CHESAPEAKE. —This new variety, which I 
first offered to the public in 
1906, has made a great record. It is now being 
grown commercially all over the United States, and 
Is giving the best results in every section so far as I 
have heard. Last summer I visited a number of 
prominent growers in Connecticut and New Jersey, 
and everyone put it at the head of the list. In truth, 
if there is another varety that is as perfect in form, 
as good in quality and as firm I have yet to see it. 
The Chesapeake is a chance seedling and its parent¬ 
age is not known. The plants are large and vigorous; 
no. rust and no weakness of any kind. The foliage is 
thick and leathery ; upright leaf stems, with Laves 
almost round. The fruit is borne on large stems 
the great proportion of which stand up, holding the 
fruit from the ground. The Chesapeake bears more 
fruit on single stems than'any variety I have seen. 
The blossoms are perfect, fruit uniformly large, aver¬ 
aging larger than the Candy and. as compared with 
Gandy, it is more productive. firmer, better ouality, 
without the green tips which are often ►found in that 
variety. In quality t ranks with William Belt. Bru¬ 
nette and others of that class. It does not make a 
large amount of runners, but beds up just right to 
give the best results in fruiting. It is unnecessary 
to give a long-drawn-out description of the Chesa¬ 
peake. I believe this entire catalogue could be filled 
with good reports from it, but I will close this de¬ 
scription by saying that it is one of the very best of 
the late varieties If there is a better one, I have 
never seen it. Many others evidently have the same 
opinion of it, as it has taken more than 15 acres 
of plants last season to fill our orders on this one 
variety. It is positively one of the best. 
BETHEL. —TTndor date of January 25, 1910, the 
introducer writes me as follows: “I 
am introducing a new berry this season, the Bethel. 
It originated near me and I have watched it growing 
for three seasons. I am now satisfied that it is going 
to take well. One of its strongest points is its ship¬ 
ping qualities, which will equal the Candy.” The 
originator further describes the Bethel in his printed 
matter as follows : ‘■‘This new berry originated with 
Mr. R. F. Thomas, of Kent County, Delaware, who 
has been growing it for the last four years. I have 
visited his farm and seen the plants in fruit, and 
seen him bring the berries to market and sell them, 
where he always received a fancy price. As this is 
a great strawberry section, where every farmer grows 
berries, this berry has caused quite a lot of comment. 
Many persons have tried to purchase the plants, but 
the originator has refused to sell until this season 
preferring to wait until the berry had been well 
tested and become well known. A buyer, who has 
handled tim fruit to a considerable extent, describes 
it thus : “Immense size, fine shipping qualities, dark 
red coior clear to the center, flavor unsurpassed. Has 
few equals as a table berry, a heavy cropp°r covering 
a long-bearing season, commencing medium early. 
The vine is a strong, unright grower, perfect blossom 
and free from rust.” Evidently a worthy variety. 
EKEY. —This variety has been on the market for 
several years. I have never grown it, 
however, until the past season and have, therefore, 
not fruited it, but we have received numerous in¬ 
quiries for the variety, which induced us to put it in 
stock. We find it described in M. Crawford’s cata¬ 
logue as follows : “Earlv medium and makes a short 
season. Originated with E. H. Ekey, of Southern 
Ohio. This fine berry has been before the public for 
four years and has won its way from the first. It 
makes plants sparingly, but they are of extra size 
and yields well. The fruit is peculiarly attractive 
very large, very loner and very dark red and glossy ; 
the flesh is also dark red and solid. The flavor is 
nleasantly tart, sprightly and agreeable.” The Ekey 
has made a better growth with me than the above 
description would indicate; wo find the plants strong, 
healthy and vigorous, as described, and enough of 
them. I am very favorably impressed with the vari¬ 
ety, so far as I have s£cn it. 
UTSTCLE Jim —Another of the New York type. 
Originated by James Dornan, of 
Michigan. It is said to be a chance seedling and its 
parentage is not known. It is a good, reliable vari¬ 
ety and. while it came from an entirely different 
source, I doubt if many growers could distinguish it 
from New York, either in plant or fruit. 
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