eight] strawberries AND THEIR KIN 



Bubach and Clyde, constitute a quintette that can 

 be relied upon ; add, probably, Senator Dunlap. 



A good deal has been done recently to secure very 

 early and very late sorts of strawberries. Nothing 

 better than Gandy has been secured for very late; 

 and for very early it is doubtful whether we have 

 secured anything better than Michel's Early. 

 Johnson's Early seems to be winning its way among 

 good judges. In my own ground I rely upon my 

 own seedlings, one of which, number 9, ripens close 

 after Michel, and continues to bear nearly through 

 the season. Excelsior is early, but useless on ac- 

 count of acidity. Texas is a very early sort which 

 may prove to be of extraordinary value. Palmer, 

 I fear, is a failure; I certainly get no fruit from it 

 worth the ground it grows on. 



I recommend that you begin your small-fruit 

 garden with a rather free planting of red raspberries, 

 as these will be more easily grown than strawberries, 

 giving you prompt returns, and can be relied upon 

 for steady revenue. A field of red raspberries, 

 properly cultivated, is good for ten years; I have 

 continued a field for sixteen years. I do not advise 

 the retention of old plants beyond ten or twelve 

 years. The plants should be set in thoroughly clean 



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