Another strawberry season has come and gone, and hundreds of cultivators have met once again to consult, compare, and comment for or against varieties - the results of which amount to just about the same as heretofore, viz.: favorable report of this variety and unfavorable of that, without one word to the reader of the soil and cultivation which the commentator or grower gave to it All this may be well, and I have no cause to say it would perhaps be better were these reports accompanied by some account of the kind of soil and the cultivation given by the grower; but were I intending to plant an acre of strawberries, and without knowledge of varieties, I do think it would help me in selection to know the soil and cultivation given to any one named variety spoken of as superior and as receiving a first-class premium as the best. I confess I have no faith in any record of a variety receiving a first prize by the showing of three or six berries, but look upon all such, and the dealers who gull the public by advertising them as new and very valuable, as direct impositions and humbugs derogatory to the cause and progress of horticulture, its honor and character.

I suppose these remarks will not be agreeable to some speculators, and it is perhaps bad policy for any man to write aught except it be to the praise of all; but never having followed the "tickle me and I tickle you" policy, I can not now assume it. I have said I have no cause for saying it would be better were growers and speakers commenting on varieties, to tell the soil and cultivation given any distinct variety; because having in my own grounds a small bed of nearly all kinds, and passing many a day in visiting others, growing nothing for sale, but only for my personal study and family use, it matters not to me pecuniarily what side is publicly uppermost I have just - this 15th July - come from my bed of Ida, where I have gathered fruits firm, rich, and sweet, when from forty or more other sorts side by side in the same soil and cultivation I could not find a berry - and yet Ida has been condemned by some writers as unworthy of ground room. I have no doubt of the sincerity of declaration made by these writers, for they looked only to the money profit, and the fruit of Ida is too small to command high prices and ready sales side by side with many others; but if a man has a piece of light loamy or gravelly soil, and wants a fruit the plant of which is perfectly hardy, and with little or no cultivation will produce abundantly a rich, sprightly, firm, regular medium-sized fruit, borne on high footstalks ail out of the dirt, ripening among the first and continuing to the last, then the Ida is one of the sorts for his purpose.

For canning it is superior.

Nicanor is another that I have all confidence in; and besides being of value as a first and last berry of the season, its firmness, size, and quality make it a variety of great promise. I have, however, seen it only under two phases, viz., cultivated as a field crop and in the same manner as, and side by side with, Wilson's Triomphe de Gand and Early Scarlet, and in my own grounds, a clay loam, poor, so poor that corn could not be grown on it, yet it produced a good crop of good-sized fruit, firm, regular, and attractive. I advise its trial, and believe if grown in good rich soil with extra care, it will repay and prove the truth of its name and signification, viz., Conqueror.

Green Prolific has not, with me, this year proved up to its former mark, but my bed was of two years, and in a poor gravelly soil, without manure. I have reason to believe, however, that those who have spoken in its favor have done so honestly, when they have said it was prolific, of good size, rather late, and somewhat too soft for market, but of great value as a family sort.

Mead's Seedling has a peculiar flavor, is of good, fair size, a tolerably productive sort, desirable if you have plenty of room, but of no use for market in any soil, and not specially desirable as an amateur sort. Belle de Bordelaise, Princess Royal, Emily, and a host more of sorts, are of fine flavor, good size of berry; but they produce so little that it is not worth the trouble of cultivating them, except for the purpose of seeing and knowing how many humbugs there are in this world of horticulture. Napoleon III., Tillip's Rival Queen, King Arthur, Jucunda, La Constante, etc., are all sorts that in deep strong soils, clay loams, and under high cultivation - that is, kept from making runners, and annually manured, mulched, etc. - will give large crops and a majority of large-sized fruit; but the stools must be renewed every second year, or the crop will hardly be worth the labor of keeping clean. In this class Dr. Nicaisse produces a few of the very largest berries, unequaled by any other variety, so that if a premium were to be awarded for six of the largest berries the cultivator of this variety would win. Jucunda and Napoleon III. are the next, so far as both size and productiveness compete.

Triomphe de Gand stands next for size and productiveness, and at the same time has a flavor that, by some, is highly esteemed, and by others regarded as unbearable. La Constante is rich in flavor and of good size, but it is not as good a bearer as Tillip's Rival Queen or King Arthur, yet its superior flavor will always keep it in the list of an amateur gardener having soil of a deep rich clayey nature. It's of no use growing any of these sorts in light sandy or black mucky land. Longworth's Prolific, on some deep rich soils, continues one of the very best and most profitable sorts, good for market or table; but the same sort in light soils, and as a rule throughout the country, is not profitable, although by all acknowledged of good quality and specially fine for canning. Agriculturist has a few friends who grow it for their family use, but, like Russell, it is too soft for market Victoria, Methven Scarlet, Ohio Mammoth, Austin, and a host more of that stripe, produce a few large berries, handsome to the eye at a distance, but they are all hollow and tasteless on near acquaintance. Burr's New Pine was a superior-flavored berry, small, but a good producer for an amateur garden. I have no belief that it is now in existence, although some advertise it.

If any one has it true, I will pay a dollar a plant for a half dozen plants.

Lady Finger and Downer's Prolific are two more amateur sorts, productive early and continuous bearers, but not to the amount that gives most pecuniary profit; and while I would be unwilling to do without them for my family use, I should throw them both aside were money my only object in growing the strawberry. It's of no use talking about sorts that are universally the most profitable when we leave out Wilson, for while Dr. Hull will grow only Longworth's Prolific, Evans & Co. are successful with Napoleon III.; and Knox, of Pittsburg, with the Jucunda, nets a pretty little income of some $15,000 a year therefrom; yet the great American people are ruled by the universality of the success of Wilson everywhere. It's sour, we know - but sugar is cheap; and while a few can buy other varieties at fifty cents a pint or quart, the people must and will be fed by the people, and Wilson, until we know and prove something to equal it, everywhere will continue the people's berry.

New seedlings have made less noise this year than usual, so far as personal observation has made me cognizant. The best ones I have tested are Kramer, which is a very deep dark red berry, of a good size, pretty firm, and a rich flavor. It has produced well, but I must try it another year before saying more in its favor. Another new sort, a seedling yet unnamed, I received from Luke Bishop, of St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, has borne me a few berries, and promises superior excellence, but I fear will be of the class of Triomphe de Gand, etc., and only prove of value under certain conditions.

Charles Downing, for plants of which I am indebted to the originator, J. S. Downer, Esq., has not grown well, although the plants were strong when received, and have had extra care because of my respect for the name.