Jesse Kersey Sharpless was the son of Benjamin and Hannah (Bonsall) Sharpless. Mary Margaret (Harder) Sharpless was his 1st wife. They were married December 22, 1842. Mary died March 6, 1890. Jane (Bowden) Sharpless was his 2nd wife. They were married September 3, 1892. Jane died March 8, 1923. Jesse was a dry goods merchant and the originator of the Sharpless Strawberry.
--a fascinating treatise on "the strawberry"
Roe, E. P.
Cornwall-on-the -Hudson, New York
Success With Small Fruits, c1881
Sharpless Strawberry.--A very strong, upright grower, with large, crinkled foliage; truss 5 to 8 inches, strong branched; 6 to 10 large berries often on each; berry carpet-bag in shape, and often very irregular and flattened, but growing more uniform as they diminish in size; light red and glossy, 5 to 7 inches' flesh firm, light pink, flavor fine, light pink; flavor fine, sweet, perfumed, calyx recurving; season medium. One of the very best if it proves sufficiently productive over the country at large. Mr. J. K. Sharpless kindly writes me: "I have been much interested in growing strawberries for the last fifteen years, and after being disappointed in many of the new and highly praised varieties, the idea occurred to me that a seedling originating in our own soil and climate might prove more hardy and long-lived. Having saved a fine berry of each of the following varieties--the Wilson, Colonel Cheny, Jucanda, and Charles Downing--I planted their seeds in a box in March, 1872. The box was kept in the house (probably by a warm south window), and in May I set from this box about 1OO plants in the garden, giving partial shade and frequently watering. By fall, nearly all were fine plants. I then took them up and set them out in a row one foot apart, protecting them slightly during the winter, and the next season nearly all bore some fruit, the Sharpless four or five fine berries. It was the most interesting employment of my life to grow and watch these seedlings. Some of the others bore fine, large berries, but I eventually came to the conclusion that the Sharpless was the only one worthy of cultivation. I am inclined to think that the Jucunda and Colonel Cheny formed the combination producing this berry. It is now in enormous demand, and if it gives satisfaction throughout the country generally, its popularity will continue. It is peculiarly adapted to hill culture, and the plant is so vigorous that it would develop into quite a bush on rich, moist land, with its runners clipped." Staminate
--a fascinating treatise on "the strawberry"
Roe, E. P.
Cornwall-on-the -Hudson, New York
Success With Small Fruits, c1881
Sharpless Strawberry.--A very strong, upright grower, with large, crinkled foliage; truss 5 to 8 inches, strong branched; 6 to 10 large berries often on each; berry carpet-bag in shape, and often very irregular and flattened, but growing more uniform as they diminish in size; light red and glossy, 5 to 7 inches' flesh firm, light pink, flavor fine, light pink; flavor fine, sweet, perfumed, calyx recurving; season medium. One of the very best if it proves sufficiently productive over the country at large. Mr. J. K. Sharpless kindly writes me: "I have been much interested in growing strawberries for the last fifteen years, and after being disappointed in many of the new and highly praised varieties, the idea occurred to me that a seedling originating in our own soil and climate might prove more hardy and long-lived. Having saved a fine berry of each of the following varieties--the Wilson, Colonel Cheny, Jucanda, and Charles Downing--I planted their seeds in a box in March, 1872. The box was kept in the house (probably by a warm south window), and in May I set from this box about 1OO plants in the garden, giving partial shade and frequently watering. By fall, nearly all were fine plants. I then took them up and set them out in a row one foot apart, protecting them slightly during the winter, and the next season nearly all bore some fruit, the Sharpless four or five fine berries. It was the most interesting employment of my life to grow and watch these seedlings. Some of the others bore fine, large berries, but I eventually came to the conclusion that the Sharpless was the only one worthy of cultivation. I am inclined to think that the Jucunda and Colonel Cheny formed the combination producing this berry. It is now in enormous demand, and if it gives satisfaction throughout the country generally, its popularity will continue. It is peculiarly adapted to hill culture, and the plant is so vigorous that it would develop into quite a bush on rich, moist land, with its runners clipped." Staminate
Jesse Kersey Sharpless was the son of Benjamin and Hannah (Bonsall) Sharpless. Mary Margaret (Harder) Sharpless was his 1st wife. They were married December 22, 1842. Mary died March 6, 1890. Jane (Bowden) Sharpless was his 2nd wife. They were married September 3, 1892. Jane died March 8, 1923. Jesse was a dry goods merchant and the originator of the Sharpless Strawberry.
