loo Success with Small Fruits. 



Wilsons is simply marvelous. On a dry hill-side close by, the crop from 

 the same variety may not pay for picking. Plantations of Wilsons should 

 be renewed every two years, since the plant speedily exhausts itself, pro- 

 ducing smaller berries with each successive season. The Wilson is perhaps 

 the best berry for preserving, since it is hard and its acid is rich and not 

 watery. 



A rival of the Wilson has appeared within the last few years, the 

 Crescent Seedling, also an early berry, originated by Mr. Parmalee, of 

 New Haven, Conn. At first, it received unbounded praise ; now, it gets 

 too much censure. It is a very distinct and remarkable variety, and, 

 like the Wilson, I think, will fill an important place in strawberry culture. 

 Its average size does not much exceed that of the Wilson ; its flavor, 

 when fully ripe, is about equal in the estimation of those who do not 

 like acid fruit. In productiveness, on many soils, it will far exceed any 

 variety with which I am acquainted. It is just this capacity for growing 

 on thin, poor soils anywhere and under any circumstances that gives 

 to it its chief value. In hardiness and vitality, it is almost equal to the 

 Canada thistle. The young plants are small, and the foliage is slender 

 and delicate ; but they have the power to live and multiply beyond that 

 of any other variety I have seen. It thrives under the suns of Georgia 

 and Florida, and cares naught for the cold of Canada ; it practically 

 extends the domain of the strawberry over the continent, and renders 

 the laziest man in the land, who has no strawberries, without excuse. 

 The cut, showing one foot of the row in my specimen-bed, indicates 

 its productiveness. One of my beds yielded at the rate of 346 bushels 

 to the acre, and the bright, handsome scarlet of the berries caused 

 them to sell for as much in the open market as varieties of far better 

 flavor. It is too soft for long carriage by rail. Those to whom flavor 

 and large size are the chief considerations will not plant it, but those who 

 have a near and not very fastidious market, that simply demands quantity 

 and fine appearance, will grow it both largely and profitably. The 

 stamens of the Crescent are so imperfectly developed that every tenth 

 row in the field should be Wilsons, or some other early and perfect- 

 flowered variety. 



In the Champion, we have a late market berry that is steadily growing 

 in favor. On rich, moist land it is almost as productive as the Crescent. 

 The fruit averages much larger than the Wilson, while its rich crimson 

 color makes it very attractive in the baskets. The berries, like the two 

 kinds already named, turn red before they are ripe, and in this immature 

 condition their flavor is very poor, but when fully ripe they are excellent. 



