216 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Sept* 



HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT, 



EDITED BY P. BARRY. 



Skvkral communications, and answers to corres- 

 pondents, intended for this department, are necessarily 

 deferred until next month. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



The interest felt at the present moment in the 

 cultivation of this fruit is greater than it has ever 

 been before. Evidences of this are to be found in 

 the multitude of inquiries daily made with regard to 

 the merits of particular sorts, as well as in the great 

 demand that exists for plants of such as prove to be 

 Jirst rate. Soils, seasons, climates, fee, have great 

 effect upon the quality and productiveness of all sorts 

 of fruit, and the strawberry in particular; hence, we 

 find the most opposite and contradictory statements 

 and opinions, from respectable and reliable sources, 

 respecting the merits of certain varieties. Besides 

 the influences we have already alluded to, individual 

 tastes and partialities, and, we may add, prejudices, 

 contribute, in no small degree, to these differences 

 of opinion. On the whole, it appears to us, that 

 cultivators are just about as much united on the 

 question of the individual merit of varieties, as they- 

 were, for a long time, on the sexval question, which, 

 fortunately, seems now to be pretty well determined. 

 For instance: if a person, whom we will suppose 

 entirely ignorant of the merits of varieties, wishes 

 to make a selection, and will turn to the horticultural 

 journals, and the proceedings of societies, he will 

 find that, at Boston, Mr. Hovev maintains that his 

 seedlings, the "Hovey's Seedling" and the "Boston 

 .Pine," are superior to any others. From Cincinnati, 

 the President of the Horticultural Society says: — 

 "Our old Hudson still stands unrivaled. Mr. Elliot, 

 of Cleveland, Ohio, says: "I regard the variety known 

 as the 'Willey' superior in all respects for general 

 cultivation." Mr. Downixg has expressed his par- 

 tiality for the Black Prince. At Albany, the first 

 premium was awarded, at the late exhibitions, to 

 Burr's JYeiv Pine, it being pronounced the best 

 exhibited, all its good qualities considered. At 

 Rochester, nearly all the varieties of any note have 

 been tested; and, if we understand correctly the 

 opinion of cultivators, it is that Burr's JYew Pine is 

 the best strawberry, — being hardy, productive, good 

 size, and fine flavored. Hovey's Seedling is a 

 splendid, large fruit; and when a dish of them is 

 presented, picked specimens, they usually carry off 

 the premium; but this is by no means a test of the 

 real value of a variety for general cultivation. In 

 1848, at the exhibition in Rochester, the premium 

 was awarded to Hovey's Seedling, as being the best 

 quart, — but there were other varieties, such as 

 Jiurr's JYew Pine, Black Prince, and Swainslone 

 Seedling, higher flavored and finer in quality than 

 Hovey's: lint there was not a quart of any of them, 

 and therefore they were excluded. At the late exhi- 

 bition, the first and second premiums for the best 

 dishes were awarded to Hovey's Seedling. Dr. 

 Bayne, of Alexandria. I). C, an extensive cultivator, 

 writes in the last number of Hovey's Magazine, thai 

 "Hovey's Seedling stands yet unrivaled." 



The cultivators of this place, who are capable of 

 judging, and have tested all the leading sorts, side 



by side, under the same culture and management and 

 on the same soil, agree in pronouncing the Large 

 Early Scarlet as the most profitable under all the 

 circumstances for market purposes. It is very hardy, 

 always bears a large crop, and, though not first rate 

 in quality, finds ready sale. Burr's JYew Pint- is as 

 large, nearly as productive, and far superior in flavor. 

 The Rival Hudson (Burr's,) is hardy and prolific, 

 firm, and excellent for preserving. Mr. Warner, 

 of this place, pronounces it a most valuable variety. 

 We think it would be of great service to cultivators 

 if horticultural committees would examine straw- 

 berries in the beds, and, before awarding premiums, 

 consider all their properties. 



For small collections, we cannot err in recom- 

 mending Burr's New Pine, Boston Pine, Hovey's 

 Seedling, Large Early Scarlet, Rival Hudson, and 

 Bishop's Orange. A few of the Monthly Alpines 

 might be added: for a smaller collection, we would 

 recommend Burr's JYew Pine, Large Early Scarlet 

 and Hovey's Seedling. The Scarlet should be mixed 

 with the others to impregnate them. It must be 

 remembered, however, that whatever kinds be culti- 

 vated, they must have rich, deep and mellow soil. 

 The long continued drouth we have had here has 

 prevented the growth of young plants, and rendered 

 planting up to this time impossible. Recent rains, 

 however, have brought both plants and soil to a 

 proper state, and all through this month beds may be 

 made — later, we w r ould not advise. For directions 

 in detail, we can now only refer to past volumes of 

 the Farmer, or to other works that may be at hand. 



LATE CHERRIES. 



We are inclined to pronounce the Belle JMagnifique 

 the best among late Cherries. We had it this year 

 in perfection from the 1st to the 15th of August. 

 Fruit large, almost round, slightly heart-shaped, 

 dark red, tender, juicy, and rich sub-acid. We have 

 had it bear the second year from bud on Mahaleb 

 stock. The tree is of slow growth, like the May 

 Duke, or even more so. 



Carnation, ripe last of July, and first of August: 

 a beautiful and excellent Cherry; slightly ncid, (less 

 so than Belle Magnifique.) It seems to be the con- 

 necting link between the sweet and acid varieties. 

 It is well adapted for dwarfing on the Mahaleb stock. 



Tradescant's Black, or Elkhorn, is a superb fruit, 

 quite as large as the Black Tartarian, but a month 

 later — ripening about the 1st of August. 



Gridley is a very valuable cherry, in our opinion, 

 being an immense bearer, and the fruit is very hard 

 and fine for market. It is called the Apple Cherry 

 at the east. The fruit is rich, having just acid 

 enough to give sprightliness. The tree is a rapid, 

 free grower; ripe after Doivner's Ljatc, latter part of 

 July. ____________ 



The Frhit and Garden Crops. — In this region 

 the crop of apples, pears and peaches, is smaller, we 

 think, than we have known it in ten years — owing 

 to the long continuance of cold and wet weather af- 

 ter the fruit had set. Plums are unusually plentiful, 

 as far as we have seen, and apricots have been the 

 same. Garden vegetables and flowers have suffered 

 from a drouth which prevailed through much of June, 

 all of July, and part of August. Trees transplanted 

 last, spring have suffered severely. Many that had 

 made six inches and upwards of growth, iiave died olf. 



