New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-06
By President j. H. Smith, Wisconsin Horticultural Society

By President j. H. Smith, Wisconsin horticultural Society
| If we learn from each years teachings how to
avoid the of the past, the lessons will be
worth their cost to us. though expensive. For
one, had this year very costly lesson, and the
difficulty is, don't yet see bow am to avoid its
| losses In case of repetition. Soon after we
commenced picking a tremendous shower came that
beat both straw berries and vines fat to the ground
| and made the earth almost like bed of mortar.
In the course of two or three days another storm.
still more severe. swept over us, seven or eight
inches of water falling IN few hours My land Is
almost level and such food of course set both
surface and underdrains at defiance although they
were doing their best. and one OF them "a main
trunk is of tw0-inch plank and 12x14 inches In
the clear.
In less than three days after this third the
rain not so heavy, but accompanied by very heavy
hail. OF course this about ended the strawberry
crop. as well as seriously damaged many other
crops. Now. If some reader of The TRIBUNE can
tell me how to guard against such loss in future
will willingly learn. The fruit was. of course,
nearly all killed upon the vines. The
very much interested in watching their
and Sm Jack snd
the No. 30 were the first TO show signs OF In
jury, and apparently slowest to recover. Cres-
in order In the process Of recovery Wilson is show
ing vitality, and at present promises to put
itself IN splendid condition for large yield next
season
Although my crop was, as believe, at least half
destroyed / can still tell about the yield Of the
different varieties as compared with Wilson. Cres-
cent which has come nearer TO the Wilson in its
bearing qualities has been so unsatisfactory IN
other ways that have Just ploughcd them all un-
der, except few plants that have set for an ex-
will not bear shpment. have very rarely, If ever,
sent crate of them even short distance from
homo without having q complaint about them by
return mail. The Captain Jack has been with lne
almost an entire failure. Fruit very soft quality
poJr and but few well-formed berries. shall set
no more Of them.
Glendale Is later than Wilson, and had on posi-
bly, one-third to oue-balf the fruit Wilson would
have borne upon the Same ground. The quality is
miserable. 1t is not to be compared with the KEN
lucky as late berry. l regard Kentucky as our
best late berry. 1t is hardy, of good sze average
larger than Wilson, bears perhaps half as much
fruit as Wilson, and Of good quality. but entirely
too soft for shipment. The No. 80 and
Sbarpless are entirely worthless for ordinary
purposes keep very few Of them merely to show
my friends that can grow some large berries. II
responsible persons would oner me og cents per
quart for all that could grow OF them would not
set a singls OF either variety. III the same par
ties would offer me 10 cents per quart Tor All the
Wilson's could grow, wonld set All the isnu WIN
them that ! could get pckersto pick during their
season.
The Manchester has been extocd as the most re-
markable berry In the world. have small piece
of them upon as good strawberry ground as i own.
They are fortified by the Wilson. and In addition.
entirely surrounded by them. IL say that they
had half as much fruit as the Wilsors around and
among them. II is giving them all aud fear more
credit than they deserve In addition 10 tnat,
they are apparently very much damaged with rust.
aud show bit few signs Of Improvement. Downers
Prolific Is early berry amoderae bearer ABOUT as
large as Wilson, and Of excellent quality but only
iil for home use: entirely too soft for market.
have number OF other varieties but VIII not speak
Of them now.
A TnmUsg reader asks how long a strawberry
bed. receiving the best Of care. should continue in
full bearing That depends upon circumstances
and varieties. have about $4,000 Wilson plants
that were set last May II they do as we'll and bear
"a large a crop next season as they now promise.
shali plough them under soon rs we are done
making and nut In some other kind of crop, for
the simple reason that they will have borne them
s.lvea In DEATH IT, ON the other hand
some misfortune should beiall them, and
IN smile of INV care aud attention, they
have only a moderate crop they viii remain another
vrar Al the close of the second seasons picking
thev will bc ploughed under. This Is the only
variety that | nave ever Known 10 bear ITSELF 10
death In one year. We are ploughng under bed
a
which we have taken thrre crops, and have pea
of Kentuckys which has given two crops ana mas
been carefully cleaned out, ana ieit 10 give is thu
one next season. lhls Is as long as u seems 10 me
10 he profitable TO keep bed OF any variety that
have ever cultivated
II will doubtless be evident to TRIBUNE readers
that the Wilson still my favorite. Ii may be
asked, Why do you have 80 many varieties upon
your ground. il they are 50 much inferior 10 H'
Their, ar- two reasons. Ouejs that II there is any
III it1ara
spr.rior 20 Wilson want IL. and am willing TO
nav Tor ~ The other Is that the reports oil new
varieties sent out are with mo 50 utterly nnreiaoe
that the only way can hnd on. wns'1e. ,ast pe~
Hence keep selecting from those that seem.to he
the most likely 10 succeed and Try them Tor rev
years ana then plough them under o9un,ins op'I
lime aud money | have spent hundreds anu
might almost say Thousands oil dollars IN ths way.
And here lot me say TO the many thousands OF
your readers DO not throw away your money upon
these ltincrant fruit and plant pedlers III piant
has any yaluc some regular grower near you VIII
be almost certain to find II out. and can give you
reliable information regarding IT, When you p"r-
chase. do so of soms one whom you know and can
deoend upon Only yesterday. rs was sitting mere
hnsv win my men, one Of these men called me away
IN ahow me some samples OF siriwDeriies III uV'-
tie lie called them Big Bob" and Iec'ted lne
and told him his berries grow upon the vines o, tue
Sbarpless and that they were worthless. anu LIS
Big Boo, provided he had u, was 10 posV.i mn,
Itis often said that the Wilson Is falling This
NAV be true in some places but can see no signs OF
il about here. never had and never saw SO iine
niece of Wilson's in my life OF their age, as my last
spring settingis. am well satisfied that IN many
cases where they are supposed to be giving out
the only trouble Is that growers have allowed some
other variety TO get mixed with them. l cannot AZ
nresent recoIlect any varsity ever raisea ,nat J,
t'aS 70 yroSy with the Wilson would not destroy
Tie latter in a short time. Although Wilson Is
hardy plant, il il a very low grower keeping close
comnared with most other varieties hence. II any
oyber "a allowed to grow with it, the modest niue
Wilson will surely be overshadowcd ana s'rahs'ou
l.aI NTH