THE STRAWBERKY. 



Bead before the Society, February 22, A. D. 1877. 



BY WILLIAM H. EARLE. 



The cultivation of the Strawberry is a subject of increasing impor- 

 tance to all persons interested in the growing of small fruits, especially 

 in the vicinity of large cities and manufacturing villages. 



In my boyhood days in the quiet country town of Hubbardston, on my 

 father's farm, which by the way was adjoining the farm where still stands 

 the original apple tree, nearly a half mile from any human habitation, 

 from which sprang the delicious fruit now known all over the continent 

 as the " Hubbardston Nonesuch," — on this same farm I have often gath- 

 ered a pailful of native strawberries in an afternoon; but cannot remem- 

 ber ever having seen, in that town, a single dish of cultivated strawber- 

 ries before I was fifteen years of age; in fact, for some years after, the 

 growing of a family supply even was considered doubtful, and the idea 

 of selling cultivated fruit for profit was seldom entertained. Now, per- 

 haps, there is no fruit grown that finds a readier market or affords the 

 grower a better profit. 



The interest manifested within the past few years in growing straw- 

 berries is most encouraging, and shows how earnestly the people desire 

 to raise their own fruit. And this is right, for fruit long since ceased to 

 be looked upon as a mere luxury for the few and fortunate, and has come 

 to be regarded as an essential article of healthful food. I know of no 

 other fruit that thrives and flourishes over so large a portion of the earth's 

 surface as the strawberry. It is adapted to almost all kinds of soil, and 

 with intelligent treatment will bring the grower ample remuneration for 

 his labor and outlay. 



More than 400 varieties have been under cultivation in this country 

 within the last twenty years. To produce these 400 varieties many hun- 

 dred thousand seedlings have been raised. I was told last summer by 

 Mr. Durand, the originator of the " Great American " Strawberry, that 



