248 



STEAWBEREIES. 



CONDUCTED BT JOSEPH FEOST. 



i STRAWBEEEIES. 



The season just past has been an unusually favor- 

 able one for tlie growing of strawberries. Moist, 

 cool weather after the blossoming, which continued 

 till the fruit perfected itself, produced berries of the 

 largest size; and the quantity has been greater than 

 in any former year. There has been a steady increase 

 in the cultivation of this fine fruit to supply the de- 

 mand; and we learn that considerable additions are 

 to be made to plantations this year, as it has proved 

 to be a profitable crop, and must continue to be so 

 iu the vicinity of cities and large towns. 



The increased attention which is given the cultiva- 

 tion of this fruit is evinced at our horticultural dis- 

 plays, particularly during the past two years, where 

 many fine specimens of the newer and best European 

 kinds have been exhibited upon the tables, as well as 

 American seedlings of considerable merit, which are 

 being produced annually. 



AVe have fruited upwards of forty varieties this 

 summer, though many of them are older sorts. To 

 some of them we have attached the results ol our 

 experience by frequent observation of our strawberry 

 beds. Among the new sorts we would notice more 

 particularly the following: McJlvoy's Superior, Gen- 

 esee, and Bicton Pine. 



McJlvoy's Superior received the SlOO prize from 

 the Ciuciunati Horticultural Society in 1851, as the 

 best strawberry. With us the berries would avei'age 

 larger in size than any other sort, not excepting 

 Hovel/ s Seedling, — rather irregular in figure, fine 

 flavor, and when fully ripe is of a dark red color. 

 The plant Is very vigorous, unusually productive, and 

 bears fine specimens throughout the entire strawberry 

 season. We would recommend the cultivation of 

 this sort as a profitable market variety. 



Genesee is a seedling produced by Ellwanger & 

 Bap.ry, of this city. It is oae of the handsomest 

 berries we are acquainted with. Its color is a bright 

 crimson-scarlet; it is large, rounded, with a neck; — 

 in fact, we have never seen a more beautiful dish 

 than one of this fruit. The plant is very vigorous 

 and is quite productive for a short time; but its good 

 bearing qualities do not last long. 



Bicton Pine is an English variety, and is highly 

 prized on account of its color, being white, with a 

 reddish tinge where exposed to the sun. The fruit 



is very large, roundish, fragrant, and of the finest 

 quality. This is quite difterent from another light- 

 colored sort, as it has been very productive and in 

 use a long time. 



McAvoy's JYo. 1 we can not say much about; but 

 his Extra Red promises to be valuable, as the fruit 

 is large, and the plants are very productive. 



Moyamensing is small and very unproductive, as 

 well as Burrs Columbus, Scarlet Melting, Walker's 

 Seedling, and If'illey, all of which are unfit for culti- 

 vation. 



Schneick's Pistillate, of considerable reputation in 

 Cincinnati, is a veiy strong grower, has but few ber- 

 ries, and these vary much in size — so much so, that 

 we think it worthless. 



Ohio Mammoth is very large, a great bearer, and 

 is in fruit a long time. 



Black Prince is one of the most productive and 

 handsome sorts, and is generally even in size, and 

 large. Its quality is inferior and can be considered 

 only second rate. It is cultivated much as a market 

 fruit, but when fully ripe the flesh is so tender that 

 it bruises badly in the picking and carriage, which 

 injures its appearance veiy much. 



Cushing is a most productive berry ; very large, 

 light orange-scarlet, with a bright, shiny appearance, 

 and we think that it ought to be cultivated much 

 more, as it is really one of the veiy best sorts. 



Burrs JYciv Pine is uniformly the highest and 

 best flavored strawberry we have. Its color is simi- 

 lar to the above, large size, and prolific. Its flesh is 

 quite tender, and its light color is an objection as a 

 market fruit, as its appearance is very much injured 

 in its carriage to market. 



Large Early Scarlet seems to be the heSi single 

 sort to grow for profit, as it ripens early, and is al- 

 ways a great Ijearer, though the berries are only from 

 medium to large size. 



Crimson Cone is also veiy valuable for market. 

 It does not ripen early, but on the contrary has the 

 largest crops of ripe fruit after others are gone. 



Some few members of the Fruit Growers Society 

 of Western New Tork met in this city and examined 

 the different varieties of strawberries, after which a 

 vote was taken for the best single variety, the best 

 three, and the best market sort. Out of eight votes 

 for the best sort. Burr's JVew Pine received three ; 

 Cushing, one; Jfalker's Seedling, one; Large Ear- 

 ly Scarlet, two ; Genesee, one. For the three best, 

 Burr's JVeip Pine had six votes; Walker's Seedling, 

 five; Genesee, three; Large Early Scarlet, three ; 

 Cushing, two; and Hoveys Seedling, Crimson Cone, 



