474 
THE BUBAL MiW-YORMER. 
4ULYF20 
request, I give the following history and data 
concerning the Parker Earle strawberry. 
In May, 1886, while one day visiting 
Prof. T. V. Munson, of this place, we were 
viewing his strawberry plantations, and dis¬ 
cussing the subject then much written up in 
the papers—the influence of pollenization, 
and its effects upon the characteristics of the 
fruit pollenated. Before us were Crescents 
growing alongside of Mr. Munson’s very 
characteristic seedling No. 3, which has a 
perfect flower, and we concluded that if the 
theory be correct—that the strawberry fruit 
would show the markings of the variety that 
pollenated it—the Crescents in this case would 
certainly do so. Failing to find any proof of 
the truth of the theory in the fruit examined, 
I suggested that I would plant the seed from 
a number of the berries under examination, 
which were typical Crescents, and taken from 
plants well exposed to the No. 3 referred to, 
so that we might determine from the off¬ 
spring whether or not cross-fertilization had 
really taken place. A considerable number 
of plants were obtained, most of which show¬ 
ed the unmistakable characteristics of the 
No. 3 more than of the mother Crescent, 
proving beyond question that cross-fertiliza¬ 
tion had taken place. 
Among the seedlings w'ere several fine va¬ 
rieties, one a large, dark crimson, known as 
No. 2, very early, much inclined to over¬ 
bearing, and of so much promise that I am 
still holding it on probation, but the one that 
eclipsed all the others, and which promises to 
eclipse all others is now known as Parker 
Earle. It produced its first fruit in 1887, and 
again the original plant, with its sets in a 
short matted rOw, bore a crop that astonished 
every one who saw it for the beauty and 
quality of the fruit produced, the yield being 
at the rate of 15,000 quarts to the acre. The 
original plant was allowed to remain in the 
same place but was much neglected, and this 
season it had formed a matted row time feet 
long and about one foot wide, which yielded 
one full quart at each of three pickings, and 
1 am satisfied that at least half that quantity 
was wasted by neglect and the depredations 
of birds. 
The following record was kept of a plot of 
25 rows, four of which w ere Parker Earle, set 
nine months ago; five rows Captain Jack, two 
rows Cumberland Triumph, and 14 rows 
Crescent. All w'ere treated as nearly alike 
as possible, except that the Parker Earles were 
not planted until the latter part of June, while 
the others were planted in March, ’88, and all 
the runners of the Parker Earle were removed 
to another plot for the purpose of increasing 
the stock, thus leaving only the 229 old 
plants in four rows about three feet apart, the 
rows being 3% feet apart. 
The other varieties named were left in reg¬ 
ular matted rows, that would average one 
foot wide, without a break, and 3% feet 
apart. The Parker Earle—229 plants—pro¬ 
duced 251 quarts picked, or 62% quarts to the 
row. The other 21 rowsproduced 1,150 quarts 
or 54 16-21 quarts to the row'. The fruit of 
the Parker Earle sold the season through in 
our market at nearly one-third more per 
quart than that of the other varieties, except 
the Cumberland Triumph which brought the 
same price, but gave the smallest yield of all. 
In a neighboring plantation were Jessie, 
Bubach, Cloud, May King, Warfield No. 2, 
etc., etc., but the verdict of all was that the 
Parker Earle was much superior to any of 
them. 
So it seems that in solving a problem in 
horticulture, we also gave birth to a noble 
variety of this most cherished of fruit. And 
I trust it will be an enduring monument to 
him whose honored name it bears. 
JAMES NIMON. 
Overbearing Blackberries. —I noticed in 
the Rural the report of the enormous crop 
of Taylor’s Prolific blackberries. Last year 
we had a great crop of the same. W e picked 
once or twice and the rest all fell off, leaving 
the hull. This year they seem still more pro¬ 
lific. Thinking there was a deficiency ot 
leaves on the stalk to support the fruit, I have 
cut off half of the fruit stalks, and some more 
than half, and 1 would recommend the Rural 
New-Yorker to try to save them in the 
same way. The Agawam is not as full and 
the Erie I think is about the right proportion. 
Try part, at least. Isaac hicks. 
Westbury, L. I. 
