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Wm. Springer, Fremont, Wis., shows several varieties of the Waupaca county seedling apples of great beauty. Among them we find the Weyauwega, Wrightman and Flora, all very promising.

G. J. Kellogg, Janesville, shows six varieties of apples, Willow, Stark, Tallman, Grimes, Golden Russet and Barrett Russet.

E. W. Daniels, of Waushara county, shows samples of an apple much resembling the R. I. Greening, and which the committee think must be that variety.

C. H. Greenman exhibits a model grape trellis of a new pattern, and sample vines to illustrate its use and his system of pruning. We find also well preserved samples of Adirondac, Agawam,. Eumelan, Wilder, Lindley, but do not find the exhibitor's name in connection with them.

Respectfully submitted,

Report was accepted and adopted.

COMMITTEE.

The committee appointed to specify the condition on which the recommendation of the list of apples for general cultivation was based, were granted further time to complete the specifications.

On motion, an appropriation was made to defray the expensesof Mr. P. M. Gideon, of Minnesota, while in attendance on the convention.

The following resolution was introduced:

"Resolved, That Mr. J. C. Plumb be requested to present a report at our next annual meeting, districting the state according to conditions of soil and climate, and giving lists of fruit best adapted

to each."

Which was passed.

The arrangements for the summer meeting were discussed, and the opinion was expressed that it was advisable to offer premiums. for an exhibition of fruit and flowers, for which the state and local horticultural societies should contribute an equal amount; in accordance with which understanding a resolution was passed, instructing the president and executive committee to complete the arrangements for such meeting.

On motion, the society adjourned sine die.

HORTICULTURAL

ADDRESSES, PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS

BEFORE THE

JOINT CONVENTION,

AT THE

Annual Meeting of the Society, held at Madison, February 4–7, 1879.

SHALL WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIMENT WITH NEW VARIETIES OF STRAWBERRIES?

J. M. SMITH, President State Horticultural Society, Green Bay.

I have been urged to say something on this question, and it has occurred to me that a few words on this subject would not be inappropriate at this time. It is now about twenty years since Wilson's Albany Seedling began to be known among the strawberry growers. Previous to that time, the cultivation of this, the finest of all berries, was confined to comparatively few persons, and the aggregate yearly crop of the country was probably not one-fifth, if it was, indeed, one-tenth, of what it is at present. The varieties then most generally cultivated were Hovey's Seedling, in New England, and the Early Scarlet, or New Jersey Scarlet (which I believe are one and the same), in New Jersey and other places adjoining our large cities. In other portions of the country there were but very few grown, as compared with the present. The introduction of the "Wilson," as it is now termed, was such a vast step in advance of any variety then known, that in the course of a few years it worked a complete revolution in strawberry culture. Thousands upon thousands of those who had previously looked upon this delicious fruit

as only within the reach of the wealthy, or the expert cultivator, now found that they could raise it, not only for themselves but for the market. The firmness and keeping qualities of the berry were such that those at a distance from market found they could carry or send their surplus fruit to the nearest town or city, and often realize sufficient from it to give them quite a little sum of money to use; and at a time of the year too, when the farmer usually has not a large amount coming in.

Thus has this remarkable berry worked its own way, in spite of all opposition, until, it is safe to say, that at least nine-tenths, if not nineteen-twentieths, of all the berries now grown in the United States are of this variety. It yielded when introduced, larger and firmer berries than any of the varieties then in general cultivation. These berries will keep longer and bear transportation better than any other. The vines are as hardy as the best, and prolific to a degree that has not been equaled either before or since.

With all these acknowledged good qualities, it may be asked: "Do we need any other?" I answer, "Yes." With all of its splendid qualities it has some faults. The first ripening fruit is fine and large; soon it begins to grow less, and before the close of the season the berries often become quite small. We need a berry that will hold its size through the bearing season better than this one. Although it is an early berry, we need one a week earlier, if we can get it. We also need one that will continue in bearing longer, and until we get fairly to the raspberry season. With a great many people, there is another and a very serious objection to it; it is too acid. With those who grow their own fruit, I believe that this objection would be nearly done away with, if they would only leave the fruit upon the vines until it is thoroughly ripe. It is not ripe as soon as it turns red, but should remain upon the vines until it has lost its glossy appearance, and is of a deep, dull red. When in this condition it is very much better than if picked as soon as it is well colored. Last summer my family averaged from ten to twelve during the berry season. The table was bountifully supplied with berries while they lasted, at nearly or quite every meal. Upon it were the Wilson, Duncan, No. 30, Kentucky, Downer's Prolific, beside a number of other varieties. Every one was expected to eat as many as he or she chose, and as often as they chose. After the first few days every one, with a single exception, fell back upon

