IS THERE A BETTER MARKET STRAWBERRY THAN THE

WILSON?

BY O. B. GALUSHA.

Such is the momentous question propounded to me by the President of this Society!

Many other questions equally easy of solution might have been asked such as, "What is the color of the chameleon?" "Is there a better woman than my wife?" (or your wife, if you please). Or, "If husband and wife are one, which is the one?" But I will not multiply questions of such easy solution"the woods are full of them," and the answers are more numerous than the questions.

It is customary, when matters of dispute between neighbors, whether fruit growers, farmers or fist-fighters, are brought into court, to have a jury impaneled to which the case is submitted; but I am denied even this scapegoat in the decision of this matter of dispute between one hundred strawberry growers of Wimbledon and one hundred strawberry growers of Wambledon.

I will do my best, then, without a jury, since I am required to be chief justice and at the same time counsel on both sides! My predicament in this case reminds me of that of a worthy German magistrate who, after hearing one side of a case which had been brought before him, ably presented by counsel, said: "Vell, you be rite, anyhow;" but, after hearing the opposite side of the case adroitly advocated, he said: "Vell, you be rite, too, so I dismish dis gase and sharge de gonstubble mit de kosts for bringing such a gase into goort." So, don't blame me, my friends, if, after considering the arguments on both sides, I shall "dismiss the case and charge the costs upon Constable Earle for bringing it into court."

It would have somewhat relieved the embarrassment of the court had the question been accompanied by some definitions, explanations or limitations, thus marking out a track to be followed in the hunt for a solution. In the absence of these aids we will assume that the term "strawberry" includes not only the berry but the plant which produces the berry, taking in all its habits and characteristics; otherwise, were we to be confined to the quality of the berry, the solution would depend entirely upon a census of the eaters of strawberries; for "tastes differ." Were we to attempt to solve the question as to which is the better variety of cheese-Limburger or full creamwe would have imposed upon us the task of taking a census of palates, and this would require a knowledge of the German language, which, unfortunately, we do not possess. Again, the question, “Is there a better pie than the pumpkin pie?" would array the Yankees against the rest of mankind; and so on through a list of important questions which have agitated the minds or pleased or nauseated the palates or stomachs of civilized man for a century

or more.

THE VIGOR OF THE PLANT.

That the Wilson plant is not as robust as many other varieties of the strawberry will scarcely be questioned by any one, certainly by none who have cultivated the Crescent, Piper, Cumberland Triumph, Kentucky, and others of like constitutional vigor. It is now almost universally conceded that varieties of trees, and more especially of plants, deteriorate. Whether this is attributable to a tendency to "revert to the original type," as physiologists claim, or whether it is due to continued stimulation through many successive generations, or any other cause, the fact, in the case of this variety at least, is unquestionable.

The experience of the writer is a fair representation of the general experience of those who have long grown the Wilson and other varieties of strawberries. Upon the same, or adjoining and similar soil, where, fifteen years since, vines of Wilson were healthy and productive, they are now feeble, make but few plants and give but one-fourth, at most, the fruit they formerly gave; and this, too, where the best plants are used in planting, the ground enriched with manure, and good care given in the cultivation.

Samuel Edwards, of Mendota, Ill., a fruit grower of about forty years' experience, says: "The Wilson does not succeed, and I have excused it." E. C. Hathaway, of Ottawa, Ill., good authority in small fruits and vegetables, says: "Wilson is losing its vitality-'petering out' as it were. I can get no Wilson plants from any source but seem to be in this condition after. the first year."

Charles Myers, of Toulon, Ill., writes, in report to State Horticultural Society: "Wilsons have run out. Charles Downing is the most successful berry here."

