' SOCIETY OF CENTKAL ILLINOIS. 225 



"STRAWBERRY BUTTONS." 

 , BY D. H. GRAY, ELM WOOD. 



Buttons, where they are ueeded, may be desirable, and may be 

 of beautiful designs. Things that are useful are often worn as 

 ornaments, but a strawberry button is a failure, both as to its use- 

 fulness and beauty. An abortive attempt at a strawberry, misshapen 

 and bitter, it is, in no way, the aim of the grower, nor is it the de- 

 light of the consumer. How shall we get perfectly formed berries 

 instead of buttons? I ask this question of this intelligent body of 

 horticulturists, for a practical answer. I am ready to offer as a 

 reward, to the one who discovers how to always grow perfectly formed 

 berries, the great satisfaction of growing perfectly formed fruit — a 

 motive sufficient to call forth our best endeavors. 



Guessing will not find it, however shrewd we may be in this 

 Yankee talent. Perhaps the scientific would search carefully for 

 the cause, or causes, of buttons, and then seek the removal of those 

 causes. 1 am quite sure of one thing, that is, I can succeed in grow- 

 ing buttons, by rule, and rarely, if ever fail. One day a gentleman, 

 an amateur grower, requested me to go with him to see his straw- 

 berry bed, which covered nearly one-half an acre of ground. I 

 knew by his countenance, and the rubbing of his hands, that he 

 expected some compliments. The bed was composed of Crescent 

 Seedlings, with a few Dowuings interspersed. They had made vig- 

 orous growth and showed immense foliage; they were in matted 

 rows, the plants crowding one another, in rows two feet or more in 

 width. It was in flowering time, and I was sure he had hit exactly 

 the unfailing rule for growing buttons. My silence may have 

 effected my countenance, for he drew near and, looking into my eyes, 

 most cruelly asked me what I thought of his prospect. I told him 

 his plants looked whU, I did not wish to pain him, since it Avas too 

 late to remedy the evil. This is one cause of buttons on Crescents 

 — too many plants crowded together in the row. I have not been 

 in the business long enough to see this cause ever fail. 



But it may be asked, ''Is there not more than one cause for but- 

 tons in the overcrowded row of plants?" There may be; but do not 

 make the mistake of supposing that I am aiming to settle this great 

 question to-day. It is not my aim, but to have the honor of open- 

 ing the question of how to grow perfect berries, and to hear your 

 opinions, that I may hive up wisdom for future use. The question 

 suggested is quite pertinent, and deserves an answer. There are sev- 

 eral ways in which this and other causes may be tested. Supposing 

 we plant a Crescent plant in good soil, and keep the soil in a friable 

 condition, allowing one square foot to the plant. What will it pro- 

 duce if separated from all other plants, l)erries or buttons? My ob- 

 servation leads me to believe that it will produce, at least, berries 

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