350 STATE HORTICUL.TXJEAL SOCIETY. 



should govern in the amount of strawberries grown in any locality, and 

 this is applicable to all other fruits, especially small fruits. 



A. J. Bracelin: I believe in home markets, buying and selling at 

 home. This might do on a small scale, but would not answer for a 

 plantation of strawberries of any considerable size. We must seek distant 

 markets to dispose of our berries. All the large cities (and there is where 

 the largest share of strawberries is consumed) must be shipped to from a 

 distance, and sometimes a long distance. If we grow berries for market 

 we must depend upon the large cities or centers where most is consumed. 



G. H. LaFleur: Those people living along the lake shore have largely 

 the advantage over us who live so far from good shipping facilities. They 

 place their berries on board a boat at night and they are landed next 

 morning in Chicago or Milwaukee, looking fresh, as there is little or no 

 jar on the boat, while berries carried by rail arrive later in the morning; 

 besides, the jarring of the cars nearly spoils them. Hence I should grow 

 strawberries only for the market near home, if I lived at Wayland or any 

 point so far from the lake, and leave those who lived nearer to good 

 shipping points, and especially by boat, to grow strawberries for western 

 cities. In growing small fruit, the conditions should govern in the kind 

 and the amount of fruit we grow. 



At this point Wm. H. Schuh read the following paper on gooseberries: 



I have only had one year of experience, but that has been a year of 

 Isnowledge, and I might say profit. This fruit is known botanicaily as 

 Ribes, and is northern in its habitat. The industry is not extensive in 

 this state, but. one that is being taken up by a few small-fruit growers. 

 There is no fruit grown that is easier handled (especially the thorns). 

 Gooseberries are mostly sold when green. There is a good market for the 

 green fruit, but I think the time is not far off when there will be a good 

 demand for ripe gooseberries. When ripe, to my taste, there is no fruit 

 better for preserves. We find in growing them that we have to fight 

 against the worms, the same as we have to work to save any other fruit. 



The currant worm will take gooseberries in preference to currants, but 

 if taken in time there is not much trouble. The gooseberry is very liable 

 to mildew, especially when grown in the shade. 



Among the best varieties are the Houghton, Downing, Smith, and 

 Industry. The latter is of very recent introduction, to American growers, 

 and has thus far withstood mildew quite as well as our varieties, and 

 although a very large berry, I do not think it will come into general favor 

 on account of its rough or hairy skin. Of the Downing I am not well 

 informed. It is of good size, but not as large as the Industry, and it lacks 

 quality. My choice is the Houghton, although it is not as large a berry 

 as either of the others. It is very productive and of excellent quality, and 

 comes into bearing young. I might state here how it came to be my 

 choice — not from choosing it myself, but from swindling nurserymen 

 Ballman Bros., of Monroe, Mich. But since my bushes have come into 

 bearing I am glad they are the Houghton, only I did not wish to pay such 

 exorbitant prices for them. I have 300 bearing Houghtons and shall 

 increase them to 2,000 next spring. 



In setting out, I should advise setting so as to cultivate both ways, say 

 six by three feet apart. The gooseberry is easily propagated by layering 

 in August or as soon as the leaves fall. 