Geo. J. Kellogg, of Wisconsin, writes: "Captain Jack is best. The leaf of Wilson suffers from rust, while leaf of Captain Jack does not rust at all." Wm. Jackson, Godfrey, Ill., who grows fruits for market, says: "I have discarded Wilson, except that I keep a few for old acquaintance's sake." John Howard, of Alton, remarked in the Alton Horticultural Society: "If I were growing berries for fun, I might plant the Wilson." He stated that an acre of Downing produced 2,204 quarts, while an acre of Wilson, on good ground, and well cared for, gave but 240 quarts. "The

James E. Starr, ex-President Illinois Horticultural Society, wrote: Charles Downing is now considered to be ahead in our district (the Alton district)."

Capt. D. Stewart, of Upper Alton, Ill., says: "I will plant no more Wilsons."

B. F. Smith, of Kansas: "Wilson is the chief variety; the vines have rusted badly."

There are, however, many localities in which the plants are satisfactorily vigorous, and especially in virgin soil not highly stimulated by manures. For instance, we have good evidence that in some localities in Wisconsin, in Western Michigan, and in Southern Illinois, the plants are vigorous and healthy; but these are exceptional.

PRODUCTIVENESS.

The same statement as above may be made relative to the productiveness of the plant. In the long, long ago, when our eyes first read a notice of the berry, in an Albany paper, an order for plants was forwarded, filled, and the plants transplanted into a sandy prairie soil near Lisbon, Illinois; and by special care they and their offspring produced, in fourteen months from the planting, 624 pounds per square rod, or at the rate of 10,000 pounds per acre, by actual weight! Strawberries were then sold, as they and all other fruit should be, by weight. This crop, however, was but a few pounds in excess of that of Russell's Prolific and Buffalo Seedling, tested at the same time. Since that time, at least a half dozen varieties have surpassed these in amount of berries produced. It is quite possible to find soils and localities in which, even yet, the Wilson may be made to produce a crop equal to or surpassing this. Yet the general deterioration of the variety, in both vigor, or tenacity of life and productiveness, is plainly to be seen by careful and extensive observation, on nine-tenths of the plantations.

FLAVOR OF BERRY.

A satisfactory conclusion to this point in the problem can not be reached by reason or argument, for the reason just stated. The Wilson strawberry, like the Clinton grape, has, before full maturity, an amount of acid in its juices far in excess of nearly all other varieties of its species; but when allowed to fully ripen upon the vines it becomes a rich fruit. But our question will not admit of taking the fact of its final good quality into the account, unless it can be placed in the market and reach the tables of the consumers with this good quality intact. Upon this point a few quotations from the most eminent horticulturists of the West will certainly come in place.

President Lyon, of the Michigan State Horticultural Society, said, in 1881: "The advertisement for the Wilson is, that it gets its color early, before getting anywhere near ripe, and thus can be put upon the market in a firm state, even although when thus thrown upon the market in its half-ripe condition it is hardly fit to eat."

Dr. John A. Warder, of Ohio, said, in the hearing of the writer: I have never eaten a decent Wilson yet."

Hon. G. C. Lamphere, of Galesburg, Illinois, thus wrote in a report to a horticultural society: "Wilson is solid enough for transportation to the world's end, provided the world's end is in a reasonable distance; but, unless left on the vine till perfectly ripe, when, of course, it has lost some of its firmness, it is sour and somewhat strong in flavor. Acid is a good thing, but one can have too much of it in the temper and in fruit, and a strong, positive flavor can be overdone."

As a member of the Illinois State Horticultural Society, and for many years a recorder of its transactions, whose members have been largely engaged in growing Wilson and other strawberries for market, we can confidently assert that the prevailing and almost universal sentiment of the

members is that expressed by Judge Lamphere and President Lyon, quoted above, very few having ever expressed a preference for Wilson, even when well ripened upon the vines, for their own tables.

MARKETING OR "CARRYING" QUALITY.

There remains, therefore, but this single point upon which the great reputation of the Wilson has been builded; upon which farther, or continued cultivation can be warranted.

