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Leading" Varieties of Strawberries in California. 



In the Sacramento region the variety that is most extensively cultivated is the 

 Triomphe de Gand. In all probability this is the most superior shipping variety of. straw- 

 berry that is cultivated. It is shipped by the carload from the Sacramento Valley to New 

 York, Chicago and many other distant markets. The Triomphe de Gand is a very vigorous 

 grower, of a large size, and a very beautiful red color, and of a splendid flavor. It 

 is very productive. 



The Jessie Strawberry, which is in many places pronounced a fraud and swindle, is a 

 grand success here and is very extensively planted. It is not noted for shipping qualities, 

 but its flavor is the best. 



Another grand variety, which is at present little known, is the Australian Everbearing 

 or Crimson Strawberry. This wonderful variety was introduced from Australia, eight 

 years ago, by E. J. Baldwin. It is now very extensively cultivated in the San Gabriel 

 Valley in Southern California. It is undoubtedly the earliest strawberry in cultivation, 

 and the most profitable everbearing strawberry cultivated. In Southern California 

 it is never without fruit. The berries are of a large size, resembling the Monarch 

 of the West in shape, they are of an exceedingly beautiful crimson in color, are 

 very firm and deliciously flavored ; this variety is a remarkable shipper, and is shipped 

 in vast quantities from Los Angeles to all parts' of the country. The strawberry growers 

 of Los Angeles County realize immense profits from this variety, the present season twenty- 

 five cents per lb., clear of all expenses. The Australian Everbearing will yield two good 

 crops the same season that the plants are set out ; the first crop of fruit will not be large 

 in size, but as the plants get more firmly established the fruit will increase in size. In the 

 winter, and late in the fall, the fruit is white on the underside, of course this is caused by 

 the temperature of the weather. 



Cloud's Seedling is a splendid shipping variety and does well on the Pacific coast. 



The Oregon Everbearing also gives very good results and should be more extensively 

 cultivated. 



The California Everbearing is a very superior variety in all respects, the plants are of 

 the very largest size, as is also the blossom, which is perfect. The fruit is of an immense 

 size, of a beautiful glowing red color, very firm, and possessed of a rich, sweet, delicious 

 flavor ; this variety is exceedingly productive, and yields its immense fruits until killed by 

 frosts. 



The Honey Strawberry, or Red Alpine, is another wondrously productive variety ; the 

 fruit is of small to medium size, very highly colored* a glowing crimson, and possessed of 

 a delightful fragrance, and a spicy aromatic flavor, which makes it an unrivalled variety 

 for table use. 



This variety is ever-bearing, and in favorable climates, will bear fruit all season long- 



S. L. Watkins, "Jjj 



Grizzly Flats, El Dorado Co, California. 



The Plants. 



Sir, — Many thanks for Alfred Colomb rose kindly sent me, which I have planted in a 

 pot in meantime. The blue spruce and strawberry plants you sent me in spring I gave to 

 Mr. William Rose of this place, as I have no ground here of my own ; he reports them doing 

 well. Apples and plums about here promise fairly. Wild small fruits are abundant. 



Wm. H. Wylie, Marmora. 



Sir, — I ought sooner to have acknowledged your kindness in sending the plant I 

 requested, with the addition of two fine strawberry plants. All came in good order, and 

 are growing well. I heartily thank you for your prompt and generous favors. 



Francis Coleman, Hamilton, Ont. 



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