SEPT. 7 
567 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Crescent Seedling, Fig. 16. —I have no earlier 
berry than thin, never saw a strawberry that could 
produce anywhere near so touch fruit, or a more 
healthy, luxuriaatly-gronfcig plant. I cannot 
docry this variety though others may, for it lias 
so many good points, although, like tho best of 
us, it has some weak onus. Like tho Concord 
grapo, if you plant tho plants, you will have 
fruit with very little after trouble, and, although 
not the best, there will be plenty of it, whioh 
to many is far better than none. Whether this 
is as it should bo, or whether people who are not 
willing to givo the best varieties tho small 
amount of culture they require, are deserving of 
any at all, 1 will not attempt to arguo, but taking 
human nature as it is, I beliove Crescent will bo 
of value in tho reduction of doctors’ hills, and 
the saving of medicine, if uothing more. Besides, 
it is not an inferior variety, according to my way 
of thinking. It is above medium in size, a por¬ 
tion of tho berries being large, and of bright, 
attractive color. It is, very true, not very linn 
when fully ripe, but as much so as Obas. Down¬ 
ing, and, like tho Wilson, it colors before it is 
ripe, and can tbon bo marketed without diffi¬ 
culty. It possesses the quality of standing 
up” well, aud retaining its color for a long while 
after being picked. Unloss my palate is very 
much at fault, the flavor too, when ripe is, as 
Dr. 1 hurber said of the Duncan, ‘‘more than 
fair, it is good." When it has just turned and 
is nol yot ripe—Oh my! it is not Hour ; it is not 
sweet; it is-very much like a piece of raw 
pumpkin. 
Early Apela.— Has disappointed me, being 
rathor small, not especially early or productive, 
and of indifferent flavor. In fact it showed no 
special merit in any particular, although I should 
add, it did not have a very goo.l chanoe, and 
may do bettor another year. Plant a strong 
grower and healthy. 
Suarpless.— Was the largest and handsomost 
berry I fruitod, aud tho plant is tho most robust 
grower I have ever grown. Having only plants 
sot in, in the Bpring, I could not determine as to 
its produoti venoss, but it indicates groat excel¬ 
lence in this respect also. Denies oblong, quite 
often irregular and flattened, rich crimson with 
a smooth glossy surface, and very pretty ; flavor 
good to very good. There is a whisper that this 
variety will not ship well, but judging from tho 
borrios. it appears decidedly firm, and cannot be 
other than a good shipper, unless like Ool. 
Cheney, it should bleed badly during transporta¬ 
tion. From this, tho first year, I deem it by far 
the best very large berry I have yot seen. 
Glendale. —This promises much as a late 
berry, being very largo, very late, and very firm. 
Flavor very good, and plant a strong grower aud 
healthy. Fruit stalky, however, are quite short, 
requiring*thorough mulching in order to have 
clean fruit. 
- ♦ »»-—. 
STAWBERRIE8 FOR THE FAMILY. 
E. J. BROWNELL. 
I wish I could demonstrate to every reader ol 
the Rural how easily he can produce a supplj 
of this moat delicious of all the small fruits, foi 
it seems to mo that if it wore generally kuowi 
with what a small outlay of time and labor il 
can bo done, strawberries would be more com¬ 
monly found in the kitchen garden. Many bar.: 
been deterred from planting a strawberry !>cd, 
bocanae they supposed it such a formidable task 
to take oaro of them. Now, although straw¬ 
berries will unquestionably pay for thorough 
culture, aud I would not bo understood as recom¬ 
mending that they should be slighted, still, I do 
argue, after considerable experience with them, 
both in the kitchen garden and nursery, that_if 
you will take the trouble to renew a plantation 
yearly, and givo it fair, ordiuarvculture through 
the season, as much, for instance, as you ought 
to be willing to give any gardon crop—there is 
nothing which will give Letter returns. Indeed, 
I am not sure but that, where land is less an 
object than labor, this is, all things considered, 
the more profitable course; that is, moro so 
than continuing the bed for some years on the 
same ground. By having tho land in good con¬ 
dition and planting in towh, about two and a 
half to throe feet apart and ton or twelve inches 
in the row, then letting tho plants run together 
m tho row, thus forming a matted row, wo got a 
good yield tho second Beaaon that is, provided 
wo have taken good core of them tho first season 
—without giving thorn any special culture this 
seoond year except to pull out the largest woods. 