That the Sour Wilson" has been the leading and most profitable berry grown for long shipments, there is no doubt; the only question, then, remaining is, have we convincing evidence or proof that there is any other variety known which is hardy and prolific in plant, and whose fruit is superior in quality, and can be safely shipped long distances? I emphasize long distances, for no intelligent cultivator of strawberries will question that there are many varieties superior to it in vigor, hardiness and productiveness of plant, and quality of fruit, which may be grown with greater profit where shipped not to exceed one hundred and fifty miles from producer to consumer, and used within fifty hours from the time of gathering.

We have made many tests of the carrying and keeping qualities of strawberries, and have held quite extensive correspondence with growers of strawberries who have had long experience in shipping them for from two to five hundred miles to market, and find the preponderating testimony to be that, for shipping long distances, say three hundred miles or over, to reach a distributing point and from thence to be re-shipped, the Wilson is of greater value than any other variety as yet put to such a severe and unnecessary test. As has been remarked, the facts of its firmness and becoming colored before fully ripe, admit of its being picked green and shipped long distances before ripening and before softening. It perhaps has no equal in these respects. There are, however, other hardier and prolific varieties, producing berries which can be shipped without loss from three to four hundred miles, as has been often proved.

We have received the Bidwell in excellent condition after a journey of three hundred and eighty miles. The Capt. Jack is claimed by many to endure quite as long journeys as the Wilson, if picked at same stage of ripening, though one shipper writes that it loses color sooner than the Wilson. The Sucker State has been shipped a distance of three hundred and thirty miles, through the season, arriving in good order and outselling the Wilson. The Piper Seedling has been put to quite as severe a test as this, in a small way, and proved the superior to any variety ever shipped or received by us; and, in point of quality, is far superior to the Wilson and of much better flavor than either Capt. Jack or Sucker State. After a two days' journey, and being kept nearly five days from the picking, on each of which days the mercury rose to above 90° in the room where kept, berries of the Piper have been placed upon our table and pronounced excellent by all the members of the family. It is quite probable that berries of Wilson, picked as before

indicated, could have endured the same handling and high temperature for the same length of time, and preserved their shape, but for educated American palates, would have compared with the Pipers as Limburger to fullcream No. 1 cheese.

Mr. President, you and this large assembly will not be detained to listen to the array of evidence, collected from the records of many State Horticultural Societies, which bear upon this question. We started out in the investigation of this "case" with the supposition that it is a matter of dispute between about an equal number of fruit growers on each side, expecting to find that those who are so located that their berries must be shipped from two to four hundred miles, nearly all place the Wilson first in money value, and are quite unwilling to plant of other reputed good-shipping varieties.

But even this class of growers are not agreed, many of them not being satisfied with the Wilson, and very many casting it aside; and those who have done so either find a substitute of greater value, or find some modes of picking, handling and transporting other and superior varieties, so that their profits are enhanced rather than diminished by the change. It is a significant fact that the numbers of this class of growers is diminishing from year to year, as the constitutional vigor of the Wilson plant deteriorates and valuable improved varieties, with more robust vigor, are more extensively tested.

In conclusion, allow the writer to protest against the practice of shipping soft fruits long journeys, by ordinary modes of transportation. They can not reach the consumers in a wholesome condition, and with their characteristic flavors unimpaired. The Wilson strawberry, as usually received by the consumer, after a long shipment, a delay, and a reshipment, is not a healthful article of diet! It is far better for consumers to content themselves with such species of fruits as can be found in the markets in a wholesome and nutritious state, waiting for the ripening of the strawberries, raspberries and blackberries nearer home, or for those which are placed in the market in a fresh condition, having their flavors unimpaired.

Professor S. A. Forbes, State Entomologist of Illinois, next delivered his address upon the "Insects Affecting the Strawberry," the President introducing him in the following terms:

Most of you know something of what Professor Forbes has done for all of our States-invaluable work in several departments of Natural History. His researches are throwing light upon many obscure questions. He is now Entomologist of the State of Illinois, and we are glad that the whole country will be able to participate in the excellent results of his investigations. Ladies and gentlemen, Prof. Forbes.