

 afforded thus cheaply. For he will have brought a health- 

 giving luxury within the reach of the very poorest among us ; 

 supplementing the meagre list that so quickly expresses and 

 exhausts the capabilities of our wretched American dietary with 

 the choicest of all viands. And, all the while, growing no 

 poorer in purse. 



The fruition of the Peach crop, A. D. 1881, scarcely equalled 

 the promise held out during the preceding year. There was no 

 single plate of specimens to rival that noble lot of Early Rivers 

 from West Boylston ; and the Yellows had finally disposed of 

 two or tliree hap-hazard seedlings, of a flavor to justify the 

 flourish of trumpets wherewith they were introduced. Others, 

 of perhaps equal expectation, have succeeded to their place. 

 And your Secretary is as thoroughly convinced now, as he was 

 prior to the advent of the Yellows, or to the lethal frost of A. 



* Mr. A. M. Purdy, of the Small Fruit Becorder. 



