290 TBANSACTIONS OF THE KANKAKEE 



think the curculio destroys the fruit. I planted some wild plums; 

 these give fruit every year, but the quality is only second or third rate. 

 This, hovpever, convinces me that we have kinds that the curculio 

 can not destroy. It is claimed by those who have tried it, that the 

 Wild Goose and Miner, when grown iu close proximity, fertilize each 

 other, and by some growers that the Mariana is the best fertilizer for 

 the Wild Goose. Another very valuable quality of the Mariana is 

 that it will grow from cuttiugs which will send up no sprouts. The 

 W^ild Goose and Miner when grown on their own roots send up 

 thousands of sprouts, which if not kept cut down, will in a few years 

 form an impenetrable thicket and fill the ground with roots so that 

 nothing can cultivate through them. If the Mariana does not send 

 up suckers from its roots it will prove valuable as a grafting stock. 



I have not spoken of the strawberry; it will hardly do to leave 

 it out. We all like it. I recommend everyone who owns as much 

 as one lot to plant them. 1 have tried a great many different kinds 

 and I know we now have some that are unusually good. Briefly, I 

 recommend a trial of Bubach No. 5, this is very productive in plants 

 and fruit; the berry is large and good and ripens evenly. If you 

 have never raised strawberries it will surprise you the first time you 

 see the fruit of this plant. It needs another kind near to fertilize 

 the blossom ; for this, use Jessie, a ver}^ productive staminate variety 

 that produces large fruit. The Itasca is a wonderfully productive 

 variety, it is the best in quality of any strawberry I ever tasted; it is 

 about the size of the Crescent, marble shaped, and some specimens 

 are rather light in color; try this by all means. Another good pistil- 

 late variety is the Haverland. A very small plot of ground planted 

 to these four varieties will furnish an abundant supply of this most 

 delicious fruit for any family. 



I have nothing now to say about the grape. Every family 

 should grow their own supply, which can easily be done. 



I will close this paper by devoting a few words to the subject of 

 cultivation. I have failed oftener when pressing farm work was on 

 hand, to obtain fruit, or at least a full crop, on account of the lack 

 of cultivation, than from any other cause. Weeds are easily 

 destroyed by early and frequent cultivation before they make any 

 show; the small white rootlets when exposed to the sun soon wither 

 and die. But if there were no weeds, cultivation is still necessary 

 to keep the soil from crusting and to let in air, which really supplies 

 the greater part of the food of plants. For this reason, weeds, which 

 compel us to cultivate, arfe a blessing in disguise. We should culti- 

 vate often, and know how to cultivate each particular crop. 



Blackberries should never be deeply cultivated after the first 

 year. Deep cultivation tears and breaks the roots, which are needed 

 to enable the plant to grow fruit. 



The raspberry will bear deeper cultivation than the blackberry, 