--a fascinating treatise on "the strawberry"
Roe, E. P.
Cornwall-on-the -Hudson, New York
Success With Small Fruits, c1881
Sharpless Strawberry.--A very strong, upright grower, with large, crinkled foliage; truss 5 to 8 inches, strong branched; 6 to 10 large berries often on each; berry carpet-bag in shape, and often very irregular and flattened, but growing more uniform as they diminish in size; light red and glossy, 5 to 7 inches' flesh firm, light pink, flavor fine, light pink; flavor fine, sweet, perfumed, calyx recurving; season medium. One of the very best if it proves sufficiently productive over the country at large. Mr. J. K. Sharpless kindly writes me: "I have been much interested in growing strawberries for the last fifteen years, and after being disappointed in many of the new and highly praised varieties, the idea occurred to me that a seedling originating in our own soil and climate might prove more hardy and long-lived. Having saved a fine berry of each of the following varieties--the Wilson, Colonel Cheny, Jucanda, and Charles Downing--I planted their seeds in a box in March, 1872. The box was kept in the house (probably by a warm south window), and in May I set from this box about 1OO plants in the garden, giving partial shade and frequently watering. By fall, nearly all were fine plants. I then took them up and set them out in a row one foot apart, protecting them slightly during the winter, and the next season nearly all bore some fruit, the Sharpless four or five fine berries. It was the most interesting employment of my life to grow and watch these seedlings. Some of the others bore fine, large berries, but I eventually came to the conclusion that the Sharpless was the only one worthy of cultivation. I am inclined to think that the Jucunda and Colonel Cheny formed the combination producing this berry. It is now in enormous demand, and if it gives satisfaction throughout the country generally, its popularity will continue. It is peculiarly adapted to hill culture, and the plant is so vigorous that it would develop into quite a bush on rich, moist land, with its runners clipped." Staminate
--a fascinating treatise on "the strawberry"
Roe, E. P.
Cornwall-on-the -Hudson, New York
Success With Small Fruits, c1881
Sharpless Strawberry.--A very strong, upright grower, with large, crinkled foliage; truss 5 to 8 inches, strong branched; 6 to 10 large berries often on each; berry carpet-bag in shape, and often very irregular and flattened, but growing more uniform as they diminish in size; light red and glossy, 5 to 7 inches' flesh firm, light pink, flavor fine, light pink; flavor fine, sweet, perfumed, calyx recurving; season medium. One of the very best if it proves sufficiently productive over the country at large. Mr. J. K. Sharpless kindly writes me: "I have been much interested in growing strawberries for the last fifteen years, and after being disappointed in many of the new and highly praised varieties, the idea occurred to me that a seedling originating in our own soil and climate might prove more hardy and long-lived. Having saved a fine berry of each of the following varieties--the Wilson, Colonel Cheny, Jucanda, and Charles Downing--I planted their seeds in a box in March, 1872. The box was kept in the house (probably by a warm south window), and in May I set from this box about 1OO plants in the garden, giving partial shade and frequently watering. By fall, nearly all were fine plants. I then took them up and set them out in a row one foot apart, protecting them slightly during the winter, and the next season nearly all bore some fruit, the Sharpless four or five fine berries. It was the most interesting employment of my life to grow and watch these seedlings. Some of the others bore fine, large berries, but I eventually came to the conclusion that the Sharpless was the only one worthy of cultivation. I am inclined to think that the Jucunda and Colonel Cheny formed the combination producing this berry. It is now in enormous demand, and if it gives satisfaction throughout the country generally, its popularity will continue. It is peculiarly adapted to hill culture, and the plant is so vigorous that it would develop into quite a bush on rich, moist land, with its runners clipped." Staminate
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"In Memory Of
Jesse Kersey Sharpless
born Sept 9, 1818
died
Sept 10, 1897
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