ILLINOIS HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 177 



have a variety which we consider perfect. The outlook for straw- 

 berries the comijig season, in this locality, as far as I can learn, 

 is among professional fruit growers, fairly good; among those 

 who make berry growing a side issue, very poor. As for my own, 

 the prospect is the best I ever had. The causes to which I give the 

 credit for my success are; first, good land; second, proper csltivation. 



My method of cultivation is to plant as early in the spring as 

 possible; by preparing the ground in the fall a gain of two weeks can 

 be made. I prefer to plant before any growth is made. I used to 

 plant in rows four feet apart and eighteen inches to two feet apart 

 in the rows, but have gradually made the rows narrower and lessened 

 the distance between the plants, until now I make the rows two feet 

 nine inches apart and the plants one foot in the row. I do not com- 

 mence to cultivate until the weeds begin to show themselves, for I 

 want the plants to get a good start before they are disturbed; keep 

 all runners cut ofl until the last of July, for the newly set plant is 

 no more able to make new plants before this time, than it is to bear 

 fruit. By doing this very few weeds will have to be pulled by hand, 

 for by the time you are ready to let the plant make runners you will 

 have the weeds nearly all killed. If the surface soil is loose and 

 there are no weeds do not cultivate during drouth. It is a mistake 

 to suppose that the ground absorbs moisture from the air during the 

 night in summer, for the temperature of the soil is always higher 

 than the air immediately above it at nights. The object in keeping 

 the ground loose and mellow, is not to allow the air to penetrate it 

 and thus deposit moisture, but by the diffusion of the particles of 

 the earth, capillary attraction is retarded and the moisture in the 

 soil is retained for the use of the plants growing in it. If the mat- 

 ted system is followed do not allow the plants to crowd each other, 

 for this not only reduces the quantity but also the quality of the 

 fruit. As to what varieties to plant, for myself I have found noth- 

 ing better than Capt. Jack for the main crop and Sharpless for fam- 

 ily, though I have tested some twenty varieties. 



Blackberries are generally in good condition and promise a fair 

 crop; as to what variety to plant I must say that I do not know but 

 will be better able to tell you something in another year. But I 

 have made up my mind to this, that if I cannot grow anything bet- 

 ter than Snyder, I will not grow blackberries at all. 



Mr. Riehl — How many years has the system of cutti»g off 

 the runners until July been pursued? 



Mr. Browne — Three vears. 



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