40 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



runners, we'll be surprised at the finer appearance and quality of the 

 fruit, in its larger size and double quantity. All known varieties seem 

 to do well here, and to get over the period of drouth tolerably. No 

 nse to name them ; however, Captain Jack, Gl. Putnam and Sharpless 

 seem to prove the most prolific and profitable ; no better berries can 

 be raised here for size, quality and market than Captain Jack. The 

 Sharpless is often so large as to produce berries of extraordinary size. 

 I have seen seven berries fill a quart box. 



The only drawback of this attractive berry is in its uneven ripen- 

 ing and uneven form ; some are conical, others flat or conglomerate, 

 and while the upper part is colored the lower part is green, so that 

 birds can pick before we do. 



I notice in bulletin No. 22, Missouri Experiment station, a good 

 many valuable seedlings ; when these are disseminated in various parts 

 of our great State, we may chance to find something better adapted to 

 every soil. A. A. Blumer, 



Fredericktown. 



Report on Small Fruits. ^ 



The growing of small fruits in the last two years has been attended 

 with many difficulties. For three successive falls we have had long 

 and protracted drouths, which in a majority of cases have seriously in- 

 jured small fruits of all kinds. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



In this section of country, all old beds that had but little cultiva- 

 tion, and were not mulched, have produced a very poor crop, and the 

 quality of the poorest kind. Beds that were well cultivated and 

 mulched have made a good crop of fine berries. 



I cultivated my plants nearly every week as long as the drouth 

 lasted. Mulched the Ist of December, and I am having a good crop 

 of as tine berries as ever grew. 



So far as growing strawberries is concerned, I do not fear the 

 drouth, unless it should be worse than has yet appeared. 



Varieties — The Bubach No. 5 is the king of berries in this locality. 

 The vine is the nearest to perfection of anything I have ever grown 

 in 20 years' experience in the business. The fruit is large and showy, 

 and I obtained $1 per crate more in the Springfield market than Cres- 

 cents and other small varieties were bringing. 



