PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 91 



of the Triompho de Gaud strawberry that it is devoid of sweetness and 

 perfume, which are the characteristics of the other varieties of the pine 

 family, and ranks so low in Europe that it is only found upon two cata- 

 log-ues; and it is entirely rejected in Belgium, where it is said to have ori- 

 ginated. It cannot be rated among the prolific varieties, because it won't 

 bear a third crop — none of the fine varieties of the strawberry will, though 

 cultivated for their high flavor, which is a characteristic of many European 

 sorts. I have tried them all, and have now some 250 varieties g^rowina: — 

 forty of tliem new, and some of the highest flavored ever grown. To prove 

 it, I invite every one to come and see them and taste, and prove my asser- 

 tion. There are six North American, two South American, and six European 

 classes of strawberries, some of which are to be found growing all the way 

 iVom 17° south to 64" north, embracing the torrid, temperate and almost 

 a frozen region. The Chilian strawberry was introduced into Europe in 

 1712. All the North American varieties are hermaphrodite and pistillate. 

 We have no native male variety, and all pistillates are superior to stami- 

 nates or hermaphrodites for production, if properly fertilized by male plants 

 set near them. This is the case with Hovey's seedling. We have not yet 

 obtained great size and high flavor in any one berry of the Virginian 

 family, but that they are usually combined in the Pine family. Many of 

 the European strawberries are remarkable for their high flavor, but some 

 of them are so for size and flavor combined. The Triomphe de Gand is a 

 European variety of large size, but it lacks quality. As to productiveness, 

 it is impossible for a hermaphrodite plant to be as productive as a pistil- 

 late, fertilized by independent plants. The Hovey, with a fertilizer bloom- 

 ing at the same period as itself, is verj"- productive, but it is not by any 

 means the most so, as many varieties produce much larger crops; and, as 

 a rule, all pistillates are the most productive. Downer's prolific is a pistil- 

 late, and so are mostly all prolific sorts. I have a true pistillate, the Dia- 

 dem, that is more productive than the Wilson. 



Mr. Andrew S. Fuller. — This is a pretty strong assertion, and contrary to 

 the opinion of all but Mr. Prince, and a very few who adhere to the pistil- 

 late variety. I have fruited a thousand sorts, and never have found a pis- 

 tillate worth cultivating. I have tried all of Mr. Prince's sorts, and have 

 never found one so good to produce as Wilson's, Downer's or Triomphe de 

 Gand. The pistillate flower is not natural; it is a deformity, so far as 

 science is concerned, like all double flowers. 



Mr. Prince argued at great length in favor of his pistillate theory, con- 

 tending that the objection all arises from carelessness in cultivation, in 

 allowing the male plants to overwhelm the bearing plants. Among other 

 objections to the Wilson strawberry, he said that it must be cultivated as 

 an annual; it never produces a crop the second year from the same plants. 



Mr. .John G. Bergen. — This theory of Mr. Prince is not borne out by facts, 

 for it is well known that the Wilson is the greatest bearer ever cultivated. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — The Club has just tasted of some of Wilson's straw- 

 berries, grown upon my vines set three years ago last spring. They speak 

 for tliemsclves as to size and quality; they are, at least, not small; many 

 of them are an inch and a half in diameter, and considering the state of the 

 weather not excessively acid. Now, these berries are the second and third 



