32 State Horticultural Society. 



])lacc for cleaning them. Removes all leaves, straighten out the roots, 

 cutting the latter back to about 3 inches in length and tie them in bunches 

 of a convenient size. Be careful to allow no mud to remain in the 

 crowns, but keep them as nearly dry as possible without exposing them 

 too much to the sun or drying winds. After cleaning them in this way 

 pack the bunches in shallow boxes (four-basket peach or tomato, crates 

 serve the purpose well), one layer deep, with tops up and store them in 

 a good case or tight cellar where the air is somewhat damp. They can 

 safely be kept in this place until planting time or till probably May ist. 

 Do not sprinkle them at any time, but simply stack them up six feet or 

 more deep if you need to and leave them alone until needed. 



Earlv planting is desirable and as a rule may begin about March T5th 

 here. I'repare the land in the most thorough manner possible, not in 

 the smoothing of the surface, but in the loosening up to a great depth. 

 Little harrowing is necessary as the rains firm the ground sufficiently as 

 a rule. In setting the plant a thin-bladed dibble is the best tool that can 

 be used. While, in good ground, a trowel in the hands of a very careful 

 man will do good work, a dibble is much to be preferred. Care should 

 be exercised in firming the soil around the crowns and roots and in 

 -getting the plant the proper depth. 



STRAWBERRIES— REPORTED VARIETIES. 

 (By J. E. May, Wilson, Mo.) 



With no rain since the 12th of April our berries are almost an entire 

 failure. All varieties bloomed full and set a good crop of fruit. The 

 A'arieties that have withstood the drouth best and produced the best fruit 

 are Crescent, Clyde and Haverland. Bismark, Sharpless and Parker Earl 

 that always produced so many buttons are full of perfect berries this 

 year, but they are very small. I think this shows they fail to fertilize 

 properl}^ when we have much rain. ]My choice of varieties for our section 

 would be Haverland, Warfield, Bubach fertilized with Bederwood. Am 

 trying Ridgeway and Lady Thompson, but can't say how I shall like them, 

 as the drouth has knocked them out this time. 



My report on strawberries is short on account of extreme drouth. 

 No rain for seven weeks, and no prospect of any. Am afraid the fruit 

 business will break me up if the orchard does not bear soon; trees mak- 

 ing fine growth. Am giving clean, thorough cultivation. Had promise 

 of 200 cases of strawberries and not get 5. My raspberries have come out 

 wonderfully and with rain would give one-half or more of crop. Don't 

 think anthracnose is spreading much on account of dry weather. 