I have 12 vines from the Niagara grape 
seeds the Rural sent me. Six of them bore 
grapes last year and they were very nice— 
not large but medium in size and nearly all 
round. One is oblong, but all are of a light 
green color when ripe and are fine-flavored. 
1 lay all my grapes on the ground and throw 
some sticks or vines on them. I can’t tell 
whether these will winter without this pre¬ 
caution, but 1 think they are excellent, s. c. r. 
miscellaneous. 
WOULD IT HELP FRUIT-GROWERS? 
GENERALLY AGAINST IT. 
AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION 
Two weeks ago, the R. N.-Y., under the 
above caption, spoke of the fact that some 
strawberry growers attribute the low prices 
of this season to the presence in the market of 
vast quantities of bananas and pine-apples 
which were sold at surprisingly low prices. 
Such growers claim that the price of straw¬ 
berries was regulated by the price of the 
bananas, the public demanding a certain 
quantity of fruit for a certain amount of 
money, this amount being regulated by the 
price of the cheapest fruit. 
An examination of tariff legislation for the 
past 50 years shows that no less than a dozen 
changes have been made in the tariff on ba¬ 
nanas and pine-apples, these two fruits being 
considered most harmful to the business of 
strawberry growers. Under the tariff of 1846 
bananas and pine-apples were taxed 20 per 
cent, ad valorem. In 1857 this was reduced to 
15 per cent, and in 1861 the fruits were made 
free. In 1864 a duty of 25 per cent, was levied 
and in 1868 this was reduced to 20 ptr cent. 
Thus far the two fruits had been putin the same 
class but after 1868 they were separated. In 
1871 the duty on bananas was reduced to 10 
per cent, while that on pine apples was kept at 
20 pier cent. In 1874 both fruits were made 
free. In 1875 bananas were taxed 10 per cent. 
and pine-apples 20 per cent. This continued 
until 1883 when both were made free again. 
They have been admitted free ever since to this 
date. The fruits were put on the free list main¬ 
ly through the efforts of the large importers in 
this city. The removal of the tariff has been 
very profitable to them. One importer told a 
R. N.-Y. representative last week that his 
companions in the business could well afford 
to pay #50,000 to prevent a renewal of the 
tariff. As to the extent of the business, here 
is a statement showing the values of banana 
importations for the past five years: 
1884 . 
.$1,878,279 
1885 . 
. 2,156,873 
1886 . 
. 2,356,843 
1887 . 
. 2.682,143 
1888 .. .. 
. 3,153,645 
In 1887 #437,009.41 worth of pine-apples wero 
imported, and in 1888, #537,198.35 worth. 
Thus we see that in 1888, $3,690,843 worth of 
the two fruits were brought here free of duty. 
The importations for 1889 are, thus far, large¬ 
ly in excess of those for a corresponding 
period of 1888. It must be remembered that 
besides the quantities of these two fruits, 
there were also imported, in 1888, $2,084,004 
worth of olives, tamarinds, plantains, cocoa- 
nuts and other nuts and fruits free of 
duty. And besides this, during the same year 
there were imported other fruits and nuts, in¬ 
cluding oranges, lemons, raisins, peanuts, 
limes, dates, figs, grapes, prunes, etc., to the 
value of $15,106,551 on which duties were 
paid averaging 29.64 per cent, ad valorem. It 
is also well to remember, in this connection, 
that the total value of all orchard products 
sold or consumed in the United States for 
1880 was #50,876,154. It is impossible to give 
any reliable statistics as to the value of the 
annual product of strawberries. 
The following opinions are interesting: 
FROM FRED GRUNDY. 
There are banana cranks in every town and 
village, who would have bananas if they cost 
10 cents apiece, and if the market at the same 
time were flooded with strawberries and all 
other kinds of berries at five cents a peck. 
The person who wants a banana or an orange 
generally wants that particular article, and 
nothing else will satisfy him. More bananas 
have been sold in this town this year than in 
any five previous years. They sold simply 
because they wero cheap—two for five cents. 
I do not think, however, that their sale checked 
that of berries to any appreciable extent. 
