186 MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 
Hovey, as well as other writers, claimed that 
Keen’s berries, although on the market list, 
did not thrive well in the United States. 
Hovey wrote in 1837 that “‘as yet the plants 
of nearly all the kinds in cultivation have 
been introduced from the English gardens, 
and are not suited to the severity of our 
climate.” 
Mr. Hovey, who was a very shrewd man 
and a practical breeder of rare ability, 
decided to produce a berry that would be 
satisfactory in our climate. He selected 
parents which showed the best adaptation 
to American conditions, and which repre- 
sented his distinct high ideals. 
By crossing two Pines, Keen’s Seedling 
and Mulberry, also Melon, which was 
undoubtedly a Pine, and Methven Scarlet, 
a variety of the Virginian, he was able to 
obtain two varieties, which he named Hovey 
and Boston Pine. Mr. Hovey lost his labels 
on these crosses, and it is not positive just 
which crosses gave these varieties. However, 
he was always quite certain that the Hovey 
was the result of Mulberry crossed by Keen’s 
Seedling. 
This Hovey strawberry was an epoch 
