66 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



The ideas advanced in the foregoing papers read by the ladies 

 were heartily indorsed by Messrs. Stone, Willard, Richardson, 

 Huntley, Stickney and Plumb, and a unanimous vote of thanks 

 to the authors was passed, and they were also elected honorary 

 annual members of the society. 



Strawberries— The discussion of the new varieties of straw- 

 berries was called for, for the purpose of drawing out the experi- 

 ence of the members. 



Mr. Stickney said that they had twenty varieties under cultiva- 

 tion at present. Theii object in raising them was two-fold, partly 

 for plants and partly for berries. For his own use and as market 

 berries, he would select five or six of these twenty varieties and 

 raise them alone, not because they were just what he would like, 

 but they were good and he would hold on to them until he found 

 something better. The varieties he would select would be Wil- 

 son, Green Prolific, Pr >uty, Seth Boyden and Sharpless, and he 

 would set at least one-half of the first variety named and the oth- 

 ers in equal proportion. The Green Prolific was not a perfect 

 plant, but was a heavy bearer when set alongside of the Wilson. 

 The Prouty was a self-fertilizer and a great bearer. The berries 

 were soft, and peculiar in form, and of a mild and pleasant flavor. 

 He did not regard the Seth Boyden quite as desirable as a bearer 

 or in quality, but it was a good berry and with him yielded satis- 

 factorily. Sharpless was of excellent quality, berries large and 

 showy, vines strong and vigorous and moderately productive. 

 The Crescent was a strong grower ; took full possession of the 

 ground. It will yield as many quarts, perhaps, as the Wilson, 

 Prouty and Green Prolific, but the berries are moderate in size, 

 too soft for shipment and were lacking in quality. He picked his 

 first berries of it this season, and the yield in quantity was re- 

 markable. 



Mr. Plumb agreed in regard to the value of the varieties named. 

 He cultivated the Green Prolific a long time ago and had 

 dropped it, and taken it up again and will hang to it. It bears 

 well with him; was the only berry that yielded half a crop the 

 past season. The Sharpless was lacking in hardiness; was a 



