Success with Small Fruits Part 26

_Montreuil_.--Said to be an improved variety of the Alpines.

_Green Alpine_ (Green Pine or Wood, _Fraisier Vert_).--"This variety was, by some, supposed to be a distinct species, but the appearance of the plant and fruit shows it to be a true Alpine. Berry small, roundish, depressed, greenish brown; flesh green, with a somewhat musky flavor." (Fuller.) Mr. Downing says the berry is tinged with reddish brown on the sunny side at maturity, and that it has a peculiar, rich, pine-apple flavor.

Under the head of Alpines, one finds in the catalogues a bewildering array of names, especially in those printed abroad; but I am quite well satisfied that if all these named varieties were placed in a trial bed, and treated precisely alike, the differences between them, in most instances, would be found slight indeed, too slight to warrant a name and separate existence.

HAUTBOIS STRAWBERRIES--FRAGARIA ELATIOR

As far as I can learn, this cla.s.s was more raised in former years than at present, both here and abroad. At any rate, the musky flavor of the "Hoboys" (as the term was often spelled in rural regions) has not won favor, and I rarely meet with them in cultivation. They are well worth a little s.p.a.ce in the garden, however, and are well suited to some tastes. _Belle de Bordelaise_ is said to be the best variety. The berry is described by Mr. Fuller, as "roundish oval, dark, brownish purple; flesh white, juicy, sweet, with a strong, musky flavor."

_Common Hautbois._--Fruit medium in size, reddish green, musky. The fruit-stalks rise above the leaves--hence the term _Hautbois_, or high wood. Not worthy of cultivation.

_Prolific Hautbois_--(Double bearing, and having many other synonymes).--Mr. Downing speaks highly of this variety, saying that it is distinguished by its "strong habit, and very large and usually perfect flowers borne high above the leaves. The fruit is very large and fine; dark colored, with a peculiarly rich, slightly musky flavor."

Productive.

_Royal Hautbois._--Said to be one of the largest, most vigorous, and productive of this cla.s.s.

Mr. Merrick writes that the _Hautbois_ strawberries find few admirers in the vicinity of Boston, and seem equally neglected abroad.

I am gathering these and the Alpines into trial-beds, and thus hope to learn more accurately their differences, characteristics and comparative values.

_Chili_ strawberries are now rarely met with in cultivation. Mr.

Merrick writes of them: "Although some of them are extolled for amateur culture, they are of little value. They are large, coa.r.s.e, very apt to be hollow, with soft, poor-flavored flesh. They have been so thoroughly intermingled with other species that it is difficult to say of certain named kinds that they are or are not partly Chilis." True Chili, Wilmot's Superb, and the Yellow Chili are named as the best of the cla.s.s.

There are very many other named strawberries that I might describe, and a few of them may become popular. Some that I have named are scarcely worth the s.p.a.ce, and will soon be forgotten. In my next revision, I expect to drop not a few of them. It should be our constant aim to shorten our catalogues of fruits rather than lengthen them, to the bewilderment and loss of all save the plant grower. The d.u.c.h.ess, for instance, is a first-cla.s.s early berry. All others having the same general characteristics and adapted to the same soils, but which are inferior to it, should be discarded. What is the use of raising second, third, and fourth rate berries of the same cla.s.s? Where distinctions are so slight as to puzzle an expert, they should be ignored, and the best variety of the cla.s.s preserved.

I refer those readers who would like to see a list of almost every strawberry named in modern times, native and foreign,

to Mr. J. M. Merrick's work, "The Strawberry and its Culture."

CHAPTER x.x.xIV

VARIETIES OF OTHER SMALL FRUITS

I have already written so fully of the leading and profitable varieties of raspberries, blackberries, currants, and gooseberries, that little more remains to be said; since, for reasons previously given, I do not care to go into long descriptions of obsolete varieties, nor of those so new and untested as to be unknown quant.i.ties in value. I am putting everything thought worthy of test in trial-beds, and hope eventually to write accurately concerning them.

