From W. A. Brown, Benton Harbor, Mich

"The first strawberries from St. Joseph, Mich., for the Chicago market were grown in 1862. The Hovey, Early Scarlet, Peabody and Wilson were planted. The Wilson soon took the first place and held it firmly against all the new varieties for nearly 25 years. In Berrien county, since 1868, there have been from 2,000 to 4,000 acres planted in strawberries, nearly all being of the Wilson. About five years ago the blight made its appearance in the southern part of the county, and in a year or two it extended northward, destroying all the large strawberry plantations. These have generally been replaced by the Crescent. A few still plant the Wilson for the purpose of fertilizing the Crescent. Last year less fungus than usual appeared, but this season heavy rains before the fruiting caused its re-appearance. A great contrast in vigor is now manifest be-tween the Wilson and Crescent, but the latter is proving unsatisfactory as a shipping berry. It is evident that both varieties must soon give place to some of the numerous new varieties, several of which are very promising".

From Matthew Crawford, Cuyahoga Falls, O

"The Wilson strawberry succeeds as well with me as it ever did, except that it and many others receive more injury from the rust now than formerly, not because they are more susceptible to it, but it is more prevalent. I grow it only in a small way in matted rows, always covering it with straw in the winter. It is grown to a very limited extent in this locality, having been displaced by the Crescent, Cumberland and others that either yield more with the same amount of labor or bring a better price. I do not think it is running out, but our standard is now too high to be satisfied with this variety".

From W. J. Green, Experiment Station, Columbus

"The Wilson strawberry does not succeed here. We have grown it in matted rows, giving thorough cultiva-vation. The plants were mulched in the fall, and the mulching was allowed to remain until after fruiting.

In comparison with other varieties, it stands at the foot of the list in this locality. The cause of its failure here is the strawberry rust, which attacks the foliage. The rust is more troublesome in this locality than in many others, hence such varieties as Manchester, Capt. Jack, Wilson, and many others cannot be grown here. The Wilson is still grown with profit in more favored parts of the state, and I have no direct evidence that it is running out. The rust is probably more prevalent than formerly, which may account for the fact that the Wilson fails where it once was profitable. Various other causes have operated to make it unpopular, such as competition with improved varieties ; low prices, which necessitated the growing of large berries; the efforts of plant dealers to magnify its faults in order to show the virtues of their pets. Wherever the Wilson succeeds and meets the demands of the market, it is still largely grown".

From C. A. Green, Rochester, N. Y

"The Wilson has long been a favorite, owing partly to the great reputation it secured at an early day when it had but few competitors, and partly to its productiveness and vigor.

Its peculiarity of turning red when hard and immature enables it to bear shipment and hold its shape when canned, and also adds . to its popularity. Its great defect here is a tendency to leaf blight, which often appears suddenly and reduces the yield more than one-half. Where the Wilson does not blight and receives good culture, it is yet a profitable variety, rivaled only by the Crescent and the Warwick. With poor culture, the size of the fruit dwindles after the first picking. It has been somewhat difficult to get Wilson plants unmixed ; owing to its having been used to fertilize Crescents, Crescents have intermixed. In order to secure absolute purity, and to improve the strain if possible, I have propagated all from one plant, bearing superior fruit. The results are not very encouraging as regards superior fruit. The Wilson is not called for by planters as often as formerly. This may be partly owing to the fact that it is not pushed in catalogues, but I conclude, on the whole, that it is superseded by varieties possessing better color, better quality and larger size".

From E. Williams, Montclair, N. F

"I tried the Wilson when it was first introduced. It proved un-adapted to my soil, taste, or idea of what a strawberry ought to be, a concentration of acidity in the appearance only of a strawberry that sugar seemed powerless to neutralize. If allowed to hang until crimson, to get ripe, it was invariably rotten. Years afterward I was induced to give it another trial from its success in Monmouth county, procuring pure stock plants from there, which, though proving to be more vigorous, were not the true Wilson. I do not know of any Wilsons being grown in this vicinity or county now. The Downing superseded it years ago, and is still retained by many, though it has failed to a large degree from rust. Finally, the Wilson has no standing in this locality. It was run out years ago".