-«?' 



36 



THE ILLINOIS FARMEE. 



Ve^: 



Failure of Wilson Strawberry. 



EvANSTO.v, III., Dec. 15, 1862. 



Mr. M. L. Dcnlap, Editor Illinois Farmer — 

 Dear Sir : — Our attention has been called to an 

 editorial in your issue for October. In noticing 

 our place you remark : 



*' We believe it has been a favorite theory with 

 Mr. Knox to plant the strawberry on dry ground, 

 such as is suited to wheat and corn, but here on 

 their dry sand and gravel ridge the plants after 

 three years trial have been voted a failure, and 

 seven acres of Wilson's Albany have, witin a few 

 weeks, been turned under. Much to our regret, 

 Mr. Kidder was not at home, being absent in rais- 

 ing a company of cavalry for the war. Mr. K. has 

 removed his strawberry plantation to the low lands 

 bordering the swales, and they promise well. The 

 Triumph de Gand look very vigorous and promise 

 to show good returns next year. Thus far the 

 strawberry crop on these grounds have proved a 

 failure." 



We certainly regret that Mr. Kidder was not at 

 home to have shown you over the farm, and had 

 such been the case, are free to say, your opinion 

 as expressed in the above would not have been 

 written. 



Our strawberry crops on the sand ridge have not 

 been a failure, in proof of which we refer to the 

 fruit sold from our farm by Messrs. Goss & Iloag 

 Chicago. We have no hesitation in saying that 

 the finest strawberries that ever went to Chicago in 

 quantity, have been sent by us from our sand 

 ridge. 



It is quite true that wo plowed up seven acres of 

 Wilson's strawberries on our ridge, and also three 

 acres of the same variety on our underdraincd 

 prairie. The main reason for this was the dicing 

 of the plants. 



This habit of the plants of Wilson's to die is not 

 confined to our farm — but reports have come to 

 us the past year, from everywhere where Wilson 

 has been largely groAvn, of the dicing of the plants, 

 and failure of two years old beds. 



We are extremely sorry you did not glance at 

 eight acres of Triumphc de Gand and other varie- 

 ties of strawberries just across the road from the 

 seven acre patch on the same ridge. And also at 

 the three acres of vineyard of Delavrare and Con- 

 cord grapes on the same soil. 



We shall be pleased to show tlicia to you or any 

 connoiseur at any time. 



In regard to the prairie soil wc have only to say 

 that some good fruit was gathered from it last 

 season. For example, Triumphc do Gand straw. 

 berries, which brought three times as much per 

 quart as Wilson's. The only Brincklc's Orange 



Raspberries that were ever sold in Chicago market. 

 We have not abandoned strawberry culture, but 

 are encouraged to continue our work. 

 Yours truly, 



Kidder & Knox. 



— We very cheerfully give the above a place, 

 not only to correct what Messrs K. & K. think an 

 oversight in us, but to call attention to the charge 

 of the dying out of the Wilson's Albany strawberry, 

 it being the first complaint that we have heard of 

 the kind. We were fully aware of this fact in the 

 grounds of these gentlemen, but we attributed it 

 to the soil and aspect as well as to the white grub, 

 which is very destrusctive in that part of their 

 grounds. We observed the three acres of grapes, 

 which promise well, and the Triumphe de Gand 

 in the low ground, but none on the sand ridge. 

 We shall take occasion to visit these grounds next 

 season, and until then shall probably hold our ex- 

 pressed opinion in regard to the dry sandy ridge 

 for the strawberry. 



Mr. Kidder the managing partner has given up 

 his military aspirations and hereafter is to devote 

 his energies to the fruit farm. Their stock of plants 

 is large, from which our planters of small fruits 

 would do well to order, to extend their planta- 

 tions. Ed. 



English. Gooseberry. 



Jacksonville, III., Dec. 20th, 1862. 

 31. L. JDunlap. Ed. Illinois farmer, Champaign, III : 



Sir : In the October Xo. of the Illinois Farmer, 

 you enquire if any of your readers have a January 

 number of the "Horticulturist" for 1862. I here- 

 with send one on your terms. 



I have thought you rather hasty in giving up 

 the English Gooseberry as w'orthless in this coun- 

 try. I have grown them in the State of New York, 

 and in this State three years, and have had them to 

 measure from three to three and a half inches in 

 circumference, and found no difficulty in growing 

 them. Have tried to raise some from seed but 

 have not succeeded. Can you give nic any informa- 

 tion in regard to raising them from seed ? I have 

 several wild seedlings grown from bushes in the 

 barrens. I feel certain it is possible to improve 

 the native gooseberry, or to hybridize it with the 

 foreign. I suppose the English gooseberry has ar- 

 rived at its present state of perfection by high 

 cultivation and hybridizing. I intend to try the 

 experiments. I think that if there are only two or 

 three kinds of cherry trees that will grow in this 

 State, it is time we raised a few more. Will not 

 the growing them from seed, produce new varieties, 

 same as the apple, grapes, or strawberry ? A little 



»=£> 



SRi.-WPfSHSMIC***!?^'- ■'T- —« 





