226 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



SMALL FRUIT NOTES. 



BY L. R. TAFT AND H. P. GLADDEN. 



Bulletin No. 122. 



The number of new varieties of fruits placed on the market each year 

 is so large that individuals can not afford to test them upon their own 

 grounds, so we have endeavored to keep our collection so complete that it 

 would enable us to give information as to the relative merits of the differ- 

 ent varieties to prospective planters. Not only do we have a duplicate 

 collection upon the sub-station grounds at South Haven, but there are a 

 large number of fruitgrowers in various parts of the state who are aiding 

 us by reporting the results obtained upon their grounds. 



In many cases the varieties noted in this bulletin were sent here for trial 

 by the originators and we are thus able to give information to would-be 

 purchasers, as soon as they are placed upon the market. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



The soil upon which the strawberries have been grown is a sandy loam 

 containing a considerable mixture of clay. The land was well enriched 

 with stable manure the fall before the plants were set. (The plants were 

 set in the spring of 1893 and most of the data were obtained from this set- 

 ting, though another plat, containing most of the varieties noted, set the 

 season of 1892, was kept for comparison,) A heavy mulch of straw and 

 marsh hay was given the plants in the fall. The spring following, the 

 mulch was moved to adjoining rows to permit of a shallow and thorough 

 cultivation, then replaced as a mulch and to keep the berries from the 

 ground. Early in the spring the plants were sprayed with Bordeaux mix- 

 ture. Four applications were made, the last about two weeks previous to 

 the ripening of the crop. The benefit of the sprayings was clearly shown 

 in the almost entire absence of leaf blight on the plants treated; while 

 plats purposely left unsprayed, for comparison, were badly affected with 

 the disease. 



The frequent and abundant rains occurring in the early part of the 

 season gave the plants a vigorous growth. Nearly every variety blossomed 

 full and set a large amount of fruit, but the protracted drouth soon com- 

 ing on greatly lessened the yield. 



