TIFE CANADIAN HORTICCLTUKIST. 



131 



interlacing even from row to row, and 

 they set a larger ci-op of fruit than I 

 ever saw before. Then a miserable fly 

 punctured the blossom stem about half- 

 an-iuch behind the blossom, at such a 

 rate that nearly half the blossoms 

 seeuied to be on the ground and I feared 

 for the loss of the crop : meanwhile 

 a severe drought had commenced, so 

 that by the time the berries began to 

 ri^ien no rain had fallen for about a 

 month, and yet they ripened up fine 

 large fruit during the remaining nearly 

 three weeks of that dry spell, yielding 

 me some 2,000 quarts from that quarter 

 acre. When I add that tlie land was 

 sandy loam, which the Bidwell is not 

 supposed to like, and that it had been 

 manured to only about half the extent 

 that I think a crop of strawberries de- 

 serves, I think I have established my 

 i-ight to prize this variety. 



It does not ripen evenlj^ showing a 

 white tip on many of the berries and 

 many of the largest sanqjles are defor- 

 med, but it is one of the largest of straw- 

 berries, the quality is excellent, it is 

 generally glossy and handsome, and 

 c.istomei's will even get to ask for ic by 

 t'le white tip when they get to know its 

 exct^lleuee. 



TJiK Manchester — is perhaps the most 

 popular of the newer market varieties. 

 In vigor of growth with me it closely 

 approaches the Bidwell and in produc- 

 tiveness it is probably not excelled by 

 any except the Crescent on sandy land, 

 while on clay loam I think it will bear 

 ni)re. The berry is remarkably large 

 and handsome, and exhibits a rich gloss 

 tliat IS remarkably attractive. 



It seems to be a little firmer than 

 Bidwell, but its value will chiefly be 

 found in a near market, and for such a 

 market I would rather have it than 

 any other variety I know, for its season 

 of ripening. It is medium to late, and 

 in conjunction with Crescent, which is 



very early, would probably give the | mak 



, greatest possible profit in strawberries 

 from saiidy land provided a good pollen 

 bearing sort be planted near, for its 

 blossoms are more decidely pistillate 

 than those of Crescent. I have seen it 

 doing exceedingly well on rather stiff 

 clay, in matted rows (doing well, that is, 

 for matted rows), so that I consider it 

 about the safest variety known for all 

 soils. I wish the color were deeper : in 

 a wet season many berries will appear 

 to be on the green side, but the people 

 will try them any way, and the flavor 

 which is really very good, will soon 

 widen the demand. 



Windsor Chief. — I think this is super- 

 seded by Manchester. It is no bigger, 

 not as firm, no more productive, and so 

 abominably sour ! Lots of people will 

 eat it, but it almost screws my mouth 

 up to see them do it. It is probably 

 hardier and somewhat later than Man- 

 ohe.stei', and so may be more reliable 

 for localities where strawberries often 

 get winter-killed, or the crop blasted by 

 a late frost. It certainly is immensely 

 })roductive ; but I, for one, am quite 

 ready to kick it out, in good strawberry 

 regions, to make room for Manchester. 



James Vick. — -I have not fully tested 

 this. It certainly is a fine vigorous 

 grower, ap|)ears very hardy, and is 

 astonishingly productive. I don't think 

 much of the quality, about like Crescent 

 or Wilson, but tliat does not make so 

 much dilTi'rence in a market berry, as 

 before intimated. It certainly is very 

 handsome, and api)ears to me rather 

 firmer than even Wilson. Is it large 

 enough to the last*? is the one remain- 

 ing question upon which I require to 

 be satisfied before setting it out for 

 market by wholesale. In the matted 

 row I think it likely to prove too small, 

 but with runners cut I expect con- 

 siderable things from what I have seen 

 of it. 



Skarpless. — -People seem bound to 

 make a market berry of this after all. 