oroovor, by planting a new bed annually, we 
timiouaf 4 b ° d iQ boarins yoHr aflor 7 0ftr cun- 
As to the host Boason for planting; although 
i would prefer a bod plautod last spring rather 
than 0 n e « ot out tbiri fal)( ^ L would muoh 
rather have one started this falk-unless where 
next'ev 018 T V ° ry Be70 ro—than one planted 
a cr >n , ? 1 ° r ’ Illauti, ‘8 tbiB f aJb we get quite 
thereafter ^ ee . a . H0U 1 ™ d * '“11 *>‘op the season 
enco i n ° ttdditlo,,al hbor. In refer- 
for h^n ! Tb0 Wil80U HU11 headB tho U«t 
dor te l aUd l> r<,du °t‘vonoss, though infe- 
S* 0 “ a “ y “ In this respect tho 
strong h ° att ? d ‘ 8 oxcollod fa 7 “one, and on a 
g, heavy soil, it is very productive. Charles 
Downing succeeds well with me, and is a great 
favorite. 
Delaware Co., N. Y. 
- 
STRAWBERRIES. 
WILLIAM PARRY. 
URGE CROPS. 
The season just past has been a beautiful one, 
aud thousands of bushels of BtrawberrieB have 
been daily carried from tho country to the large 
cities, sold at fair prices aud the proceeds sent 
back to gladden the lies rts of tho growers and help 
to bridge over tho dull times. The Delaware Rail¬ 
road alone, errried from May C to June 13, last, 637 
car-loads, averaging 267 crates, or 8,000 quarts 
of berries to each car, making a total of 5.09G,- 
000 quartH, equal to 169,250 bushels of straw¬ 
berries. Some idea of tho extent of the Viuo- 
land, N. J., berry crop may be gathered from 
the fact that at one cent per quart, tho pickers, 
this season, havo been paid moro than $7,000, 
The strawberry and blackberry crop, up to July 
20, had netted $50,000, and about $5,000 a week 
was still being received at that dato from the 
last-named berry. 
The Monarch of tho West yielded hero at 
Pomona Nursery, on Juno 16 and 18, two pick¬ 
ings, 2,992 quartB per acre. One woman picked 
sixty quarts in two hours, or at tho rate of a 
quart ovory two minutes, hoiug nearly a bushel 
per hour. Oue of my neighbors had ton acres 
in strawberries this year, from which lie gath¬ 
ered, sorno days in June last, four shelving 
loads of berries per day, and in all, 39,800 quarts 
or 1,244 bushels, whioh, sold at eight coats per 
quart, brought $3,184. They consisted mainly 
of Albany, Juounda, aud Cumberland Triumph. 
Home of them yielded at tho rate of $1,000 per 
acre. Another neighbor near-by had seven acres 
of strawberries, consisting of Monarch of the 
West, Turner’s. Cumberland Triumph and 
Charlos Downing, which yielded 35.000 quirts. 
Being all large varieties they may be safely put 
at ton cents per quart, which would give $500 
per acre, or $3,5UQ for tho lot. 
IMPROVEMENTS. 
Perhaps there is no branch of fruit culture 
iu which there has been greater advance made 
in sizo and quality of fruit, than in the straw¬ 
berry. If WO were to compare the little berries 
grown a fow years since with tho Monarohs and 
Triumphs of tho present day, wo oould hardly 
lecognize them as belonging to tho same species. 
Scientific hybridization, comhinlug large aize, 
best quality, firmness of flesh and great pre^ 
duotiveness, has produced tho most favorable 
results, and ir some law could bo passed to pro¬ 
tect those who have given to the world uew and 
valuable fruits, and place them on an equal foot¬ 
ing with the authors or good books, it would be 
an act of justice. 
