Middletown transcript., 1870-01-15
Horticultural department,
CULTURE OF STRAWBERRIES,
ny EDWARD sATTERTHwAITE.

Read before the Pennsyrana Hort. Society," June l. CO.
1t is within the memory of many of the
members of this society, that the culture
OF what is called small fruit, at the head
OF which stand Strawberries, has grown
up to be, what it now is, very impor-
tant branch of productive industry
twenty-five years ago the culture of
Strawberries in large quantities as mar
ket product, was almost unknown. Per-
haps the first noticeable epoch in the his
tory of the Strawberry, was the produc-
tion some twenty-five years ago of the
far famed " Hovey's Seeding" by the
celebrated horticulturist whose name it
bears. This was great step in advance,
and seemed to give stimulus to the pro-
duction of improved varieties, that has
gone ON increasing in an accelerated ratio,
until the number has become so great as
to make it quite out of the power of any
one cultivator to make even collection
of all the celebrated yaritics, much less to
test their value.
The next great epoch in Strawberry
culture after the advent of the " Hoyey. !"
was the introduction some twelve years
ago of that wonderfully productive va
riety, the " Albany Seeding" The pro-
duction of this fruit will justly immortal
lze the name of its propagator, John
Wilson of Albany. Brought out as it
was, modestly, without any flourish, it has
done more by far, than any other variety,
to establish the business of growing Straw
berries in this part of the world, as a per-
manent and profitable branch of terracul-
ture. The ~ Hovey Seeding" opened
the eyes of hortculturists to the capacity
OF the Strawberry for Improvement in ali
the good qualities of the fruit, and the
" Wilson's Albany" demonstrated that it
was capable of producing an amount of
food per acre, that is exceeded but by few
products Of the soil.
1t may seem strange, and certainly it is
to be regretted, that as largely as this
fruit is now cultivated, and with the great
number of fine varieties that we now baye.
varying in their habits, so that some NAV
be found adapted to every variety of soil
and situation, its cultivation is yery far
from being as general as it should be.
"A long and extensive experience in the
culture of this fruit, enables me to sneak
with confidence, when say, that no nro.
duct of the soil that am acquainted with,
yields more bountiful and sure return
for the labor bestowed, when that labor is
and skilfully directed. And
certainly there are few but who will agree
with me that no other fruit or vegetable is
more grateful to the appetite or more
coming as it does, the first
fruit OF the season, and at season of the
year when fruit is not only the greatest of
luxuries, but absolutely necessary to
health.
10 me, it has long been a subject of
that a very large proportion
OF the cultivators of the soil in this coup-
try neglect to grow, as they should do, a
6ountiful supply for their families of this
delicious fruit, There really is no good
reason, why Strawberries should not he
grown in sufficient abundance every veor
'n every farm in the country for the
culture of this fruit is attended with less
,eal difficulty than that of any other
ruit. L speak advisedly when saw this.
m the culture of all other fruits, difficult
les are encountered that are sometimes
nsurmountable, and failure often una
In this part of the world, all our tree
rpits have BECOME almost worthless from I
he ravages of the curculio, and for this
10 remedy has been devised. and no
mount of skill or labor can overcome the
Other small fruits are lioble =
fail from the severity of the winter. or >
ate frosts, or cold storms in tire sprinp I
he Grape has innumerable maladfes
bat seem to be without remedy, and with n
!, with all the care that can be bestowed. {
lil4re is the rule, apd success the ex- #
option. Drought, which sometimes cuts o
hort the crops Of other small fruits af- e
'cts but slightly the Strawberry. crop, if n
icy have received proper attention. a
trawberries require certain amount of b
ltelligent labor. but with that thew never Il
III unlike all other fruits they appear to 5,
ave no insect enemies. In twenty years $,
Iperience in the extensive culture Of ali II
Hds Of agricultural and HORTICULTURAL I