1 86 MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 



Hovey, as well as other writers, claimed that 

 Keen's berries, although on the market list, 

 did not thrive well In the United States. 

 Hovey wrote in 1837 that "as yet the plants 

 of nearly all the kinds In cultivation have 

 been Introduced from the English gardens, 

 and are not suited to the severity of our 

 climate." 



Mr. Hovey, who was a very shrewd man 

 and a practical breeder of rare ability, 

 decided to produce a berry that would be 

 satisfactory in our climate. He selected 

 parents which showed the best adaptation 

 to American conditions, and which repre- 

 sented his distinct high ideals. 



By crossing two Pines, Keen's Seedling 

 and Mulberry, also Melon, which was 

 undoubtedly a Pine, and Methven Scarlet, 

 a variety of the Virginian, he was able to 

 obtain two varieties, which he named Hovey 

 and Boston Pine. Mr. Hovey lost his labels 

 on these crosses, and it is not positive just 

 which crosses gave these varieties. However, 

 he was always quite certain that the Hovey 

 was the result of Mulberry crossed by Keen's 

 Seedling. 



This Hovey strawberry was an epoch 



