Notes and Ghanings. i5g 



The President Wilder Strawberry. — We copy the following from the 

 strawberry catalogue of Louis Ritz of Plainville, O. ; and would like to ask Mr. 

 Ritz if he has seen and carefully examined the fruit of the (American) President 

 Wilder Strawberry. If he has not, we should like to liave him give us his au- 

 thority for the statement his catalogue sets forth, — a statement entirely at vari- 

 ance with the opinion of those pomologists who for the past three years have 

 had ample opportunity for examining the fruit of the President Wilder. 



" President Wilder (new Wilder). Brilliant crimson-scarlet ; flesh rosy-white ; 

 very juicy, only firm enough for n near market ; plant hardy and vigorous ; very 

 prolific." 



The Italics in the above are our own ; and, until the matter is explained, we 

 shall continue to think that Mr. Ritz has drawn largely upon his imagination. 



Strawberries at Palmyra, N.Y. — The following notes on several of the 

 most noted sorts, made at Purdy & Johnston's extensive fruit-farm, will per- 

 haps interest our strawberry-readers, as giving the results of tiie experiments, 

 mostly on a large scale, made at this place. 



Wilson. — Under the best management, and with hill-culture, will average 

 about two hundred bushels per acre, the runners being cut off during the grow- 

 ing season as often as once a fortnight : it is done with shears. Cultivated in 

 strips, or according to the matted-row system, the product is nearly the same ; 

 but the berries are smaller, are sooner gone, and sell for a lower price in market, 

 so that the value of the crop is only two-thirds that obtained from the hills. 



Colfax. — This sort presents an extraordinary appearance as seen in the row, 

 and was conspicuously observed a long distance off in the field. The plants, 

 set fifteen inches apart, are so large, that the row somewhat resembles a hedge. 

 The average height measured seventeen inches, and the width about two and a 

 fourth to two and a half feet. The berries, which were yet green, were in pro- 

 fuse masses ; seven hundred having in one instance been counted on one hill. 

 The proprietors think it will yield at least double the Wilson, in which they are 

 doubtless correct. It is not claimed as a market sort ; the berries being only 

 medium in size, quite soft, and of moderate flavor. Unless fully ripe, they are 

 quite acid. This is called the "lazy man's sort," as it grows vigorously under 

 neglected treatment. It is pistillate in appearance, but is found to have anthers 

 enough for self-fertilization. It has been in cultivation twelve years. 



Feak^s Efnperor, originated by EUwood Peak of South Bend, Ind., is a cross 

 of the Wilson and Hovey, the seed having been obtained from the berries of 

 the latter. It resembles the Wilson in appearance, but is much larger; while in 

 flavor it more nearly approaches the Hovey. It has been tried three years, and 

 yields about two-thirds as much as the Wilson. 



French. — This is large and handsome, bright red, regular, round, with a 

 moderate but very pleasant flavor. It is a staminate, and quite productive. On 

 very rich soil its growth is too rank, and it does not bear so well. The large 

 green rows showed the vigor of its character. 



Ida, a variety recommended by T. Meehan of "The Gardener's Monthly," 

 is, next to the Colfax, the largest grower on the grounds ; the average height 



VOL. VI. 



