JUNE. 287 



good market qualities of strawberries are concerned at the present time, is 

 that tliere is no rival to Hovey's Seedling-, it being, in their opinion, more 

 popular with our gardeners who supply Cincinnati than any other kind — at 

 the same time they hesitate not to say that Hovey's Seedling is not equal 

 to McAvoy's Superior in flavor. S. S. Jackson, 



Edward J. Hooper, 



M. McWiLLIAMS, 



R. O. Reily. 

 MINORITY REPORT. 



To the President and Members of the Cincinnati Hort. Soc. : 



The Fruit Committee, to whom was referred the communications of 

 Messrs. A. H. Ernst and William Orange, calling the attention of the soci- 

 ety to an article in the Times of this city, over the signature of William 

 Stoms, in reply to a communication of N. Longworth, Esq., in the same pa- 

 per, on the subject of strawberries, having met at the office of Mr. Robert 

 Reily, and after careful investigation, being unable to agree in their decis- 

 ions, and the majority having made their report containing views contrary 

 to the opinions of the minority, and, as he verily believes, in direct opposi- 

 tion to the settled convictions of the majority of this society. The minority 

 also believes the majority have omitted to notice some of the most important 

 items contained in the communications referred to them, and, therefore, 

 begs leave to offer this minority report. The minority is not unconscious 

 of the very delicate and critical task imposed upon the committee, and feel 

 well apprized of the utter impossibility of reporting upon the merits of the 

 question at issue to the satisfaction of the disagreeing parties. But as a 

 correct public sentiment upon matters coming within our province is of par- 

 amount consideration to us as a committee — to this society, vvhich is the 

 sun of a horticultural system, shedding its rays of light with the vividness 

 and impartiality of the great orb of day — the oracle from whence issues 

 precepts that become the ruling principle of thousands, whose eyes and ears 

 are anxiously directed toward us for information upon every point directly 

 or indirectly connected with the production, dissemination or condemnation 

 of the respective fruits that come before us for investigation and report. 



The minority of this committee would therefore beg your careful atten- 

 tion to a portion of the testimony which has influenced him in arriving at 

 the conclusion to be found in this report. The gentlemen whose names are 

 introduced are eminent for their skill as cultivators, or their enthusiasm in 

 promoting the science of horticulture; and most of whom have had abundant 

 opportunity to test the fruits under consideration, and their adaptation to a 

 variety of soil, situation and climatic influences, as well as their claims upon 

 an appreciating public for general favor. 



TESTIMONY. 



In the printed transactions of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, vol. 1, 

 we find a letter from N. Longworth, Esq., in which he states : " Hovey's 

 Seedling stands unrivalled with us for size, but we have other varieties of 

 nearly equal size, as good bearers, and of finer flavor. But we would highly 

 recommend it (Hovey's Seedling) to all cultivators, whether for family use 



