THOSE of us who are now actively engaged in strawberry-culture can remember when there were only two varieties of this fruit in cultivation in the best gardens of Massachusetts, and when it was grown in very limited quantities for the market. We well remember when some of our neighbors picked daily fifty to a hundred boxes; and that was all that could well be disposed of at fair prices. The varieties then cultivated were the Wood and Early Virginia; the former an imported variety, the latter an American sort. Neither of these was large but the Wood had at least two points of merit,-it parted freely from the hull, so that it could be picked directly into the boxes; and it also possessed a flavor much admired by the lovers of this fruit. In time, some more foreign sorts were introduced; but they were not hardy enough to withstand the scorching suns of summer and blasting colds of winter, and they were not successfully or extensively cultivated. In 1834, our esteemed friend C. M. Hovey conceived the idea of crossing some of the foreign varieties, with the hope of producing a variety that should be hardy enough to endure our seasons, and productive enough to warrant

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its extensive cultivation, a thing that could not then have been said of the larger foreign varieties in cultivation. In order to produce these, he resorted to artificial hybridization. From a large number raised from seed that had been thus crossed, he produced the well-known Hovey's Seedling and Boston Pine. Their introduction marked a new epoch in the cultivation of this fruit. The public could not deny their own senses: but many thought that it was by some strange legerdemain that berries measuring five or six inches in circumference were produced; for they were perfectly enormous as compared with the Wood and Early Virginia. The plants of this new and wonderful variety were sent out at five dollars a dozen; and well we remember the first plants we obtained of this same Hovey's Seedling, that has since become so well known and valuable throughout the country. Then but few strawberries were grown, and those wholly about the large cities. But what a change has taken place since that year 1836, when this variety was introduced! Then not a mile of railroad was built in this country: all the fruit (which was not much) was carried to market in wagons. Then the warm soils of New Jersey, that now produce strawberries by the tens of thousands of bushels, were covered with pines. The hillsides and valleys of New York and Pennsylvania did not, as now, yield their fragrant offerings to tempt the palate of the strawberry-eater. Then the vast prairies of the West were an untrodden solitude. But how changed! how like a dream it seems! — the country covered all over with belts of iron, over which are constantly running ponderous engines, dragging behind them, at more than racehorse-speed, cars loaded with strawberries and other fruits, all destined for the large cities, where they command good prices. This variety once introduced was rapidly extended, and soon could be found in almost every garden about Boston. Its large size, its fine color and flavor, added to its hardiness and productiveness when properly treated, made it extremely valuable; so that it has stood for more than thirty years without a rival. Thousands, yes, tens of thousands, of seedlings have been grown, fruited, and most of them destroyed by the producer as entirely unworthy of cultivation; but Hovey's Seedling had maintained its place so long, that it is barely possible our friend Hovey began to think that he had reached perfection, and that an attempt to further improve the strawberry would only end in failure. But there were others at work in the same

field; and many varieties have from time to time been produced, and offered to the public, that, after a thorough trial, have been discarded. We cannot spare time or space to enumerate them all, but will speak only of a few of the most prominent ones.

Burr's New Pine was of the very best quality, but proved to be too tender for market-purposes. It required very high cultivation, and the plants were not always hardy. This variety is not much cultivated now in any part of the country. Jenny's Seedling is another American variety that seemed to promise well, but has not proved to be valuable. Longworth's Prolific and M'Avoy's Superior were both raised at Cincinnati, and supposed to be, when introduced, of considerable value; but they, too, have passed into the rejected list. Walker's Seedling, though never very extensively cultivated, because of its moderate size and the difficulty with which it was hulled, was, nevertheless, of good quality. When fully ripe, it was equal to the best. This, too, is now rarely found in cultivation.

Burr's Seedling, Imperial Scarlet, Hooker, Cushing, Diadem, Genesee, Monroe Scarlet, Prince's Magnate, Scott's Seedling, Western Queen, Willey, Scarlet Cone, Rival Hudson, Pennsylvania, Orange Prolific, Brooklyn Scarlet, Col. Ellsworth, Crimson Cone, Crimson Favorite, Cutter's Seedling, Emily, Georgia Mammoth, Eclipse, Fillmore, Great Eastern, Monitor, and a host of others that might be named, are now cultivated, if at all, to a very limited extent.

