286 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUThlERN 



with the least possible expenditure. Good tools and a good selection 

 of varieties will go a long way towards accomplishing this purpose. 

 The following I consider best for home use or market, about in the 

 the order named : Jersey (Jueen, Miner, Sharpless, and Champion. 



Mr. Browne — I begin by preparing the ground the Fall before 

 planting, by plowing in all the manure I can; plant as early in the 

 Spring as the ground will permit, in rows two and a half feet apart 

 and one foot in the row; cultivate well the whole season, and keep 

 the runners cut off. 



Mr. Fulkerson — I grow only for family use. Plant in the 

 Spring ; cultivate well the first season, then mulch in the Fall, and 

 let alone for five or six years before planting again, and get all the 

 berries I can use. 



AUGUST MEETING. 



The Society met at the residence of Mr. Vaudenburg, near 

 Jerseyville, August 4th. Mr. Vandenburg grows small fruits for 

 the Jerseyville market, and keeps a general nursery. He is an extra 

 good cultivator, and all his plantations are in the very best condi- 

 tion. As a consequence, he has uniformly good crops of fine fruit, 

 for which he gets good prices at home for all he can grow. 



In discussing the merits of the different varieties of the black- 

 berry, Mr. Browne said he did not know what to plant. The Snyder 

 was too small, the Kittatinny rusted, the Lawton was tender and 

 failed to hold its color after picking. He wanted a blackberry that 

 was early, large, good quality, and hardy. He is trying many vari- 

 eties, and hopes to find such a one. 



Mr. Vanden])urg preferred the Snyder, of which he got heavy 

 crops, and it sold well in the Jerseyville market. 



Messrs. Jackson and Riggs would plant the Snyder. 



Mr. Jackson spoke well of the Taylor, so far as it is free from 

 rust, productive and good, not Cjuite as large as the Kittatinny. 



Mr. Riggs cautioned planters against getting plants from di.s- 

 eased patches, a.s the rust will a})pear in the new plantations and 

 destroy them before they will bear profitable crops, unless the dis- 