the Wilson as the best for constant use. One lady chose the No. 30 and stood by it until the last box of them was picked. So much for quality; still I am willing to admit that we need a berry of a better and a different quality. How shall we get it? Shall we keep right on buying, haphazard, every new variety that comes along, and happens to be pretty well puffed up by those who are interested in its sale? Are we likely to succeed any better in the future than we have for the last fifteen years?

Suppose we look back for a few moments and see what we have been doing; perhaps I should say what I have been doing; for it is to be hoped that you have not all been as foolish in this direction as I have. Soon after the Wilson became established as the leading berry, new varieties began to make their appearance in great numbers. Each new variety was claimed to be better than any of its predecessors; and its owner would generally close the story of its marvelous value by telling how much better in every respect it was than the Wilson. To name them all, would be to fill pages with names that you would not care to hear or I to read. Sometimes it is one of wondrous size, like the Dr. Nicaise, or Russell's Prolific, either one of which will bear an occasional berry of immense size, but it will generally have the slight failing of being thoroughly ripe and rotten on one side, while it is as thoroughly green and sour upon the other. Perhaps it is the everlasting bearer, found upon the high lands in Mexico, which the peddler brings around, with samples of berries preserved in bottles of alcohol, accompanied by the wondrous story of their constant bearing, from early spring until the snow comes and covers both ground and berries. Here is perfection surely. I hasten to try this new wonder. After years of careful cultivation, upon as good soil as I own, I learn that it will bear an occasional berry during the whole season; and that by keeping, say half an acre of them in the best of order, I might once in a week have a quart of berries, though I think they did not do as well as that with most people. I remember my largest picking, a small tea cup, half full of berries about the size of peas; and then the pleasure that wife and I had in learning that they were scarcely fit to eat.

Another package of plants comes from a gentleman in Ohio, with a request to cultivate with great care; and, also, the injunction never to sell or give away one of the plants, except by his di

rection. I promise a faithful compliance with all his wishes and try again. After two years I succeed in getting about a single handful of berries of good size, but bad shape, and that taste about like a mixture of rain water and vinegar. I complied with his request, to neither sell nor give them away; and did as I have done with many others both before and since-dug them all out, being very careful not to have one left, and used them for manure; as that was the only way by which I could get even the slightest return from them.

Thus it has been year after year, each new variety resulting in a new disappointment and vexation, to say nothing of the loss of time and money, until a few years since, when I received a lot of plants from the department at Washington. There were two varieties. One was marked "Wilson's Albany Seedling," the other, "No. 2." What that meant, I did not then, nor do I yet know. I was somewhat surprised to learn that our government should go to the expense of growing and distributing a variety that, if not already in use by every grower in the country, could readily be obtained by all, and at a very small expense. Still, as they seemed to be entirely different from my Wilsons, I imagined it was a new variety of them, that would combine all imaginable excellencies, free from the defects that are acknowledged to belong to our ordinary Wilson. They had come just in time. We had just finished setting two or three new varieties that had come from the East, and had a choice spot left where we could, and did set them, with all the care and kindness that we were capable of showing them. About nine-tenths of them returned our kindness by quietly laying down and dying at once. Those that lived were nursed with tenderest care, and in the course of fourteen or fifteen months we gathered our first and last crop of fruit from them. The so called Wilsons, were indeed different from any of the kind that I had ever seen.

They were very small and very hard, knotty, to a degree I have never seen either before or since. In fact, there was scarcely a fairly formed berry upon the vines, and only an occasional one of any kind. I can imagine of only one advantage that they would have possessed over the ordinary Wilson; and that is, if we had shipped any of them (provided, we could have got any to ship), they would undoubtedly have reached their place of destination in

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