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price, and it is a matter of interest for him to " unload " as soon 

 as possible. It is not strange that the description of such a 

 fruit, coming from a person deeply interested in its sale some- 

 times unscrupulous often turns out to be high-colored, fabu- 

 lous, or a downright, bold-faced lie. I want to strike out of the 

 last sentence all after the word " be," and insert in place thereof 

 the words " too highly praised." The description by the origi- 

 nator is often so extravagant as to be amusing. Here is a spec- 

 imen : " The Jersey Queen. The largest and most luxuriant 

 plant we have ever seen ; appearing to thrive under any and all 

 circumstances ; easily grown, making vigorous runners, never 

 burning or blighting its foliage, invariably bearing the largest 

 fruit, of fine form and first quality ; coloring evenly, and per- 

 fectly brilliant and beautiful ; fine in texture, solid and firm, yet 

 melting, high-flavored and luscious. The very best of all to 

 carry and keep. The crop under high culture, in both quantity 

 and quality, and under neglect and abuse, has astonished every 

 one acquainted with its performance. With the terrible drouth 

 prevailing, it neither faltered or failed in any respect, but ap- 

 peared as thriving and luxuriant as in more favorable seasons. 

 The most trying circumstances do not seem to affect it, as under 

 the action of the severe frost of 1878, in the most exposed sit- 

 uation, when every other in its vicinity was nearly destroyed, it 

 seemed but slightly affected, as it bore the largest and finest 

 crop ever seen upon our grounds." I have here given only 

 about half of what the originator has to say in praise of the 

 Jersey Queen, yet enough to show that, if true, it is far superior 

 to any other variety ever offered to the public. The only reason 

 why this variety has not driven all others out of cultivation is, 

 that there are a score of other kinds just as highly praised. 



But there is an honest difference of opinion as to the merits 

 of varieties, that is entitled to greater respect. Soils, locations, 

 fertilizers, and other conditions, have an important influence on 

 the quality of all fruits. Vintners in all wine-making countries 

 find that there is a great difference in the quality of wine made 

 from the same variety of grapes grown in vineyards only slightly 

 remote from each other. This difference cannot be accounted 

 for by the vine-grower. It may be the result of a combination 

 of circumstances apparently so trifling that no one of them 