RASPBERRIES

_Rubus Idceus and Rubus Strigosus_

_Arnold's Orange_.--Canes strong, branching, yellowish brown, almost smooth, and producing but few suckers. Fruit large, somewhat shorter than Brinkle's Orange, and of a darker orange color; rich in flavor, Originated with Mr. Charles Arnold, Paris, Ontario, C. W.

_Antwerp_ (English).--See page 202.

_Antwerp_ (Hudson Biver).--See pages 202-205.

_Antwerp_ (Yellow--White Antwerp).--A tender variety that needs winter protection, good culture, and vigorous pruning; otherwise, the berries are imperfect and crumble badly in picking. The fruit is exceedingly delicate and soft, and must be picked as soon as ripe or it cannot be handled. It is much surpa.s.sed by Brinkle's Orange. The canes are vigorous and the variety is easily grown. _Brinkle's Orange_.--For description, see page 218.

_Belle de Fontenay_.--See page 207.

_Brandywine._--See page 208.

_Belle de Palnau._--A French variety, that thrives in some localities.

Canes are strong, vigorous, upright, covered with short, purplish spines, which are more numerous near the ground; berry large, obtuse conical, bright crimson; firm for so juicy and fine-flavored a berry; grains large. The berries were often imperfect on my place.

_Catawissa._--See page 216. This variety is well spoken of by some good authorities. The fact that it bears in autumn should give it some consideration.

_Clarke._--See page 220.

_Caroline._--See page 221.

_Cuthbert._--See pages 221-225.

_Franconia._--See page 206.

_Fastollf._--"An English variety of high reputation. It derived its name from having originated near the ruins of an old castle, so called, in Great Yarmouth. Canes strong, rather erect, branching; light yellowish brown, with few strong bristles; fruit very large, obtuse or roundish conical, bright, purplish red, rich and highly flavored, slightly adhering to the germ in picking." (Downing.)

_French._--(Vice-President French).--Originated with Dr. Brinkle.

"Canes strong, upright, spines short and stout; fruit medium to large, roundish, rich, bright crimson, large grains, sweet and very good."

(Barry.) It is foreign in its parentage, and uncertain in many localities.

_Herstine._--See pages 219, 220.

_Hornet._--"Raised by Souchet, near Paris. Very productive. Canes very strong, vigorous, upright spines, purplish, rather stout, and numerous at the base; fruit very large, conical, often irregular, grains large, quite hairy, compact, crimson; flesh rather firm, juicy, sweet and good, separates freely." (Downing.) This variety appears to vary greatly with locality.

_Kirtland._--(Cincinnati Red.)--One of the native varieties once grown largely, but now superseded. Fruit medium in size, obtuse conical, soft, and not very high-flavored.

_Knevett's Giant._--Berry large, round, light crimson, adheres too firmly to the core, and often crumbles in picking, but is juicy and good. The canes are very strong and productive; spines purplish, short, scattering. An English variety.

_Merveille de Quatre Saisons._--A French variety. This and the Belle de Fontenay are almost as hardy as any of our native kinds, and thus they form exceptions to the foreign sorts, which are usually tender. Good results might be secured by crossing them with our best native kinds.

The canes of this variety must be cut to the ground in spring if much autumn fruit is desired. It is not equal to the Belle de Fontenay, to which cla.s.s it belongs.

_Naomi._--Identical with Franconia.

_Northumberland Fillbasket._--An old-fas.h.i.+oned English variety, sometimes found in the garden of an amateur.

_Pride of the Hudson._--See pages 190, 219.

_Pearl, Bristol, Thwack._--Native varieties that resemble the Brandywine, but are not equal to it in most localities. They are pa.s.sing out of cultivation.

_Reliance._--A seedling of the Philadelphia, but judging from one year's test, much superior to it, and worthy of cultivation in those regions where the finer varieties cannot thrive. It is hardy, and will do well on light soils.

_Saunders._--See page 220.

_Rubus Occidentalis_