160 THE HOME ACRE. 



species were the possibilities of the best success. 

 The Chili strawberry, brought directly from the 

 Pacific coast to the East, is not at home in our 

 climate, and is still more unfitted to contend with 

 it after generations of culture in Europe. Even 

 our hardier Virginia strawberry, coming back to 

 us from England after many years of high stimu- 

 lation in a moist, mild climate, is unequal to the 

 harsher conditions of life here. They are like 

 native Americans who have lived and been pam- 

 pered abroad so long that they find this country 

 " quite too rude, you know beastly climate." 

 Therefore, in the choice varieties, and in develop- 

 ing new ones, the nearer we can keep to vigorous 

 strains of our own hardy Virginia species the 

 better. From it have proceeded and will continue 

 to come the finest kinds that can be grown east 

 of the Rockies. Nevertheless, what was said of 

 foreign raspberries is almost equally true of Eu- 

 ropean strawberries like the Triomphe de Gand 

 and Jucunda, and hybrids like the Wilder. In 

 localities where they can be grown, their beauty 

 and fine flavor repay for the high culture and 

 careful winter protection required. But they can 

 scarcely be made to thrive on light soils or very 

 far to the south. 



So many varieties are offered for sale that the 

 question of choice is a bewildering one. I have 