NECESSITY FOR LOCAL SELECTION. 
Strawberries are local in their habits, and 
those best adapted to one section may not do 
so well in another. Persous about to commence 
growing strawberries should try at least a dozen 
of tho beHt varieties, so as to be sure and get 
those most suitable for thoir soils and locations, 
aud any that do not succeed witli them may ho 
dropped from the list. By now procuring plants 
already established in pots, which can be trans¬ 
planted with safety, they can boo tho fruit next 
Juno and form a hotter judgment what kinds to 
plant moro largely, than without that knowl¬ 
edge. 
GOOD VARIETIES. 
I will name a few that have doue well here, 
from which a selection can bo made for trial: 
Black Defiance— Early, largo and luscious. 
Duouesse— Very oariy and large. 
Beauty —Large and handsome. 
Centennial— Very fine flavor. 
Crescent Seedling — Wonderfully product¬ 
ive, more easily grown with less care than any 
other strawberry that I have soon. Fruit me¬ 
dium size, bright scarlot color, rod all over as 
boom as ripe. 
Charles Downing—G ood standard variety, 
Cumberland Triumph— Very largo, haudsomo 
and productive. Good for near markot. 
Monarch of the W lst —Very large and showy. 
Miner’s Great Prolific— Largo, productive 
and vigorous. The originator being recently 
deceased, has left a valuable berry to perpetu¬ 
ate bis name; lot every fruit-grower try to do 
as well. 
Captain Jack— la giving tho old Wilson a close 
contest, bolng as productive aud of better 
quality. 
Great American —Very largo and productive, 
whore soil and climate are suitable. 
Golden Defiance — Largo, late and pro¬ 
ductive. 
Kentucky Oue of the best very lato berries. 
Pionkhr— Very largo, Arm aud beautiful, 
Sharplesb Seedling- -Last hut not least, and 
so far as tried iu Pennsylvania, New York and 
New Jersey, it bids fair to surpass all othors in 
size, quality aud firmness of floHh. Being pro¬ 
ductive aud hardy, it succeeds well on both 
light and heavy soils. It is reported that one 
specimen measuring twelve inches, or more, has 
boon sent to Paris for exhibition there. Having 
fruited it two Beasous, wo esteem it worthy of 
the highest praise hero, and think it will give 
goneral satisfaction elsewhere. 
Clunamlnson, N. J. 1 
THE STRAWBERRY’S CHIEF NEED 
The impression is still very prevalent that the 
strawberry profora to all others, a light, sandy 
soil. As a rule, such soils are very dry, and 
plants growing thereon are quickly injured by 
drought. This errouoouB impression, whioh has 
been brought to my attention several times of 
late, reminds mo of a very enjoyable conversa¬ 
tion that I had with tho Hon. Marshall P. Wilder 
of Boston, not very long since, /Vs I remember 
it, he said 1 hat Home one had written to him 
asking what was tho ohief requirement for suc¬ 
cessful strawberry culture. He roplied iu sub¬ 
stance : 
" In the first place, the strawberry’s chief 
need is a great deal of water. 
In the seoond place, it needs moro water. 
‘‘ In the third place, I think, I would give it a 
great deal more water.” 
According to my experience this piquant way 
of putting the trnth is scarcely an exaggeration. 
Lear in mind, there must bo thorough wuier- 
drainage. No water must stand and stagnate on 
the surface or just under it. This is always 
ruinous. But having secured proper drainage, 
then the moister the laud the better. 
Corn wall-on-Hudson. E. )’. Roe. 
-- 
CONDENSED EXPERIENCE WITH STRAW¬ 
BERRIES. 
The Great American and Beauty on Du¬ 
rand’s place are truly wonderful; on mine, how¬ 
ever, they have not amounted to ranch, for my 
whole crop, this year, is almost a total failure; 
yet this really affords no criterion of their 
merits, i havo great hopes of tho Beauty, if it 
gets the same high culture Durand gives it, but 
I have little hopes of either wtion given only 
the broad-cast field culture that berries gener¬ 
ally get. 
