1877.] ESSAY ON THE STRAWBERRY 



he seldom obtained more than two or three varieties, out of several thou- 

 sand seedlings, that were worthy of being propagated. It is said the late 

 Seth Boyden raised some twelve or fifteen thousand seedlings, conduct- 

 ing many of his experiments on strictly scientific principles, crossing 

 varieties, guarding against accidents from the elements and insects by 

 protecting his propagating plants during the blossoming season, but from 

 this lai'ge number we seldom hear of any except the " Agriculturist," 

 "Green Prolific," and " Boyden's No. 30"; and even this last has 

 recently been greatly improved and is now known as " Boyden's No. 30 

 Improved.''^ 



Although I have grown strawberries in Minnesota, New Jersey and 

 Massachusetts, yet my experience is comparatively limited; and in this 

 paper I can only attempt to touch upon a few of the more important 

 requisites for the successful cultivation of the strawberry. 



The best soil is a deep light loam, not too dry, which should be pre" 

 pared in the fall by deep ploughing (and if not too stony the sub-soil 

 plough should be used), putting on all the well rotted manure you can 

 make or buy — being careful to first see that it is thoroughly pulverized by 

 being worked over at least two or three times — and then applied so as to 

 leave it as near the surface as possible, but well mixed with the soil. 

 Leave the ground in the fall in rough furrows, and at the earliest practi- 

 cal moment in the spring cross plough with a light one-horse plougl;. In 

 this condition leave it until the day you are ready to set your plants. 



And now comes the question, " What kinds shall I plant," and '■'■where 

 shall I procure genuine plants strictly true to name? " 



In answering this question I shall name only a few kinds and such as I 

 have quite thoroughly tested and consider best adapted to the soil and 

 climate of this neighborhood. I shall also name them in the order in 

 which my own experience, as a grower, has proved them to be valuable, 

 both for family use and the market, — Charles Downing, Jucunda and 

 Wilson's Albany. 



These are all hermaphrodite, having perfect blossoms. 



The "Charles Downing" is a seedling from the Downer's Prolific, 

 which originated with Mr. Downer in, Southern Kentucky. It is ex- 

 tremely hardy, ripens early, is of excellent flavor, and a great bearer. 



The " Jucunda " I believe to be the handsomest and most attractive 

 strawberry yet produced. It is uniformly large, of beautiful scarlet waxen 

 color, and nearly every blo?som forms fruit. It has a very long season. 

 One year I gathered fruit from the same vines for six weeks in succes- 

 sion. The plants of this variety, however, make a very slow growth the 

 first season after planting. 



The " Wilson's Albany " needs no description. To those who have 



