176 TKANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUTHERN 



the profits by acres to ascertain what would be made from a quarter 

 section, is simply preposterous. He mipjht as well go a little farther 

 and carry his calculations over the State of Illinois, in order to be 

 able, in a few years, to pay off the national debt. 



Mr. McPike said this reminded him of his turkey story 

 which he could not refrain from repeating : " He had bought a 

 turkey hen for 11.25: this hen laid twelve eggs and in due time 

 hatched twelve young turkeys. These liv^ed and grew fat and he 

 sold them in the fall for $1 . 25 each. Hence, if he had started in 

 the spring with 1,000 hens — conclusion." 



Mr. Riehl — Mr. Standish's success is to be attributed to his 

 climate, our failure to the same cause. 



Mr. Jackson — Don't you think the Goethe will pay us? 



Mr. Riehl — It has too many faults to pay for market. 



S. F. Connor — Nine-tenths of the Goethe that come here to 

 market are not fit to eat. They will bring fair prices Avhere they are 

 good. 



E. A. Riehl — Have any of you had experience with tarring 

 stakes. I tried it last year and have about come to the conclusion 

 that it does no good, though I have often heard that it does. 



Mr. Browne — One who has had experience told me that it was 

 worse than useless. » 



SMALL FEUITS. 



Mr. Browne read the following: 



Mr. President: — In looking over the strawberry department of 

 the numerous nursery men's catalogues, I find the usual crop of new 

 candidates for public favor, at the same old prices; $2.00 per dozen. 

 There is something very fascinating about a new variety to the aver- 

 age fruit grower, and the number bought and tried is usually ruled 

 by the weight of the purse, and not by the desire to purchase. Of 

 the very large number of new varieties which have been placed'before 

 the public with such glowing descriptions, particularly in the last 

 ten years, how many have survived the test of the field? I think 

 you can count them on your fingers, but still, I think it advisable to 

 try, in a small way, a few of the best recommended each year. For 

 among them we may find one that is just suited to our soil and method 

 of cultivation, for I do not think that any of us will say that we 



