llieiii all ill size, beauty anil productiveness, thus eiidorsinj; our j’ood judginen 
in introducing them, and coiifinning our faith in them. They differ in many 
respects, ripen at different seasons, and both are so very good that one should 
always accompany the other. To de.scribe the Mary in a few words is to say 
that it is of the largest size, the most prolific in bearing, the most heautiful in 
apj'earance, and the firrnist large strawberry yet produced. The berries are 
iiniforiiily of conical shape with blunt ajiex, regular in .si/e and shape, never cox- 
combed, deep crimson in color, and of a rich high quality. Its great finiiiiess 
and solidity render it of exceptional value for distant shipment and it kee])s in 
good coddition and retains its fresh color remarkable well. In season it is me- 
dium to late and the fruit retains its large size to the end. Tour consecutive 
seasons of fruiting enable us to speak intelligently of this variety and we have 
vet to find a defect in it. 
riarshall [S] The epicure will find in this choice variety all that he may 
desire in the way of quality and fine flavor; there are few strawberries more de- 
sirable for table use, and it ixissesses other good properties. The fruit is uni- 
formly large, very dark crimson when fully ripe; plant strong and luxuriant. 
It is much praised, and its excellent quality, fine flavor, and large size should 
coinmend it to the attention of amateurs. Midseasoii. 
Michel’s Early [S] Plants very vigorous and healthy, but do best on 
light, warm soil. The fact that it is the earliest variety in geniral cultivation 
makes it uery deisrable; fruit of medium size and very firm; quality fair. 
Oriole, No. i6 [P] This is an extra ear'y berry, ripening only two or three 
days behind Michel’s Early, which leads the strawberry season. It is ahso a 
large berrv, the average measurement being an inch and a quarter across the 
berry and four inches around; no immense overgrown specimens, and almo.st 
no sniall or unshapely berries among them. It is also a very productive variety, 
second to none in yield, and this together with its beautiful deep red color, 
with bright colored seeds standing well out on the surface, firm dark red flesh 
with a rich aromatic flavor distinctly its own, makes this the most desirable 
berrv for its money value in market that we have ever seen. There are many 
fine berries that ripen after the market is full and the price way down, but this 
variety, while equal or superior to them in other respects, rijiens most of its 
crop before its competitors have given their first picking. Plant strong and 
healthy, both here and at llenton, somewhat after the Hubach type, though 
plants are produced more freely. lUossom imperfect, with some stamens par- 
tially developed. It has not fruited apart from staminate sorts, but its great 
productiveness indicates to us that it is imperfect as it is among this class 
that all the heavy bearers are found. No one at all intere.sted in strawberries 
can afford to let this variety go another year untried. In the year 1888 the Hu- 
bach (No. 5) fruited the first time with me. The marvelous proiluctiveness, vigor 
and health of the plant was a revelation in strawberry culture. Priorto this, re- 
peated trials, by planting seeds saved from finest specimens of best varieties, 
with the view of producing valuable new varieties, proved delusive and unsatis- 
factory. No systematized effort at pollenation, with a fixed object in view, had 
ever been made to my knowIe< 4 ge — in the improvement of the strawberry-. 
Plarly varieties were attracting attention then, Hoffman leading in popular favor. 
That year (1S88) both Hoffman and Bubach were in full fruitage with me, each 
showing very strong points of merit, and each manifesting its share of weak 
points. A variety po.ssessing the earliness, firmness and color of the Hoffman, 
with the vigorous productive plant of the Bubach, seemed to jitand out as the 
great want of the period among strawberry growers. To accomplish this, plans 
were matured, and a carefully conducted series of hand pollenations made dur- 
ing the periorl of blooming in the .spring of 1889. 
Parker Earle [S| Plant very robust, strong, penetrating roots; enormou.sly 
productive; ]>rotected from late frosts by abundant leaves; trus.ses .strong, long 
and large; Ijerries regular, conical, .short neck; glos.sy scarlet, crimson, firm; it 
shows well several days after picking, and brings the highe.st prices in market; 
season medium to late. Berries on long, strong stalks held well above the 
ground; will do best in hills. Needs plenty of moisture and favorable condi- 
tions to ri]K-n its crop. 
