398 State Horticultural Society. 



discarded and from the remainder, one-half the buds are removed to 

 prevent pollen exhaustion. 



It should be remembered that these plants are grown in stools or 

 hills and all runners removed as fast as they appear to encourage 

 the habit of forming seed buds instead of runners. Since such plant 

 is really many plants consolidated, the fruit stems must be treated as 

 individuals. When the fruit is set it is thinned to three or four ber- 

 ries to the stem. Since strength is developed by exercise they must 

 be allowed to bear some fruit. I am firmly convinced that if the blos- 

 som buds are removed every year, they will lose the habit of forming 

 fruit buds and throw their strength into the formation of runners the 

 same as a pollen exhausted plant. 



When berries are ripe their size, color, firmness and flavor are 

 carefully noted in the scale book and footings made, and the plant 

 showing the most points of excellence is then taken as the "mother" 

 of all the future plantings of that variety. It is given high tillage and 

 irrigation and runners are potted as fast as they appear and trans- 

 ferred to the special propagating bed where they are allowed to make 

 runners for next season, when the search for new and better varia- 

 tions is continued as before. Thus year after year we are throwing 

 out the weaklings and accumulating the good qualities in the plants 

 upon which we are to bestow our labor and use of land. — Orange 

 Judd Farmer. 



FIRST PRIZE ARTICLE ON STRAWBERRY PATCH. 



Soil — I prefer a two-years' clover sod to anything else, with 

 barnyard manure applied just before seeding to clover. The me- 

 chanical condition of such soil is superior to land that has been culti- 

 vated two or three years that is a pleasure to work it. I have tried 

 the cultivate-two-or-three-year plan to my sorrow. Rain will pack 

 such land and make it very hard, while a freshly turned clover sod 

 will be friable and mellow. While white grub has never destroyed 

 any plant for me I have had them injured by mice, also by the ap' 

 plication of coarse manure just before setting. 



Time for Setting — Spring is the best time to set the plants. 

 The fellow who waits till August to save work will also save himself 

 the trouble of picking very many berries. 



Soil Preparation — After plowing, work the ground with harrow 

 and float till it is thoroughly fined and firmed, finishing with the 

 float. Mark with a light hand marker made hand-sled fashion, with 

 runners 2>y2 or 4 feet apart. 



