EIGHT] STRAWBERRIES AND THEIR KIN 
Bubach and Clyde, constitute a quintette that can 
be relied upon; add, probably, Senator Dunlap. 
A good deal has been done recently to secure very 
early and very late sorts of strawberries. Nothing 
better than Gandy has been secured for very late; 
and for very early it is doubtful whether we have 
secured anything better than Michel’s Early. 
Johnson’s Early seems to be winning its way among 
good judges. In my own ground I rely upon my 
own seedlings, one of which, number 9, ripens close 
after Michel, and continues to bear nearly through 
the season. Excelsior is early, but useless on ac- 
count of acidity. Texas is a very early sort which 
may prove to be of extraordinary value. Palmer, 
I fear, is a failure; I certainly get no fruit from it 
worth the ground it grows on. 
I recommend that you begin your small-fruit 
garden with a rather free planting of red raspberries, 
as these will be more easily grown than strawberries, 
giving you prompt returns, and can be relied upon 
for steady revenue. A field of red raspberries, 
properly cultivated, is good for ten years; I have 
continued a field for sixteen years. I do not advise 
the retention of old plants beyond ten or twelve 
years. The plants should be set in thoroughly clean 
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