70 Strawba-ries in 1868. 



STRAWBERRIES IN 1868. 



I OFFER a word or two in regard to varieties of strawlDerries I have 

 fruited myself, or tested in my friends' gardens, this season. Wet and cold 

 weather in May retarded the ripening of the crop, and, I think, affected the 

 flavor of many kinds. All the very large berries I have examined Ihis 

 year have been even more deficient in high flavor than the large kinds 

 usually are ; the fruit of the Agriculturist, for example, being nearly worth- 

 less. 



On the other hand, the wet weather swelled some of the foreign berries 

 to an enormous size, to the gratification of many an amateur who has longed 

 for berries that should weigh twelve or fourteen to the pound. 



I have noticed this year an interesting fact illustrating the ease with 

 which a strong-growing strawberry will conquer a weaker variety, and kill 

 it out. 



I have a bed of about twelve rows of plants, the outside rows being 

 Downer's Prolific and French's Early ; and these two kinds have in two 

 j'ears usurped the greater part of the bed, entirely killing out an interme- 

 diate row of Triomphe de Gand, and half smothering rows of Jenny Lind 

 and Boston Pine. 



In the struggle for existence. Downer's Prolific will be pretty sure to get 

 the upper hand. 



Agriculturist. — The reputation of this famous berry seems to have gone 

 up like a rocket, and come down like the stick. Every one in this vicinity, 

 so far I can learn, is discarding it. My vines have borne a small crop of 

 wretched fruit ; even the one-year-old beds giving much poorer fruit than 

 in 1866 or 1867. 



Alpine. — A bed of Red Alpines, raised from seed two years ago, has 

 come into tolerable bearing this season. I think that they hardly pay for 

 the ground they occupy. 



Bijou. — A small crop of very fair medium to large berries, about as 

 good as usual. 



Brooklyn Scarlet. — This, which I used to think one of the best flavored 

 and handsomest berries grown, has shown a falling-off on three-year-old 



