OUR STNAH'BERRl TRIALS. 



529 



the tree. Yes, we need the summer apple and it 

 pays to grow it. Even the private garden should 

 have a tree or two of the best kinds, and the market 

 grower, why should he be without it ? Mine have 

 never done so well as this season. They are large, 

 smooth and fine, and ripen handsomely. 



Among the varieties I have, Williams' Favorite is 

 especially prized for its beauty, quality and productive- 

 ness. I do not find it in general cultivation in this part 

 of New York state ; in fact, few of the growers seem to 

 know of it at all, though it is well starred in our pomo- 

 logical catalogues, as it should be. It originated at Rox- 

 bury, Mass. ; size medium, Belleflower-shaped, smooth 

 skin, light red ground, darker striped when exposed to 

 sun ; flesh yellowish white, tender and melting, mild, 

 agreeable sub-acid, juicy and delicious. Though or- 

 dinarily classed as a fine market sort, I consider it a 

 most delicious table apple for dessert purposes. Mine 

 begin to ripen the middle of July and extend to Septem- 

 ber. It is very productive in my garden, which is a low, 

 rich soil. I don't believe Williams' Favorite is grown 

 to the extent its merits deserve. I have specimens mea- 

 suring three inches in length by two and one half in di- 

 ameter, and they are far more beautiful in marking than 

 an artist could portray. 



Then I have the Summer Rose, that pretty little ap- 

 ple of which I may have spoken before in the Rural. 



It is just as good now as when I urged readers to plant 

 it years ago ; as pretty and good as it well can be ; small, 

 of course, but awfully condensed. Mine is on Paradise 

 stock and it bears "for crazy," growing very slowly of 

 course. I mean to give it a more vigorous foundation 

 if room can be found. 



The Duchess is also bearing abundantly with me. I 

 wish it were less acid, it grows so fair and even in size 

 and it looks so handsome. But sugar is cheap now and 

 that makes it more available than ever for cooking, and 

 yet I prefer to grow the sugar in the fruit because it 

 tastes better that way. But the Duchess is a valuable 

 market apple and it ought to be in every orchard. It is 

 perhaps the best contribution to our apple list yet re- 

 ceived from Russia. 



The Early Harvest, which Downing considered the 

 best of all early apples, is indeed splendid with me this 

 season, but it was not always so in the past, as it blos- 

 somed profusely, bore sparingly and dropped prema- 

 turely, though the tree is large and vigorous. This year, 

 however, it is loaded, and the fruit is very large, fair 

 and perfect. I have magnificent specimens measuring 

 10 j inches in circumference, and the quality is excellent. 

 Of course no grower should be without this familiar var- 

 iety, even though it often bears poorly and behaves 

 badly under the best conditions. 



Ulster Co., N. Y. H. Hendricks. 



OUR STRAWBERRY TRIALS. 



BEING A REPORT OF THE PRESENT SEASON'S RESULTS WITH NEW AND RECENT VARIETIES OF STRAW- 

 BERRIES ON THE RURAL NEW-YORKER EXPERIMENT GROUNDS. 



Michel's Early (Bisexual), originated with J. G. 

 Michel, of Judsonia, Ark. Plants sent to us by C. P. 

 Bauer, of the same place, April i, i8go. It has been 

 sold under the name of Osceola, plants having been 

 stolen from Mr. Michel. June i : Bearing abundantly 

 at this date. June 8 : Prolific berries, small to medium 

 size ; scarlet, firm, good quality. Its chief value is in 

 its quality and earliness. June lo : Berries are small. 

 June 12 : Still productive. June ig ; Season past. 

 Probably the best in quality of the earliest kinds. 



Howard's No. 6 (Pistillate), from A. B. Howard, 

 Belchertown, Mass. June i ; First ripe this date. 

 Heart-shape, scarlet, quite firm, sweet, mild, medium 

 size, regular. Healthy plants. June 8 : Petioles long. 

 Berries ripening freely. Scarlet to crimson in color, 

 red flesh. Size medium. Not so sweet as in the earlier 

 and drier season. June lo : ripening freely. June i6 : 

 vines very productive. Berries of uniform size, small but 

 sweet. June 27 : Here and there a berry still ripening. 



Parker Earle. — The R. N.-Y. has neither anything 

 to add to nor to modify in what it has said regarding 

 this fine berry. It should be tried in every part of the 

 country. 



Pearl (Bis.) — June i ; Begins to ripen. Rather long, 

 conical, heart-shape, often narrowing toward apex. 



sometimes with a broad tip, sometimes slightly necked. 

 Glossy crimson in color. Quite firm, red flesh, fine 

 quality. Plants rather low-growing. Season medium. 

 It is a fairly productive variety. 



Perfection (Bis.), from Fred. E".. Smith. Hudson Cen- 

 tre, N. H., April 23, iSgo. June i: Often ripens un- 

 evenly. Fine quality. Petioles tall, plants healthy. 

 Only fairly productive. June 8 : Medium as to season. 

 Conically heart-shape, tapering to a point. Perfection 

 in shape. Flesh light-colored, fine flavor. Berries 

 large, not firm. June 16; Season past. 



Shuster's Gem (P.) — First sent here in May, 1886, by 

 J. T. Lovett, of Little Silver, N. J. June 7, of 1887, 

 our report was as follows: "Plants tall, vigorous. 

 Often 30 berries to a stem. Often of irregular shape, 

 often 'hollow hearted,' rather soft. Broadly ovate in 

 shape. Tips sometimes whitish ; scarlet color. Pro- 

 ductiveness and size of berry are its chief merits. Large 

 average size." Many reports of this berry which, dur- 

 ing the season just past, has been perhaps our most 

 productive variety, have since appeared in The R. 

 ,V.- ]', . all going to show that it is unwise to judge of any 

 new variety from a brief trial. June 4 : Leaves large, 

 long petioles, vigorous and healthy. Peduncles branch- 

 ing often bearing 20 berries. Suckers freely. Berries 



