10 



remains on the vines till perfect!} 7 ripe, and in its best condition. 

 But the average wild strawberry will be found as poor in quality 

 as it is inferior in size and appearance. Place the two on the 

 fruit-stand or table, side by side, and no one would hesitate 

 in making a selection. We now have plenty of varieties su- 

 perior in all respects to any obtainable without cultivation- 

 More fruit, of larger size, superior flavor, and of almost any 

 variety, can be grown on five square rods, rightly managed, 

 than can be found wild on any farm of ordinary size in the 

 country. A few rods devoted to this purpose will afford health, 

 satisfaction, and pleasure, and by enlarging the area from time 

 to time, as experience is acquired, ma} 7 , in many localities, be- 

 come a source of profit. Special knowledge and skill will be 

 useful in this business, as in any other, but the degree of skill 

 and knowledge required is no greater than for the successful 

 treatment of any farm crop. 



Who ever saw a wild strawberry that would equal in size the 

 smallest variety now under cultivation? Just take a ramble 

 over fields and pastures, where you formerly gathered the ber- 

 ries now remembered with so much pleasure, gathering and 

 testing the best fruit to be found, and it will prove to be almost 

 uniformly small, sour or insipid, arid worthless. Who ever 

 thinks of eating wild strawberries, that has the improved varie- 

 ties under cultivation? Children, even, will hardly stop to pick 

 such fruit, if growing directly in their path. The wild berries 

 are as abundant in their season as formerly, yet they are never 

 seen in market, and, if offered for sale, would be rejected at 

 once. Occasionally one has been found better than the rest, 

 and transferred to the garden, like Cutter's Seedling, and dis- 

 seminated more or less widely, but I know of no variety now 

 under cultivation that originated in that way. Yet, as birds 

 are scattering the seeds of the best sorts far and near every 

 year, the discovery of valuable seedlings in uncultivated locali- 

 ties would be no surprise, and the wide-awake fruit-grower is 

 always on the lookout for all such chance seedlings. 



TO THE NOVICE. 



To the inquiry, often made, us to where to locate in the small 

 fruit business, I would say in answer, as near to the people us 



