SEASONABLE OBSERVATIONS AT WOODBANKS. 



539 



summer, but the hepatica continues handsome through- 

 out the year. The profuse crop of double and single 

 lilac-and-white flowers borne by plants of this genus al- 

 most before the leaves appear in the spring is not among 

 the least of its charms. Taking this plant as a subject, 

 we again urge all who love flowers to cultivate the ac- 

 quaintance of the beautiful wild ones which may be had 

 for the gathering. 



More about Strawberries. — Our experience with 

 strawberries in 1892 has more than ever before impressed 

 us with the fact that we are as yet very far from having 

 the ideal berry for market. Our favorites, Bubach and 

 Haverland, are fine-looking berries, and we have en- 

 joyed them greatly on the table. Their appearance is 

 inviting and their quality fair, but they will not stand 

 the kind of handling that the express companies give 

 them. They soon wilt down and 

 shrink, and dealers are afraid of 

 them, often preferring much 

 meaner-looking Wilsons on account 

 of their firmness. Leaf-rust has 

 been the Wilson's great enemy here 

 and has wiped out all profit and 

 enjoyment from its culture. A 

 great question then confronts us : 

 What variety shall we plant for 

 market ? 



We have searched for the right 

 berry among the new sorts, but have 

 not yet found it. The Wilson's 

 firmness and color seem to be lack- 

 ing more or less in all the berries. 

 Productiveness we find in many 

 sorts, as also occasional clusters of 

 especial beauty and attractiveness. 

 At one time Shuster Gem, with 

 clusters such as are shown in the 

 engraving, appeared well ; but its 

 season is short, and it is not suited 

 otherwise to the needs of our mar- 

 ket. Barton, or Barton Eclipse, also illustrated (page 

 541), makes a thick and wide-matted row, giving an im- 

 mense yield of pretty fair berries and some very fine clus- 

 ters. It is generally promising, but we do not expect it 

 to take the place of Wilson as a market berry. 



Middlefield is a model of uniformity and beauty, and 

 undoubtedly would bring a big price if it could be placed 

 on the market in a good shape ; but it is far too shy a 

 yielder to be profitable even there. Parker Earle, now 

 so generally praised, is remarkably productive, fine and 

 late and reasonably firm. In form it resembles the older 

 Jewell. With us, however, the plant lacks health, and 

 its color is far too light. 



In short, the ideal strawberry for marketing has not 

 yet appeared. Long John has some qualities which we 

 would like to see infused into a new sort with healthier 

 foliage. If we could get a berry combining the shape, 

 health and productiveness of Haverland with the dark, 

 glossy color and firmness of Long John, we would not be 



far from having our ideal berry for market. It seems to 

 us that efforts in the direction of such a combination 

 should be made. In the meantime we propose to do our 

 best with Bubach and Haverland. The former, notwith- 

 standing its lack of firmness, has possibilities not gener- 

 ally recognized. 



The berry display in front of a Buffalo fruit-store dur- 

 ing the berry season gave a good object-lesson. On one 

 side stood baskets of Wilson marked " 10 cents"; on the 

 other side baskets of Bubach marked ' ' 20 cents. " Those 

 fine-looking Bubachs, as we learned on inquiry, were 

 brought in by a grower who lives close to the city. They 

 were picked in the morning, and put upon the 

 market without much handling or carting. This 



Cluster of Shuster Gem, as grown on 

 Editors' Grounds. 



man had no difficulty in obtaining from 14 to 16 

 quart wholesale for his fruit, while we were glad to get 10 

 cents for our Bubachs shipped by rail or wagon 17 miles. 



We also found that the mode of shipment affected the 

 price considerably. All the larger growers in this town 

 take each day's picking to Buffalo on spring-wagons 

 during the night. The roads are fairly good ; the berry- 

 grower himself drives the team, and is sure to do it with 

 greatest care. The berries are well ventilated during 

 their long ride, and the night-air is cool ; consequently 

 the berries are in pretty good shape when they are placed 

 before the customer. Now ship berries by express, and 



