262 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



Messrs. Pardee, Robinson, Waterbury, Meigs and Smith, spoke 

 of them. 



Mr. Meigs asked Mr. Pardee (who is deeply versed in the 

 theory and practice, as to this delicious fruit,) whether the world 

 ever had such berries as we now have, either naturally or artifi- 

 cially, by hybridation or otherwise. 



Mr. Pardee — Never until within a very few years past. 



Solon Robinson read the following letter from a strawberry 

 grower at Newark, which elicited considerable discussion and 

 information upon this interesting subject; interesting, because, as 

 we believe, the careful cultivation of the strawberry as a crop, 

 near this or any other city, a most profitable one. Referring to 

 the proceedings of a late meeting of the club, the letter says : 



"A suggestion is made by Mr. Pardee that Boyden-s Seedling is 

 not a new plant. He says, ' it is very like, if not really, a Long- 

 worth's Prolific' I was at Mr. Boy den's garden yesterday. The 

 plant bears a resemblance to Longworth's Prolific, but the fruit is 

 of a lighter color. It appeared to be an abundant bearer, and is 

 a hermaphrodite. No certain opinion can be formed of its bear- 

 ing character from the crop of one year. Mr. Pardee doubted its 

 being a good bearer, and a person who was at the meeting informs 

 me that Mr. Pardee stated such was the character of the Prolific. 

 I this morning saw at Mr. Gustin's what he obtained as the Pro- 

 lific, and McAvoy's Superior. Neither are genuine, and I pre- 

 sume Mr. Pardee has not seen the true Prolific. Here and at the 

 West it bears a full crop of large, perfect fruit, and it has the 

 peculiar character of having some pistillate blossoms, and is the 

 only hermaphrodite that I have ever seen that bears a full crop 

 of large, perfect fruit, and not only attends to his own wives but 

 all the females in his vicinity, and is the most valuable plant 

 known. Wilson's Albany Seedling, with me this season bore its 

 first crop. All the blossoms appeared to have the rare character 

 of being perfect in both male and female organs, and the fruit of 

 good size. The flavor of the fruit was its only fault. If it proves 

 of good flavor, it will, I believe, be valuable as a bearer and as an 

 impregnator, and stand next to the Prolific. McAvoy's Superior 



