Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-10-18
Straw berries.

can Institute, Professor Huntsman I
said:
81 think the great size that some
recent seedlings have obtained has
not improved the quality Most of
the large berries arc deficient in fla
vor. When Il new Seeding has been
produced all right in this respect, it
is usually small or too unproductive
to suit the desire of the strawberry
growers. We hope yet TO obtain
combination of all the good qualities
requisite that is, great size and pro-
ductiveness and qualities equal to the
best. We have reason to hope for
this when we look at what has been
done within fifty years, or even ten,
by hybridizatiOn and production of
new seedlings.
''Originaliy there were three spe-
cies Of wild Strawberries in Europe
the green or small aromatic berry
the wood, or Alpine, which produced
'small dry berries, and seedlings from
the above were not improved the
third was the HautbOy, q small high
favored fruit, growing upon stronger
plants. Slight improvements have
been made from seedlings Of this va
riety. In America we have three
species of varieties of one species, the
Eragaria Virginiana or wild straw
berry, small but sweet and improved
in new seedlings. A sub-variety call
ed the Iowaensis Is found at the
West, Of large size, early, brilliant
scarlet, but acid. In South America
there are two species or varieties, the
Grandifora, with flowers of the size
of silver dollar-plants vigorous and
productive ; burns in our climate, but
thrives in Europe, where 1t is exteE-
.sively used to obtain new seedlings,
being susceptible of considerable i'm
provement. The other variety is the
Chill or Chiehsis. similar To the Grand
flora, but Of still larger size, though
differing in character. lt Is too tend
or here, and even dies out in Europe
It's chief value is as an impregnatOr
to get hybrlds Within the last few
years, " any crosses have b en- made
between the Alpine or Pine and
Grandifora, also the Virginiana and
Chieusis, obtaining such berries as the
Triumphe de Grand, Hovey, NapOle-
on Ill, etc i"
Professor Huntsman said that ne
had recently obtained some seedlings
Of promise by crossing the Iowa and
Early Scarlet, and is now trying the
Chill crossed with the Iowa, but is
not prepared to report upon the pro-
duct
The sexual character of the straw
berry was spoken of While Long.
worth and some others claim that the
pistilate varieties are the most pro-
ductive, he prefers hermaphrodite
sorts, which fertilize themselves. As
general rule, berries with rosy
white flesh are the highest favored.
Boston Pine, British Queen and
Burr's New Pine, are examples. Many
persons fail to get q crop Of strawber-
ries for want of good culture. To get
the best returns, the plants should be
set one to two feet apart, according
to the habit OF the variety, and all
the runners kept pinched of. Manure
literally with ashes or decOmpOsed
leaves and baru-yard manure. 4 list
of six varieties may include Triumphe
de Gand (always kept in hills Rus
sells Hovey, Agriculturalist, also to
DO grown in hills two or two and a
half feet apart Wilson and McAvoy's
Superior on LongwOrth's Prolific; the
amateur should always have Burr's
New Pine, Hooker, and Boston Pine
The Rev DR. Osgood said he had
heard some money caleulators esti-
mate the annual value of the straw
berry crop sent to the city markets
at million of dollars. OF how much
more value to the great human fami
ly would this crop be estimated upon
the value of health and social good
feeling which it produces. say that
the time may come when every prod
igal son may return from his food of
hus<s in the fields and paths where
he has wandered to . feast of straw
berries and cream in his own mothers
house, and that every father may be
induced to grow the crop in it's great
est perfection in readiness for these
happy family reunions.