Middletown transcript., 1870-01-15

few plants, to dig up wild ones and plant
them; he might as we'll gather the seeds
of wild carrots from his fence rows and
plant them to save the expense of few
seeds.
1t must be admitted, that amateur
Strawberry growers are oftmes cheated in
the plants they purchase. Many nursery
men are careless enough to let their va
rieties get mixed and send them out in
that condition; sometimes with a few
plants of some strong growing and worth
less sort amongst them, which soon get
possession of the whole bed. 1 have very
often known this to happen. have inva-
riably found the Albany Seeding to be
sent out by nurserymen in this condition
Some nurserymen have also done much
harm to the cause of Strawberry culture
by sending out q great number of worth
less seedlings with high recommendations
| could name one establishment in partic-
ular, near New York, that has inflicted
immense trouble and loss upon experiment.
al culturists, by this abominable practice
of sending out hundreds of new seedlings,
each one represented to be better than any
|
While on the subject of varieties, I may
as well say all that | have to say on that
subject. The number of varieties is now
infinite, and to choose the proper sorts to
plant, has become the most perplexing
part of the whole bueiness. 1t would, |
think, in the present state of Strawberry
culture, be wrong to recommend unre-
| Seryedlv ony porficulor ,,orat;os o. ,o..o
are best adapted to some soils and situa-
tions and modes of culture. and some to
others, and none are suitable for all. The
varieties that do we'll in our PENNSYLVANIA
loans with high cultivation, rarely do
well in the light sandy soils of New Jer-
sey, and vice versa, even in the same To-
cality, and where there is no apparent diff
ference in the soil and surroundings. 7
have noticed the most striking difference
in the produotiveness of the same variety
so that it seems impossible to say with any
degree of certainty that any particular
variety will do best in any location. NY
remarks therefore on this subject must be
very general. In selecting varieties for
planting for market purposes, the first re-
quisite is large size. They should also
be firm-feshed and as nearly as possible
of bright scarlet color. If it has these
properties, the flavor is not of much con-
sequence, at least that is my experience.
All Strawberries are good enough, the
only thing required is that they should
present fine appearance. OF course, for
profit, in addition to the above qualities,
they must be productive, and what have
found to be of great Importance, they
should be strong growers, as | have found
by experience that strong growing va
rieties require far less labor in cultivation.
L have been reluctantly compelled to
abandon the Albany Seeding almost en-
tirely on this account, it being compare
lively poor grower and requiring too
much labor in its cultivation. [ would
say also that | never knew any foreign
variety to do we'll for any length of time
| would therefore not recommend them.
The best plan would seem to be for every
one to experiment little with those sorts
that he sees doing we'll and continue to
cultivate those that do best for him. /
will however name few of the sorts that
have found on several years trial to con-
tinue the most profitable of great many
sorts that | have tried.
The first of these is the Lady Finger.
1t is too well known to need description.
1t is not of the largest size, but of most
beautiful color, and bears carriage to
market better than any other variety that
am acquainted with. 1t has proved
with me a most abundant bearer, and
one of the best growers that know. 1t
grows with mo SO luxuriantly as to require
very little labor in wedding. have had
beds of it in bearing for FIVE years, which
kept perfectly clean with almost no labor.
and bore abundant crops to the last
Though this variety has done SO we'll with
me, l cannot recommend others to plant
it largely without trial, as from some
reason | cannot explain, it does not gen
orally give satisfaction. In the light soils
of New Jersey, where it grows with much
less foliage, its color Ia too dark to sell
we'll.
Next in point Of profit must name the
Russell's prolific. 1t is of very large size
and has proved with me exceedingly pro-
1uctiye, and is an excellent grower.
The Agrculturst l find valuable va
'iety, very large, productive, and a good
grower.
l also continue to cultivate, to some ex-
ent, Downer's Prolific, Austin, and few S
,ther old sorts which continue to do we'll. l
have also on trial a number of new sorts 1
hat promise we'll.
This is my plan as regards varieties l t
ry, then judge for myself, and that is b
What L would recommend to others. l o
nd that | have nearly exhausted my a
Ime' and have as yet said nothing upon
ne most important part of the subject, d
hat of cultivation, and perhaps all that l r.
lay say upon this subject will not be of l
luch account as my belief is, that the te
nltivation of anything can only be learned s'
y, practical observation and experience. NJ
dc not consider any particular prepara- b.
on OF the soil necessary for Strawberries. VI
hn | ~