60 THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Hovey in sixteen, but double starred only in Massachusetts, the State 

 of its birth. Early Scarlet is recommended in ten States, and Victoria 

 in eight. Of those which had since attained a position on the Society's 

 list, the Triomph de Gand stands next to Wilson's Albany, being 

 recommended in fifteen States, and double starred in five of them. 



Passing on now down the current of time, over a lapse of six more 

 years, we look into the Eeport of the American Pomological Society 

 for 1877, which has just come to hand. With thirty varieties now on 

 the list, Wilson's Albany is still in advance, distancing every com- 

 petitor in the race. Of fifty States, Provinces and Territories yet 

 represented, this strawberry is recommended for cultivation in thirty- 

 six and in twenty-six of. them it receives the double star of great 

 superiority and value. These places extend from 28° to 49" north 

 latitude, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. We still find 

 our old friends, Boston Pine, Hovey, Early Scarlet, and Victoria on 

 the list. Boston Pine is now recommended in six States, Hovey in 

 seventeen, with the double star in Massachusetts only. Early Scarlet 

 in ten, and Victoria in seven. Triomph de Gand still holds i"ank 

 next to Wilson's Albany, being recommended in twenty -four States 

 and double starred in six of them, while next to that stands the 

 Charles Downing, recommended in twenty-three States and double 

 starred in six. 



The history of this strawberry teaches some interesting lessons. 

 Without puffing, nay, in spite of many hard speeches, with even the 

 note at the foot of the list, in the Report of the American Pomological 

 Society now before us that it is of "poor quality," this fruit has spread 

 in a quarter of a century over more than half a continent, and more 

 thousands of bushels of it are consumed every year than of any other 

 berry. How comes it that a fruit of "poor quality" should be so univer- 

 sally cultivated ? May it not be possible that our standards of excellence 

 need some revision ? It would be a long list indeed that should con- 

 tain the names of all the strawberries which have been brought out 

 with great flourish of trumpets, as -far better in quality and fully as 

 prolific as Wilson's Albany, that have had their day and passed into 

 oblivion. The verdict of the public is in favor of the Wilson ; it has 

 stood the test of time, and of great variety of soil and climate, and we 

 may as well accept that verdict, for it is doubtless correct. 



