86 



SMALL FRUIT CULTUUlST. 



The Virginian StraTrberiy, which is the most common 

 Strawberry of our woods and fields, was introduced into 

 England early in the seventeenth centuiy ; but little atten- 

 tion, however, was paid to its cultivation for nearly or 

 quite one himdred years thereafter. But as soon as its 

 valuable qualities were discovered, and it was found that 

 by merely sowing seeds new varieties, greatly dilFering 

 from the parent, wei'e readily produced, it began to attract 

 the attention of fruit growers, and received the care it 

 deserved. 



It is the most fragrant of all known species, possessing 

 a delightful, aromatic perfume, not surpassed by any other 

 fruit. It is a robust and vigorous grower, witlistanding 

 the severe cold of our northern winters, as well as the 

 burning sun of summer. It assumes very distinct charac- 

 ters in different locations, those of the Western States 

 varying considerably from those of the Eastern, so much 

 so that the varieties grown from them usually retain their 

 peculiar characteristics through an almost indefinite num- 

 ber of generations. 



Among the varieties in cultivation at the present time 

 we can recognize many whose parentage can be traced to 

 the western plants, while others are unmistakably from 

 those of the Eastern States. I will name a few of each class, 

 and those vrho are acquainted with them will more readily 

 recogni:ze their peculiar characters than they could from 

 any descriptions which I might give — only premising 

 that the western class, as a rule, produce the largest, soft- 

 est, and most acid fruit. 



The best known of the western type are : Austin, Iowa, 

 Downer's Prolific, Green Prolific, General Scott, and 

 Victory. 



Of the eastern type, Early Scarlet, Jenny Lind, Scott'3 

 Seedling, Boston Pme, Brighton Pine, &c. 



The various forms observed in the F, Virginlana in dif 

 ferent portions of the country, have given rise to much dis- 