;; Duouesse I have not tried; but I saw it at 
Woolaeu <fc Co.’s last year, and was not favor¬ 
ably impressed with it. 1 again saw it at Hance 
& Son’s this year, and it looks better. 
Cumberland Triumph in of good size and 
color, of fair quality and tolerably productive. 
Springdale is, howevor, of better quality 
than Cumberland Triumph and more productive, 
besides being largo and handsome. 
Captain Jack I saw at Hance &, Son’s. It 
was very lato aud did not seam to set much 
fruit. 
Prouty s Seedling.—I f the conduct of small 
fiuit dining this erratic season, will at all serve 
as a basis for an opinion, I should think favor¬ 
ably of this variety. It is very productive, and 
tho berries uro of good quality. It lieH almost 
too close to the groaud, however, but the use of 
fertilizers may push it up a little. 
Belle de Lyons.— I saw this also at Hance’s, 
aud as he has it from B. M. Watson, it is un¬ 
questionably Boyden’s No. 30. 
Ditnoan. Ibis is earliest of all strawberries, 
and last year, on my grounds, was best of all in 
point of quality—so said scores of visitors. 
This year from three-quarters to seven-eighths 
of tho crop is a total failure, caused by frost, 
rain, rot and blight. On tho whole I think 
three-quarters of my entire crop, of all kinds, 
was a total loss. It has been tho most disastrous 
season for strawberries I have over known. 
Any varieties, to withstand such a soason suc¬ 
cessfully, must be iron-clad. Durand claims 
that his Beauty is so protected. A Friend. 
Essex Co., N. J. 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
STRAWBERRY REPORT 
The attention and care which we havo given to 
Strawberry culture, for the paBt two years, would 
probably have resulted in fall crops from many 
different sorts during the season just past, hail 
it not been for the severe frost which blighted 
many llowors, then either In full bloom or 
“gone to seed." That a given variety will do 
well here is not proof that it will do well in 
many other places. But the fact may bo con¬ 
sidered as oue link in tho chain of circumstan¬ 
tial ovidenoe. 
Of all the new sorts none has raised higher 
expectation than 
Durand's Great American.— Its high-sound- 
ing name, the great size it has been known to 
attain under circnmstauces whioh, in tho light 
of general experience, must be doomed ‘‘pecu¬ 
liar;'' tho labor which, Tor years, its producer is 
known to have given to crossing varieties aud to 
seedling cultivation, havo created these “great 
expectations.” Witli ub the berries were not of 
extraordinary size; tho flavor was inferior, and 
tho vinos were not uuusuaily productive. Fig. 
13 is a portrait of our largest berry. 
Duchesse. -This proved with ns the earliest 
to ripen of any variety uudor test; vary pro¬ 
ductive. Tho average sizo is that of fig. 2 iu 
our illustration. It promises to bo one of tho 
best early varieties. It is not so firm as Wilson, 
but superior iu other roapoots. 
Cumberland Triumph,— Rather soft berry; 
seeds small, resting upon the surface. Itipeus 
in every part at the same time. Uniformly of 
large size—fig. 3 is a fair average. Our vines, 
Juue 4, were loaded with berries, though ex¬ 
posed to the same frost as all the others. The 
shape is perfect, the flavor is very good. The 
acute lobes of tho calyx, from three to five, are 
so constant as to aid in determining this variety. 
Bale red, or pink. Too soft for market. 
Captain Jack. —Fails bore. Tho vines are 
nut strong; fruit very small, acid. Not produc¬ 
tive. Fig. 4, is above average size. 
Prouty’s Seedling.— Fig. 5, is a full average 
Blze. Very strong vinos ; very prolific. Bright 
rod, of fine flavor; uniform in size and shape ; 
ofton growing together. It is not very firm, but 
is valuable for home use, or a near market. 
New Dominion. —Is of no value here. Fig. 6. 
Sterling Dark color, good flavor, poor 
growth, small. Fig. 7. 
Belle dk Lyons. —Thrifty vines, lato. Good 
flavor, not productive. One of our correspon- 
douts, a gentleman of great experience with 
strawberries, is confident that this is Boyden 30 
The variety Hent. to us is not Boyden 30, as wil 
bo seen by reference to fig. 8. 
