The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-07-21
which are reset at once when taken
from the seed.bed.
About Strawberries.

FROM the Farmer and Fruit Grolcer
A correspondent last week asks
us Tor our experience with strawber.
ries the past season. We have given
it substantially before. The consid.
erations that must govern all berry
growers in Southern Illinois are en-
tirely different from those which will
Influence parties everywhere, who
cultivate for home market We
must. have solid berries, 7and good
keepers and aagood full color is al
mostsequally necessary. 4 In these -es.
sential respects we have found the
Wilson ahead. a4i ga
" There are many other kinds which
as plants we would prefer 10 grow;
among these We name. two old sorts
that we have grown extensively, the
Downing and The Monarch. Both
are good multipIlers, and tits easy to
get full stand OF plants with them.
Both are moderate bearers of good.
sized berries, and under the best of
conditions either will give very large
fruit. A small quantity of either
Of these berries Will sell :or better
figures in Chicago than the Wilson
will bring; but large amount will
sell tor less money, for this reason,
that neither OF them is wanted to
ship out; and the. local demand for
any light colored berry, or any berry
at fancy prices is very soon supplied.
The tact that a lew choice Downings
or Monarchs have sometimes brought
extra figures is likely to lead many
planters into serious loss. 1t has
been poor advice that has lead to
large planting OF these or any other
so called fancy berries"
The sooner it is understood that
there is but one variety of strawberry
universally liked by consumers, and
universally sought by the trade in all
our large markets, and that this va
riety is the old Wilson's Albany, the
better it will be for planters, and
the less money they will loose-in
proftless experiments. This was
our impression a year ago, and it is
our impression now, doubly con.e
firmed by observation in two large
markets the present season, ana by
extensive conference with dealers Of
good judgment. We have ourselves
planted more Wilson's than OF any
c.hes ssllsss TIL sss. ard wish row
that the proportion had been still
larger. We say this candidly, TO
meet the criticisms OF some OF our
friends who have suggested that our
"preaching" and our practice have
not agreed well. We confess to
having experimental considerably
with new varieties, and we confess
to having lost money at 1t; never
theless we shall continue our search
for better market strawberry than
the Wilson, to suit the needs OF
planters for a distant market. We
want berry as prolific asrthe) Will
son, with as good color, with a farr
vorl that suits the average buyer as
we'll, with capacity to endure long
keeping and long transportation, and
that is twice as large. II there is
such berry we have not found it.
We have been perfectly sincere in
our frequent expressions that Tor the
purposes of Southern Illinois grow
ers, and Of all others growing tor dis
tant markets, the Wilson is the safest
and best berry we have any knowl-
edge OF. Our friends may take this
as our final judgment, tor one year
more at least.
In future articles we propose to
say something about the merits and
dement's OF some other kinds.
The Florida Volcano.
.,,,,.,,> -, doDt of tho Savannah