8g transactions of the a:\ieriran institute. 



Varieties of Stuaavberries. 



Mr. Ciirpcntcr said: As tlie sca.son is apiuoacliiii^ wlieii people will bopfin 

 to think of makiiip^ new strawberry beds, would it not be well tor us at this 

 time to express some opinion as to the best varieties ? I do not wisli to 

 dictate, b«t as I have had experience with ni(Me than a hundred sorts, and 

 have fruited fifty or sixty sorts this year, I can express my preference, 

 which those who have not had experience may take for what it is wortii. 

 Amony all those that I have {^rown this year, of the varieties which can be 

 obtained by the public, I must rank the Ixussell first. It has improved with 

 me for three years, and is now more prolific even than the Wilson, and less 

 acid, which is a very important matter when su^^ar is 22 cents per pound. 

 The Wilson has qualities for the million and must not be discarded. The 

 Brooklyn Scarlet, one (jf the Trihioie prize strawberries, I take as a model 

 of perfection of qnalit}'. It is beautiful in color and form, not as prolific 

 as the Iiussell or Wilson, but has qualities which will always make it a 

 favorite. The Monitor is of good quality, large size and prolific. These 

 two arc perfectly hardy. Tiie Monitor may somewhat lack vip^or in some 

 localities. The Colonel Ellsworth, I fear, has a taint of foreijj^n blood, which 

 makes the plants tender and liable to fail in fruiting-. It is but simple jus- 

 tice to the Tribune Association that we should say, and place it upon 

 record among our transactions, that in sending out these plants more has 

 been done to induce people to plant strawberries than in all that had here- 

 tofore been said and written In the Buffalo seedling 1 am disa])p(iin{ed. 

 I shall not continue its cultivation. I may say the same of Kobinson'.s 

 seedling, a sort sent out by Dr. Grant. It is one of the most remarkable 

 rank growing plants, with long leaf and fruit stalks, but a shy bearer, and 

 the fruit not first rate. Frencii's seedling is promising. The Austin con- 

 tinues to give goo 1 satisfaction, is prolific, and the fruit sells at a high 

 price, and is largely grown by some as a market berry. I procured last 

 year one of Mr. Boyden's new seedling, now called the Agriculturi.st. It 

 is certaiidy a very remarkable sort. I have n«itliing to c<impar(; with it. 

 Plants which grew from runners last summer, and were set in place in 

 October, formed stools which produced this year 220, 240, 2t)4 perfect ber- 

 ries upon each. Some of tiicm were over six inches around. It is true that 

 all new varieties should have mon; than (Uie year's trial before they are 

 recommended to the public. The fruit of this sort is good, though imt the 

 best. May we not hi)|)e that experiments will b(' continued in pro<lucing 

 seedlings until we sliall get a strawberry as sweet, high flavored and 

 aromatic as the Brooklyn Scarlet, and as large, hardy and pndific as tlie 

 Agriculturist. We could not then ask any further improvement. 



Food of Bir'js. 



The Cliairinai: — I have four cat-birds which make their nests near my 

 trarden. J liave lately oliserved these birds very busy among the cucum- 

 ber vine';. They apparently looked under every leaf for a worm. Tlio 

 leaves upon .ny cherry tree are curled, inclosing green v.-ortns. Tin; mar- 

 tins are continually flying back and forth between ihcir boxes atid these 

 trees, where they tipcn the leaves, pick out the worms, and fly with them 

 to their young. 



