It is both interesting and profitable to take a look at the changes
which time makes in the horticultural world, and sweeping the eye over
the space of a quarter of a century, gather up some of the lessons which
the retrospect may teach. It is now a little more than twenty-five years
ago that the late James Wilson, a nurseryman of Albany, in the State of
New York, raised several seedling strawberry plants from seed of the
Ross Phœnix, Hovey and Black Prince. It is not supposed that he
endeavored to combine the qualities of any of them by means of
artificial cross-fertilization, but in-as-much as the plants of these
varieties were growing in near proximity, trusted to natural means for
any impregnation of the one by pollen of the other. Of these seedlings
only one gave promise of being valuable. This one he preserved and
multiplied, and in the Summer of 1853 exhibited some of the plants in
bearing at the exhibition of the Albany Horticultural Society. But his
exhibit at that time did not attract much attention. His failure to
excite any interest in the minds of others in his new seedling
strawberry did not prevent him from bringing it forward again the
following Summer. He now showed a number of the plants in pots, laden
with fruit, and such was the size and number of the berries upon each
plant that people were astonished, curiosity was excited, and public
attention fairly aroused to the examination of the claims of this new
strawberry. Intelligent and experienced cultivators of fruit clustered
around the stand on which the plants were displayed, and many then
united in the opinion that for productiveness, size of berry, firmness
of flesh and good flavor, it would surpass any then known variety as a
valuable market strawberry.
And what were the varieties that were then relied upon for home and
market purposes? We find on looking back, that in 1846 the then great
American authority in horticulture, A. J. Downing, names Hovey’s
Seedling and Black Prince as best adapted for extensive culture for
market; and for the two best sorts for family use, one early and one at
the middle season, he names Large Early Scarlet as the best of all early
sorts, and for the other, Hovey’s Seedling or Black Prince, adding that
the two latter are both large fruits, productive and excellent. The
varieties then most in cultivation were the Black Prince, Early Scarlet,
Hovey, Hudson, Princess Alice, British Queen, Myatt’s Eliza, Ross Phœnix
and Swainstone’s Seedling. At this time, Hovey’s Seedling Strawberry had
been in cultivation for twelve years, and it was in this year, 1846,
that the Massachusetts Horticultural Society awarded a piece of plate of
the value of fifty dollars to the Messrs. Hovey, of Boston, as a special
premium for the strawberry raised by them, HOVEY’S SEEDLING.
In 1847 the Cincinnati Horticultural Society offered a prize of one
hundred dollars for a new American strawberry, which after thorough
trial should prove to be superior to any then in cultivation. In 1851
the society awarded this prize to Mr. McAvoy, a cultivator of
strawberries in the vicinity of Cincinnati, for one of his seedlings
which they named McAvoy’s Superior, deciding that it was superior to
Hovey’s or any other strawberry that came under the examination of the
committee. At this time we find that the varieties were Hovey, Burr’s
New Pine, Black Prince, Alice Maud, Early Scarlet, Jenny’s Seedling,
Roseberry, Genessee, Monroe, Climax Scarlet, Boston Pine, Crimson Cone,
Royal Scarlet, Swainstone’s Seedling, British Queen, Myatt’s Eliza,
Buist’s Prize, Willey, Rival Hudson, Myatt’s Pine, Crimson Cone, and
some others of less note. It was in this year that Mr. Wilson raised his
seedling strawberry plants, among which was his now well-known Wilson’s
Albany, and such were the varieties with which it had to compete. What
they were may be gathered from R. G. Pardee, who was in those days
authority on all matters connected with strawberry culture, a gentleman
of sound judgment, extended observation and sterling integrity; one whom
it was a privilege even to know, but whose friendship is one of the
sunniest remembrances of life. He has passed on now. Will they who found
so much delight in talking with each other of the fruits of earth, find
a like bond of union in the fruits of that other land? Mr. Pardee,
writing in the Summer of 1852 says that Burr’s New Pine “has maintained
its high reputation as a family fruit. All my visitors have united with
me in giving it the preference in flavor over all others. Monroe Scarlet
has this season proved to be the largest bearer on my grounds. Rival
Hudson is one of the most productive market fruits. Willey has borne
next in quantity to Monroe Scarlet. If I wished to set out a bed for
family use I would plant one-fifth each of Burr’s New Pine, Hovey’s
Seedling, and Monroe Scarlet, and remainder of Crimson Cone, Large Early
Scarlet and Boston Pine. For market I would largely add Rival Hudson and
Willey.”
In 1852 the American Pomological Society considered as worthy of general
cultivation the Boston Pine, Hovey, Jenny’s Seedling, and Large Early
Scarlet. These varieties continued to stand among the leading sorts for
several years. Very little was heard of Wilson’s Albany; no pains being
taken to bring it into notice. In 1856 John Sloan, of Albany, fruited a
bed of three hundred plants and found them to be more prolific than
Early Scarlet or Crimson Cone. In October, 1857, Mr. John Wilson, the
son of the raiser, sent some plants to Mr. J. Jay Smith, in
Philadelphia, the then Editor of the _Horticulturist_. In 1858 H. H.
Mish, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, reported that he had received some
plants of this variety during the previous Autumn, and that it promised
to be productive and valuable. Dr. Russell, of Hartford, Connecticut,
reported it _very_ productive, berries dark red, firm, juicy and well
flavored: at the meeting of the Fruit Growers’ Society of Western New
York, held that Summer, Burr’s New Pine and Early Scarlet, received each
seven votes for amateur cultivation, Wilson’s Albany and Hovey each four
votes, and for market Early Scarlet received eight votes, Crimson Cone
and Wilson’s Albany each seven, Hovey four, and Burr’s New Pine only
two. The American Pomological Society in that year added it to their
list for general cultivation.
