378 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Wm. Cooper said his experience with small-fruits was limited, having 

 confined his products in that direction mostly to a sufficiency for his 

 family and his neighbors ; had marketed raspberries, but had never sold 

 at a profit ; thought dealers discriminated against home-grown fruit; 

 cited some instances that seemed to confirm his statement ; was in favor 

 of raising a variety of small-fruits for home consumption, as they were 

 wholesome and productive of good health. He considered the Red Dutch 

 the best currant; had planted currants in his orchard thirteen years ago 

 which had borne constantly and abundantly ever since ; had manured 

 once or twice, and his hogs had rooted up the ground between the rows 

 several times ; had planted three rows of currants between two rows of 

 apple-trees. In answer to a question, he said he did not think currants 

 bore quite as well where the shade was densest. 



Mr. Bloom said he had raised currants under pear and cherry-trees 

 and found the fruit equally as fine as that grown in full sunshine, while 

 their season was prolonged at least ten days ; used plenty of manure ; 

 considered the Red and White Dutch the best ; had tried some of the 

 newer varieties, but found them no better than the old ones. 



Mr. Barnard thought the Red Dutch and White Grape the best. 



Mr. Mortimer had found nothing better than the old-fashioned Red 

 Dutch. 



Mr. Cooper had not succeeded very well with strawberries, owing 

 perhaps to poor varieties, but should try again; had succeeded well with 

 black-cap raspberries ; planted in hills and cultivated both ways by horse 

 power. 



Mr. Cooper asked what was the best varieties of strawberries for 

 family use. 



Mr. Barnard answered as follows : For the million and for market, 

 " Wilson's Albany;" for family use, the " Green Prolific," which is very 

 hardy; holds its fruit well above the soil, and the fruit is easily separated 

 from the calyx, which is quite a recommendation to housewives. It is a 

 pistillate variety and needs an occasional row of some staminate variety 

 to fertilize it, such as Wilson's Albany or Kentucky. There are other 

 varieties that are considered very good, such as the Charles Downing, the 

 Crescent, the Kentucky and some others. The Crescent is very highly 

 esteemed by those who have raised it. The Sharpless is one of the new 

 candidates for public favor, about which marvelous tales are told of its 

 great size and other good qualities. 



Mr. Bloom thought people could aff"ord to wait a while for results, as 

 a few years ago a great deal was said in favor of the "Agriculturist," and 

 many people went for it, but now nothing is heard of it. 



Mr. Mellen said he had had a good deal of trouble in raising straw- 

 berries ; had never succeeded a second time on the same ground ; consid- 

 ered the Lawton blackberry a nuisance. 



Mr. Barnard would never plant strawberries a second time on the 

 same ground. In answer to a question, he stated that he would always 

 plant in the spring in this climate; would plant in rows three or four 

 feet apart and cultivate with a horse. As to blackberries, he said the 



