1882.] 



THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 



117 



the fungus on its foliage as of late, thus im- 

 pairing its fruitfulness. As it would seem 

 that all varieties of the Strawberry deterio- 

 rate after a time, so apparently this grand 

 old sort is now in its declining years. 



Miner's Prolific was again among the 

 choicest, being quite like the Downing in 

 a general way, with clean, healthy foliage, 

 and, as its name implies, decidedly product- 

 ive, of large size, and of excellent quality. 



Glendale as a berry for market was one of 

 the finest of the season. It was prolific, ex- 

 ceptionally firm , of good size and of bright 

 color. Being late, it came into market 



LONGFELLOW. 



after the rush, and in consequence com- 

 manded good prices ; but it is too acid to 

 please most palates. All who wish Straw- 

 berries for " doing up " should grow the 

 Glendale, as for canning it is incomparable. 



Bidwell behaved so differently from what I 

 had hoped and anticipated, that I hesitate 

 before naming it in a select list of scarcely 

 more than a dozen sorts. It possesses merit, 

 however, and should not be condemned with- 

 out qualification ; for is it not of splendid 

 color and of fine quality ? Further, it ripens 

 early, in advance of almost all other large 

 varieties. Apparently it "sets" so many 



WARREN. 



berries that the plant with its scanty foliage, 

 is unable to perfect them all, hence requires 

 high culture and the best of soil. Under such 

 conditions it may prove profitable for market, 

 but only then do I think it will be. Owing 

 to its desirable properties, even with its 

 perfecting but a part of its fruit, it is worthy 

 a place in the garden of all amateurs, 

 even those who cultivate but a few varieties. 



SOME GOOD STRAWBERRIES Itf 1882. 



Passing over the Strawberry field, with 

 the leaves sear and brown from the intense 

 heat and severe drought, it would be hard 

 for one who did not see it to realize what a 

 grand harvest was there to be gathered but 

 a few weeks ago. In truth, what a glorious 

 season for the Strawberries was the one just 

 passed! While all varieties were, to a 

 greater or less extent, wanting in sweetness, 

 owing perhaps to the cool weather, yet 

 there was a full supply of moisture — the 

 great need of the Strawberry — throughout 

 the fruiting season, and in consequence an 

 abundant yield of large, fair berries on the 



BIDWELL. 



plants of almost every variety. In fact, I 

 scarcely remember a year when so many 

 varieties did so admirably. First and fore- 

 most is the Manchester. Taking everything 

 into consideration, with all candor, this 

 was much the finest of all. Not only was it 

 the finest Strawberry that I fruited in 1882, 

 but the finest I have yet fruited. Large, 

 handsome, firm, wonderfully prolific, and of 

 superior quality, with a most robust plant, it 

 leaves little to be desired; except that its 

 blossoms are pistillate. It ripens in mid- 

 season and continues till very late — so late 

 that I gathered it in goodly numbers a week 

 after all other varieties, with the exception 

 of the Marvin, had passed and gone. 



Warren was also signally fine. Berries very 



MINER'S PROLIFIC. 



large, and possessing many other properties 

 that go to make up a good Strawberry ; it is 

 a most fitting companion for the Manchester ; 

 ripening, as it does, early in the season. In 

 quality it is eminently sweet and mild, and 

 owing to this alone will find many admirers, 

 especially the friends of old Seth Boyden 

 or No. 30. 



Longfellow well sustained its reputation as 

 a large, fine, desirable berry, with its dis- 

 tinctiveness of form and consistency of flesh. 

 This partakes so largely of the grandiflora 

 species, I find it must be given high culture 

 to have it succeed. 



Sharpless still leads the van for size. 

 Truly this is a grand berry, not only for 

 the amateur but for the fruit-grower as well, 

 when properly treated. I find it succeeds 

 best on sandy loam — even better than on 

 very heavy soil — if highly fertilized ; and it 

 must be given manure, manure, and more 

 manure, to have it do anything near its best, 

 plant it where you may. 



Hart's Minnesota. — Exceptionally attract- 

 ive, good size, and of high, rich flavor, while 

 the plants yield an excellent crop ; as an early 

 berry this was a fine success. From what I 

 saw of it in 1881 I feared it would not be 

 productive, but should it continue in the 

 future as it was the past season there will be 

 no cause for complaint in this direction, or 

 in fact any other. 



Satin Gloss. — An offspring of the old Lady 

 Finger. Being the foremost of the group, 

 this may engage the good opinion of the cir- 

 cle of admirers of the belle "of days gone 

 by " ; as it is decidedly more productive and 

 somewhat larger, retaining the properties of 

 its ancestors. 



Champion, or Windsor Chief, as usual, was 

 one of the most prolific and profitable kinds. 

 If left on the plants until thoroughly ripened, 

 the quality is unsurpassed, but like the Wil- 

 son it reddens before it is ripe. 



Mount Vernon has proved eminently satis- 

 factory as a late berry, lacking firmness only 

 to render it very valuable. For the amateur 

 or with those who have a market close at 



MANCHESTER. 



hand, its large size, fine form, bright color, 

 productiveness, lateness, and good quality 

 will cause it to be eagerly sought after. 



Gi/psif. — In combination of excellences I 

 would place this third of the collection, be- 

 ing surpassed only by Manchester and War- 

 ren. It is not large, but of perfect shape, 

 and exceedingly regular in form and size. 

 In general appearance the fruit resembles 

 the old Wilson, but is so far superior in 

 quality as to render a comparison imprac- 

 ticable ; while it is nearly or quite as firm, 

 retains its brilliancy after gathered, and is 

 even more vigorous and productive. Of the 

 various varieties none stood the terrible 

 drought of 1881 so well as the Gypsy, and I 

 am inclined to think that it will take a fore- 

 most place, both as a variety for market and 

 for the home garden. The blossoms are pis- 

 tillate. 



Cumberland Triumph is still a triumph for 

 fine form, and other good qualities. While 

 moderately firm, its flesh is too tender to 

 bear long shipment. With the exception of 

 this objection, and that it is; scarcely so pro- 

 ductive as desirable, it approaches, I think, 

 the ideal Strawberry. 



Charles Downing, like the honored gen- 

 tleman whose name it bears, was as truly 

 venerable as ever ; but, I regret to note, was 

 again attacked by the blighting influence of 



Jersey Queen is truly a queenly berry, extra 

 large, beautiful in appearance, and of good 

 quality. So far it has not yet been tried 

 extensively. 



J. T. Lovett. 