Thus we see that five years had elapsed from the time of its first
introduction at Albany before it had become sufficiently known to obtain
a place in the list of the American Pomological Society. Passing now
over a period of a dozen years, we find, on looking at the Report of the
American Pomological Society for 1871, that out of fifty States and
Provinces, represented in that Society, the Wilson’s Albany has found
its way into twenty-six, in all of which it is recommended, and in
fourteen of them it is double starred to denote superiority. Meanwhile
where are the varieties which stood in the front rank of strawberry
culture when Mr. Wilson first placed his new seedling on the table of
the Albany Horticultural Society? Only four of them, Boston Pine, Hovey,
Early Scarlet and Victoria, can be found at all in this report. Of
these, Boston Pine is recommended in five States, Hovey in sixteen, but
double starred only in Massachusetts, the State of its birth. Early
Scarlet is recommended in ten States, and Victoria in eight. Of those
which had since attained a position on the Society’s list, the Triomph
de Gand stands next to Wilson’s Albany, being recommended in fifteen
States, and double starred in five of them.
Passing on now down the current of time, over a lapse of six more years,
we look into the Report of the American Pomological Society for 1877,
which has just come to hand. With thirty varieties now on the list,
Wilson’s Albany is still in advance, distancing every competitor in the
race. Of fifty States, Provinces and Territories yet represented, this
strawberry is recommended for cultivation in thirty-six and in
twenty-six of them it receives the double star of great superiority and
value. These places extend from 28° to 49° north latitude, and from the
Atlantic to the Pacific coast. We still find our old friends, Boston
Pine, Hovey, Early Scarlet, and Victoria on the list. Boston Pine is now
recommended in six States, Hovey in seventeen, with the double star in
Massachusetts only, Early Scarlet in ten, and Victoria in seven. Triomph
de Gand still holds rank next to Wilson’s Albany, being recommended in
twenty-four States and double starred in six of them, while next to that
stands the Charles Downing, recommended in twenty-three States and
double starred in six.
The history of this strawberry teaches some interesting lessons. Without
puffing, nay, in spite of many hard speeches, with even the note at the
foot of the list, in the Report of the American Pomological Society now
before us that it is of “poor quality,” this fruit has spread in a
quarter of a century over more than half a continent, and more thousands
of bushels of it are consumed every year than of any other berry. How
comes it that a fruit of “poor quality” should be so universally
cultivated? May it not be possible that our standards of excellence need
some revision? It would be a long list indeed that should contain the
names of all the strawberries which have been brought out with great
flourish of trumpets, as far better in quality and fully as prolific as
Wilson’s Albany, that have had their day and passed into oblivion. The
verdict of the public is in favor of the Wilson; it has stood the test
of time, and of great variety of soil and climate, and we may as well
accept that verdict, for it is doubtless correct.
There is a question, too, that one may easily ask, that is not so easily
answered. What quality or peculiarity of constitution is possessed by
this plant that it can adapt itself to all soils and climates, and be
equally valuable and productive in Nova Scotia and in Florida, in
Connecticut and in California?
What, too, shall we say of the skill of our hybridists? Although Mr.
Wilson was always confident that his “Albany” was produced by a cross
between Black Prince and Hovey’s Seedling, yet we believe he never
pretended that he had artificially impregnated the one with the other,
but that it was one of those chance cross-fertilizations which may
happen under favoring circumstances. That it was certainly a cross
between these two sorts cannot be affirmed. But what have the labors of
our hybridists, who have taken the strawberry in hand, as yet
accomplished? Where is the berry that has been the production of their
skill, which has achieved anything approaching to such success? Many
indeed have been the champions on the strawberry field who have came out
in full panoply to run a tilt against this stripling, friendless and
unarmed; but the smooth pebble from the brook has silently done its
work; not even was the dull thud heard as it sunk into the brain; and
when the champion fell, there was no crash nor jar, for he who came
forth with such giant claims, shrunk, as he fell, to his true
proportions.
There is a lesson, too, for “committees on new fruits.” McAvoy’s
Superior, to which was awarded the prize of one hundred dollars in 1851,
in twenty years had disappeared entirely from the list of the American
Pomological Society, while the Wilson’s Albany, which first found a
place on that list in 1858, has spread itself during these twenty years
yet farther and wider, and stands to-day the acknowledged chieftain,
despite the cold shoulder of fruit committees and critics. That which is
really valuable, which possesses in any large degree the quality of
usefulness, will find its own way into public appreciation; nay, will be
sought out, and brought into notice without the help of committees,
while that which fails in these qualities will go into forgetfulness,
the silver cup, medal or prize serving only the purpose of a tombstone.
And last, we take issue with those who say that Wilson’s Albany is of
poor quality. To our taste it is richer by far than Triomph de Gand or
Jucunda. A false impression has gone out by reason of judgment having
been passed upon the fruit when it was unripe; and as some who are
supposed to be authority in such matters have given expression to this
opinion, it has become the fashion among the “upper ten” of the
horticultural world to call the berry “sour.” But when the fruit is
allowed to become ripe, which is not when it first turns red, but when
the seeds have become dark brown and the berries assume a mahogany
color, then will its true richness and flavor be developed, and the
fruit be found to possess that commingling of sweet and sour which is
sprightly, refreshing and agreeable. For those whose taste demands a
greater degree of sweetness, sugar may be added without destroying the
flavor, but they will be few who will require much addition of
saccharine beyond that which the perfectly ripened berry yields.
With a record such as the one we have now presented, the Wilson’s Albany
will commend itself to the planter, whether he purposes merely to
furnish his own table or to supply the market.
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