It is desirable, now that so many new seedlings are coming into notice, to define, if possible, what qualities are the most desirable. Those which I consider as constituting a perfect strawberry, are the following:

1. A vigorous and hardy plant - capable of bearing alike our summers' sun and winters' frost.

2. Productive - giving uniformly a good crop of fruit under ordinarily kind treatment.

3. Having strong trusses, of sufficient length to keep the fruit from the ground.

4. Fruit uniformly large, of a regular conical shape.

5. Flesh solid, rich and juicy - of a sprightly or luscious flavor.

6. Color - bright scarlet or crimson - one that will not become dull on exposure Color may not seem to be of much importance - but as a quality of fruit for market, it becomes a matter of great consideration. I have found that generally, the light scarlets retain best their bright appearance. The Early Scarlet and British Queen possess beautiful colors, which do not change much after being kept for some time. Hovey's Seedling is much at fault as regards color; after being exposed, its color becomes so dull as to induce the belief that the fruit is stale. If a plant could be produced, having the vigor, hardiness, and productiveness of Hovey's Seedling, with the fruit of the British Queen, it would very nearly realise my ideas of a perfect strawberry. That such a plant will be produced, I have very little doubt.

The following notes were made during the fruiting season. Though not very full, they may still be of some interest. In many cases the plants were only put out last autumn, and consequently did not exhibit fully their qualities.

Mcavoy's Superior

Vigorous and productive - fruit large, rich and juicy. One of our very best varieties, though it will not, I think, quite equal Hovey's in size, but then it is much superior in quality.

Burr's New Pine

Not quite so vigorous or productive as some other varieties.

Richardson's Seedlings

Not sufficiently productive to merit much attention.

Moyamensing Pine

Plants very vigorous and productive - fruit, medium size - flavor, about equal to Buist's Prize. Not superior to Hovey's Seedling.

Huntsman's Pistillate

One of the most productive varieties - fruit, large and beautiful - flavor, very indifferent.

Willey

Productive, but too acid.

The following are new seedlings raised by Mr. Wm. R. Prince. H. indicates herma-prodite - P. pistillate.

Primate

(H.) Very productive - fruit large - about equal in flavor to Hovey's Seedling.

Superlative

(P.) A seedling of Burr's New Pine. About equal in size and flavor to its parent. Plants grow more vigorously - probably more productive than Burr's New Pine.

Triumph

(II.) Resembles the large Early Scarlet, both in color and flavor - but of twice the size. Very productive. Fruit borne on strong trusses. If of vigorous growth, it will be one of the most valuable varieties for market.

Prince's Imperial Scarlet

(P.) Fruit large, light scarlet, and of excellent flavor - a very promising variety. Another season will test its value.

The following six varieties are seedlings of the Swainstone:

Twice Bearing Swainstone

(P.) Very productive - early, of medium size - about equal in flavor to Hovey's Seedling. Said to bear a second crop in September.

Sylphide, Monstrous Swainstone, Maximus Swainstone and Le Baron, are all hermaphrodite plants of great vigor - moderately or quite productive - fruit large, and of delicious flavor. Of these, the Le Baron is probably the best; fruit nearly or quite as large as Hovey's, and of the exquisite flavor of the Swainstone - the most desirable hermaphrodite that I have yet seen, though I have not yet seen Mr. Longworth's Prolific, or Schne-ike's hermaprhodite, which are said to be varieties of great excellence.

Climax

(P.) Plants very vigorous - fruit of a larger average size than any other variety that I have seen; of a beautiful light scarlet color, but not of first quality as regards flavor. May be a good market fruit. G. W. Huntsman.

Flushing, L.I., August 1, 1852.

Notes On Strawberries #1

Though not a veteran, I am not exactly a novice in the culture of the strawberry, having paid considerable attention to it for several years, and with reasonable success - sufficient at least to satisfy me that it is pleasant and profitable. I have at present about fifty varieties under cultivation, some of which have not yet fruited, and brief as my experience has been, I have already thought it necessary to reject a number of varieties. My observations may not agree with those of others, but I give them for what they are worth, and intended to apply only to my own locality.

Notes On Strawberries #2

The strawberry crop this season has been very productive, and much valuable knowledge has been obtained with reference to the comparative merits of sorts. It is agreed on all sides, that Wilson's Albany seedling is one of, if not the greatest of bearers, completely setting at rest the question, whether or not a hermaphrodite will produce as good a crop as a pistillate, even when the last is placed under the best conditions to ensure perfect fertilization from accompanying staminates.

The success attending the culture of foreign sorts has not hitherto been very encouraging; few of them coming up to the standard of their home reputation. Some of the more recent importations - as the Triomphe de Gand, Trollope's Victoria, and Vicomptesse Hericart de Thury - give promise of great excellence, as well as productiveness. The most beautiful crop we have ever seen was a bed of Trollop's Victoria the present season. Alongside of the Albany seedling it was considered to have produced as many quarts as it, although the berries were more numerous on the seedling. We question whether there is a finer flavored strawberry in cultivation than the "Vicomptesse;" and the "Victoria" is also of a rich, pine-apple flavor, and for size and beauty cannot easily be excelled.

We have heretofore been unable to account for the opposite and conflicting records of experience with foreign varieties. At the last meeting of the Pomological Convention, several cultivators spoke highly in favor of the kind known as British Queen (a distinct variety from the Victoria), while others had found it all but worthless. We are strongly inclined to believe that much depends upon the nature of the soil. In shallow, or light sandy or gravelly soils, these foreign varieties do not attain much perfection; while in deeply worked clayey loams they will produce abundant crops of the highest degree of excellence. Another point has been clearly established; and that is: to cultivate in distinct hills or plants, rigidly destroying all runners during the Summer. Strong growing kinds, as the Peabody seedling, Genessee, Longworth's Prolific and Boston Pine, cannot be raised to perfection if allowed to run into a dense thicket of foliage; but when planted eighteen inches apart, in rows, and kept clear of runners, they will thoroughly mature their flower buds and ripen every berry that sets:

When the soil is well enriched near the surface, and the plants allowed to run oyer the ground, a strong growth of leaves and little or no fruit will be the result; this has originated the idea that the soil prepared for strawberries should not be treated with putrescent manures, because the tops will outgrow the fruit. Such will not be the case if the plants are allowed plenty of space; the best fruit can only be obtained by planting in well manured and well trenched strong loam, or even a stiff clayey soil, planting widely apart at first, and keeping all runners constantly removed. W. S. G.