There are others, such as the Agriculturist, Austin or Shaker, French Seedling, Boston Pine, La Constante, Durand, Downer's Prolific, Green Prolific. Lennig's White, Russell's Prolific, Ripawam, Jenny Lind, Napoleon III., and others that are cultivated to some considerable extent in certain localities; but neither of them, so far as we believe, will ever become widely popular.

After these we come to the few well-known and popular sorts, and the few new ones that are believed to be of first quality.

The Brighton Pine is one of the very best market-sorts that has been cultivated in the past; and we believe it does well wherever it has been tested. It has all the good qualities that one can desire, except that it is of medium size.

Wilson's Albany, though not of first-rate quality, is yet the great market

strawberry for the million. Its large size, hardiness, and wonderful productiveness, render it extremely valuable to those with whom quantity rather than quality is the great object. Like the Hovey, and if possible more so, it has found its way all over the country, and everywhere been successfully cultivated. We want a variety that shall combine all the desirable qualities of the Wilson with the good quality of Boston Pine or Hovey's Seedling.

Triomphe de Gand. - This variety is almost the only one among the foreign kinds that has done well in field-culture in this country. It is a berry of good quality and large size, but should be grown in hills to give the best results. It is less popular than it was a few years ago, and must soon give way before the improved native sorts.

The Lady of the Lake is among the new sorts recently put upon the market, originated by Mr. Scott of Brighton, who raised the Brighton Pine; and though not so handsome or so good a berry, yet, if properly cultivated, will, without doubt, prove profitable. It is a pistillate variety, and must have some staminate variety planted near in order to obtain a full crop.

The Jucunda has within a year or two attracted considerable attention, and has proved to be valuable for market-purposes in the hands of some of our noted cultivators. It is at the North not of first quality, being rather watery and flavorless. We have raised berries of good size; but we do not expect good results from it here, whatever it may do at Pittsburg or farther West. It is said to be a foreign variety; and we have never been highly successful with any but native sorts.

We have now briefly noticed most of the varieties that have attracted and are now attracting the attention of the strawberry-grower; and it only remains for us to speak of the latest wonder in the long list of strawberries. Among those who have been eminently successful in horticulture, no one stands higher than Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, who has produced the finest seedling camellias that the world has ever seen, the stock of which sold for a large sum; who has raised the finest lilies, seedling-pears, grapes, and last, but not least, the finest and most promising strawberry that has yet been produced, surpassing in some respects both its parents, the Hovey's Seedling and La Constante, and combining more good qualities than can be found in any other variety of this fruit. Our attention was

early called to it from our position as Chairman of the Fruit Committee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society; and we tested it year after year, both in the society's rooms and on Col. Wilder's grounds. This is one of several valuable seedlings that we have seen while visiting our friend, and, we think, perhaps the most valuable. The location of the vines producing fruit was not favorable, being among and under the shade of fruit-trees; and yet the results have been very gratifying. The plant is strong and vigorous, full enough so, standing the heat and cold without injury; leaves well developed; the flower-stalks strong; the fruit of large size, sometimes very large; in color, bright glossy crimson-scarlet; the form is nearly or quite as good as the La Constante; the flesh is rather firm, nearly white, with an excellent sprightly flavor, with a trace of the flavor of the Wood Strawberry. Time of ripening, between the Hovey and the La Constante. It resembles the latter variety somewhat in foliage, but makes runners much more freely than either of its parents, and the plants are more vigorous. The form of the berry cannot be surpassed even by the La Constante, and must always command the very highest price when offered for sale. Few varieties, if any, will surpass it in flavor; and, if it shall prove equally good on other soils and in other locations, it will soon take its place at the head of the long list of varieties of this fruit, both for home-use and market-purposes.

We have compared this fruit with sorts such as Hovey's Seedling, Jucunda, Triomphe de Gand, and others that stand as well: and we much prefer "The President Wilder;" for this is the name given by the Horticultural Society to this remarkable fruit. It is said that there is a new foreign variety that will soon be sent to us that will bear the same name; so that it will become very important, to those who would secure the true sort, that they should procure them of the publishers of "The Journal of Horticulture," to whom the whole stock of the American "President Wilder" has been sold. Whatever this variety may prove in the hands of others, and in other soils than that in which it originated, one thing is sure,—that there it surpasses all others; and the description we have given is none too strong, nor do we think the description given in the September number of this Journal any too highly colored. We shall watch this strawberry with great interest; for we believe it is destined to displace many of the sorts now extensively cultivated. James F. C. Hyde.