THE RUSHIRE FKUIT FARM, IONIA, MICH. 
19 
Perfect Flowered Varieties. 
'■Sharpless, average i.l 
■Cumberland, average 5.4 
Wilson, average 6.6 
Sucker State, average 6.0 
Jessie, average ■ 4.5 
Pearl, average 7.6 
Gandy, average 4.8 
•Capt. Jack, average 7.6 
Average 5.8 
Imperfect Flowering Varieties. 
Crescent, average 9.2 
Haverland, average 9.8 
Bubach, average 8.2 
Warfield 9.0 
Ohio 5.0 
Champion 7.0 
Eureka 8.0 
Manchester j 7.8 
Average 8.0 
It will be understood that these grades are 
•not based on actual yields, but are simply care- 
ful estimates, yet it is not improbable that they 
represent the standing ot the varieties quite 
closely. One thing is olear the most prolific 
varieties are found among those having imper- 
fect flowers. Nearly all those named in this 
class are very fruitful, the Ohio being the only 
e.xception. 
Among those having perfect flowers none are 
found that are extremely prolific, the Wilson 
and Capt. Jack being possible e.xceptions under 
favorable conditions. Taking the average for 
the two classes we find that the varieties having 
imperfect flowers stand thirty-eight per cent 
higher than those having perfect flowers. 
If we take four of the most prolific in each 
■class the imperfect flowered sorts stand thirty 
per cent higher than those having perfect 
flowers. 
There can be no doubt that the production of 
pollen is an e.xhaustive process, hence the 
varieties having perfect flowers are at a disad- 
vantage. No doubt some of the perfect flow- 
ered sorts are very nearly equal to any in fruit- 
fulness and under cartain circumstances may 
be fully equal, but the chances are against 
them when unfavorable conditions occur. Given 
two varieties of equal vigor and productiveness, 
■one having perfect the other imperfect flowers, 
the extra tax of pollen bearing on one will so 
weaken the plants as to render them more sub- 
.ject to the evil effects ot fungi, insects, dry 
■weather, frost, etc., than those that produce no 
pollen. There can hardly be a question that the 
best market varieties at the present time have 
imperfect flowers. This is not alone because 
of the greater fruitfulness of varieties of this 
class than those having perfect flowers, but 
because of more general reliability — that is, 
they more uniformily produce good crops. In 
many respects it may be desirable to have 
varieties of ijerfect flowers only, but it is prob- 
able that future development will be along the 
line of still greater specialization. The highest 
development ot fruit bearing qualities in one 
class and of pollen bearing in the other gives 
promise ot greater reward than to combine the 
two functions in one variety. 
Varieties op Strawberries. 
Among the best perfect flowering varieties 
and for an all-purpose berry, we unhesitatingly 
place the 
Old Wilson's Albany 
at the head ot the list. It is entitled to this 
place because it has done more to popularize 
strawberry growing than any other berry. I 
admit there are others of a larger size and that 
many people prefer on account ot the acidity of 
theWilson, yet there are none equal to it in ship- 
ping and keeping qualities. All dealers prefer 
to handle it, and many of our customers de- 
mand it. As stated elsewhere you will find 
where it has tailed that plants have frequently 
been taken from old beds, and no care has been 
exercised to maintain its vigor. As witli all 
other varieties there are some essentials lacking 
in a few soils where it will not succeed, but it 
has a brilliant record over a wide area of coun- 
try. It blooms early and persistently through- 
out the whole season, and is so strong in pollen 
that it has few equals in fertilizing imperfect 
flowering varieties. 