Q olden Defiance. —This has dono admirably 
wilh us this season. The plants grow tall and 
Btrong, and bear for a long time in great abund 
ance. Our last Lorries were taken from Golden 
Defiance. Th> y are plump, shapely, aud high 
flavored. Tho plants are very vigorous growers 
and form large, healthy stools. Wo commend it 
to our frieuds for trial, see tig. 10. Tho color is 
light red, nearly that of Cumberland Triumph. 
Donaldson’s Seedling. —Late. Variable in 
shape. Bright red, medium flavor, not very 
firm. Fig. 9, is the outline, between fig's. 2 and 
15. 
Kerr’s Prolific.— Fig. 11. Too much in¬ 
jured by frost. Late. Rather small. Of fair 
flavor. Not firm. 
Beauty.— Fig. 1, represents one of the largest 
borrios picked from this seedling of Mr. Durand. 
More generally the sizs and outline are those 
shown by figs. 12 and 14. For our soil and 
situation we prefer Beauty, to G. American. 
The flower stems are strong, and grow erect, 
only falling over from the weight of the berries. 
Iu ono instance they wore so eveuly balanced 
upon tho spreading pedicels, that the stem re¬ 
mained upright until some were ripened. The 
color of Beauty is bright red. It ripens with 
Boyden SO, and bears handling well. The plants 
wore vigorous, aud bore tolerably well. Flavor 
ordinary. 
Sharpless.— Not yet tested. We aro indebted 
to Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry, for plants re¬ 
ceived a few weeks ago. Our engraving, fig. 15, 
is from a drawing loaned to us by a friend. 
Crescent Seedling, and Forest Rose.—W e 
may say iho same of tho above two varieties, 
except that we owe oar thanks for plants to 
Rev. E. P. It je. 
Remarks. —We have a number of other new 
varieties, which fruited during the past sum- 
mor, but they were so injured by the frost, that, 
as wo cannot speak well of them, we do not feel 
justified iu speaking of them at all. 
Bergen Co., N. J. 
^riionniltural, 
EVERY-DAY NOTES. 
SAMUEL PARSONS. 
A VIGOROUS TREE. 
Every adjective must be used in a relative 
sense, at least, when applied to trees. When we 
speak of a treo as specially vigorous, It must be 
simply as compared with trees growing m the 
neighborhood. Soil and climate so modify na¬ 
ture that what is great For one section, may bo 
quite moderate for another. The Weeping Slip¬ 
pery Llm is most emphatically a vigorous tree, 
considered iu Ibis light. We know, indeed, of 
hardly another treo that will so readily and fre¬ 
quently make a growth of six feet during one 
soason, in tho soil and climate of this section. 
It is, moreover, a valuable, ornamental tree in 
yet other ways. The vigorous growth it as¬ 
sumes, develops great sweeping branches 
which arch aud weep in tho most fantastic man¬ 
ner. Seen against a clear sky, either at rest or 
blown about by tho wind, tho foliage lakes on 
shapes, the similitudes of which afford whimsi¬ 
cal fancy moat abtiudant material. This extrav¬ 
agant tendency produces, however, iu time, evil 
results, by developing naked branches more or 
less sparsely clothed with foliage at tho outer 
ends. The remedy for such bareness is a sharp 
pruning, yearly, back to the first strong enrve of 
the last year's growth. In mentioning tho Weep¬ 
ing Slippery Elm, its peculiar fall beauty should 
never bo forgotten. Autumn retains the foliage 
of few trees in any degree of beauty. Hence, 
when wo perceive tho leaves of tho Weeping 
Slippery Elm in full freshness and vigor, weeks 
aflei tho foliage of other Elms is yellow aud 
falling, we must needs deem it a valuable qual¬ 
ity. 
The value of this trait is, of course, quite dis¬ 
tinct from the glow of decaying leaves, but, 
nevertheless, too Uttio Bought after. Thoro are 
trees to be specially enjoyed iu spring and early 
summer, and trees that belong to late summer 