The demand seems to be about as brisk as 
usual. If bananas were dearer—say ten cents 
apiece—I am satisfied that but very few 
would be sold here. Of course, a high tariff 
would increase the price of such fruits and 
naturally check importations, but whether 
that would help berry-growers is a question. 
If berry-growers will glut the market they 
must take the consequences. If people were 
determined to have a certain quantity of fruit, 
irrespective of kind, they would buy that 
which was cheapest; but I observe that when 
all fruits are dear many go without and turn 
to their flesh-pots and cabnage, while those 
who can afford it buy the fruit which best 
tickles their palates, be it pine-apples or straw¬ 
berries. A tariff is all right when levied on 
such articles as can be plentifully produced 
under our own flag, but keep it off all good 
fruits that we cannot grow. Last year I was 
cloyed on raspberries, and this year I am sell¬ 
ing them and buying bananas, prunes and 
oranges. 
Christian County', Ill. 
FROM SECRETARY E. WILLIAMS. 
I am not one of those who believe a high or 
even prohibitive tariff on bananas would be 
of the least benefit to the strawberry growers. 
As the Rural remarks, “a strawberry never 
will take the place of a banana to the person 
who wants a banana.” This can be reversed 
with equal truth—a banana never will take 
the place of the strawberry to the person who 
warts a strawberry. The two fruits are too 
entirely dissimilar in character and uses. A 
very high tariff on bananas might stimulate 
the culture and slightly enhance the price of 
Florida-grown bananas, but the area in this 
country suited to this fruit is too limited for 
the product to make much impression on the 
demand, and transportation to our northern 
markets would increase the cost so as to place 
them beyond the reach of the masses. To en¬ 
able Florida banana-growing to yield much 
profit in this market the prices would have to 
be materially advanced, and bananas are now 
often more of an expensive luxury than the 
masses feel justified in indulging in. With 
pine-apples the case is different. The area in 
Florida suitable to this fruit is much larger, 
very muen larger than that fit for banana 
growing, and the imported pines come in di¬ 
rect competition with the domestic product, 
and of necessity the price of the foreign arti¬ 
cle governs and regulates that of the home- 
giown fruit. I look upon bananas and pine¬ 
apples as more of a dainty luxury than straw¬ 
berries. Berries of all kinds I regard as 
among the essentials. They may be styled 
the essential luxuries of our table, and I 
doubt very much whether, if our markets 
were bare of foreign fruits during the straw¬ 
berry season, it would materially affect the 
prices of berries. It would probably increase 
the sales, as merchants and dealers would be 
inclined to buy and sell more of them. I 
know it is very easy to attribute the low 
prices of strawberries to the abundant supply 
of foreign fruits, but the over-supply and in¬ 
ferior quality of the berries have much more 
to do with the price than anything else. 
Our Southern friends take the cream of the 
prices with their berries and vegetables, and 
the keen edge of our Northern appetite is 
cloyed by the time our home products are 
placed before the public. The prices as well 
as the quality of the Southern supply have 
reached a low stage to which our hot weather 
contributes, and purchasers have become so 
used to low prices by the time our strawber¬ 
ries are offered that they hesitate to invest 
heavily and curtail the amount of their pur¬ 
chases at an advanced price. It is very easy 
for prices to tumble, but much harder to rise. 
If our dissatisfied growers would follow their 
consignments to market and see the quanti¬ 
ty, condition and quality of the competing 
articles, they might perhaps get an idea re¬ 
garding over-supply, improper distribution, or 
even utter worthlessness of the fruit offered, 
that would throw a ray of light on the cause 
of low prices which would locate it nearer 
home. The scarcity of an article always tends 
to elevate the price if there is a demaud for it, 
while a superabundance or over-supply 1ms 
the opposite effect. The principal domestic 
fruits that I consider materially affected in 
prices by the imported articles are orauges, 
lemons, pine-apples and grapes, and that these 
feel the depressing effects of importations I 
think no one will deny; but I cannot see that 
a high tariff on bananas would visibly affect 
the price of strawberries. Others may hon¬ 
estly think differently, and nothing short of 
a trial would prove which was right. 
Essex County, N. J. 
FROM M. CRAWFORD. 
It must be regarded os a hopeful sign that 
PARKER EARLE STRAWBERRIES From Nature. Fig 179. 
