The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-01

riculturists Charles Downing. and last
but far from least, that Gladstone" OF
strawberries, the Wilson's Albany, of
which IL may be said, None knew thee
but TO love thee; none named thee but 10
praise" Its reputation has lived only to
grow from year 10 year until il has Occu-
pied place in the esteem of cultivatOrs
that no other berry has approached For
its adaptability to various soils and eli
mates il has maintained a remarkable rep
utation for over quarter Of a century.
having been originated in the state of New
York in 1850
The Charles Downing was originated
the same year in Kentucky. and about he
same time or earlier, from the same state
came the variety bearing the name OF
that state. The Triumph de Grand and
LUCINDA were introduced from Belgium
in 1855.
1t is no exaggeration to say of at least
three Of these old varieties. that they are
more highly esteemed to-day by practical
growers than most of the new varieties
introduced since 1865 and 1875.
All Of those mentioned are bi-sexual OF
perfect varieties.
With the exception of the Crescent
which was originated in 1870. and the
Sharpless and Cumberland. originated n
1874, the majority of the varieties in the
current catalogues have been introduced
IN the past ten years, and some of these
are very promising.
OF those named thus far the Crescent
is the only pistillate or imperfect vari-
ETY., and is the only one of this class
that has been generally cultivated in the
south. 1t is v&y fine berry of good fla
Nor, large size. and when cultivated prop
erly, yields large and profitable crops.
In planting any of these pstillate vari-
etIes 1t is essential that they be planted
with such of the bi-sexual of perfect va
rieties as blossom at the same time, else
the pistillates will not be properly fer
tilted. The Crescent and the Wilson arc
both early kinds, much earlier than most
varieties, and blossom at the same time.
So this makes an, appropriate combina-
ton. The Minor Prolific also blossoms at
the same time with the Crescent.
The Bubach, originated in 1855. is a pis-
tillate variety that promises to become a
very popular berry, for market purposes
especially. 1t is a later variety than the
Cescent and blooms at the same time with
Triumph de Gand and Ohio. Another very
promising pistillate variety is the Cloud,
originated in Louisiana three or four
years ago. 1t is highly endorsed as a ship
ping berry. of dark red color, very pro-
ductive and very large for so early a
berry.
Among other promising varieties intro
duced in the last four or five years may
be named the Jessie. Parker Earl Candy,
Yale and Haverland. all perfect varieties
except the latter. The Candy is late
variety.
Until thorough local tests have been
made Of the new varieties, and their char
acteristics found to be fixed, of course it
will not do to venture on large paintings
of any of them, but those interested in
the subject of improved strawberry cul-
ture should, as far as they are able, make
tests upon their own soils of those newer
kinds that are recommended by good au-
thority. The experimental stations are
doing very valuable work of the kind
which will greatly aid the practical cult
vators Of fruit and vegetables, but there
is much they cannot do. When soil and
climate are of a different character from
that of the grower, each individual must
make some tests for himself, and none
are more interesting than those made
with new strawberries.
Some of the new sorts may after awhile
be found worthy to take the place of some
of the kinds now highly esteemed, but II
will doubtless be many years yet before
southern growers will see fit to dispense
with the Sharpless or Wilson or Crescent
strawberries "a royal trio) and the Til
umph de Gand and Manchester and Cum
berland (another trio of approved value);
as remarked, however, some of the newer
kinds will no doubt prove very valuable
additions to their strawberry plantations.
Most any kind of soil other than barren
sand and pipe clay can be made to grow
Strawberries with more or less success.
II a choice soil is to be had. however
a loamy sand is to be preferred. and if nat
urally fertile all the better. The soil. OF
course, should be properly drained Fine
crops Of strawberries have been grown
on very clayey soil. but mulching with
coal ashes, and good crops have also been
made on sandy soil, with dressings OF
suitable manure and straw mulching.
In fact, where there are no facilities for
irrigation, the best results in strawberry
culture cannot be attained in our eli
mate without the aid of mulching. No
cuItivator should attempt berry growing
with this valuable and usually indispensa>
BILE adjunct left out.