SOCIETY OF NORTPIERN ILLINOIS. 359 



CULTIVATION. 



I work my plants with a horse cultivator, that can be run a 

 foot deep if desired. I run through each space two or three 

 times, which kills all the weeds. I give ni)^ plants four or tive such 

 dressings, but do not cultivate after the tenth of September. This 

 only applies to the first season. 



Plants can be set so the runners will all start out in the same 

 direction. For instance, a plant that was taken from the north side 

 of the parent plant, will send its runners out from the side that was 

 facing the north before it was dug up. I once tried cultivating in 

 the spring and had the largest berries and the best crop 1 ever grew. 

 I removed the mulching and run the cultivator twice through each 

 row and then replaced it. 



VARIETIES. 



Bidwell is a magnificent berry in every respect. The past two 

 seasons everybody was after it in i)reference to any of the old kinds. 

 They are very large, showy and attractive to the eye, and most agree- 

 able to the taste. The soil must be rich to produce perfect fruit, 

 and then you will get them in abundance. Tt is a staminate. 



Manchester is a great plant to bear. Its berries are of the 

 largest size, holding out large all through the season. When this 

 variety is well fertilized, there is none that will go ahead of it in 

 bearing. It was first produced on sandy soil, but it does much bet- 

 ter on a good loamy soil. 



Cumberland Triumph is a very large, first-class berry; plant very 

 robust in growth, and a great bearer of the best quality of fruit. It 

 does ])est in hills. It is a good fertilizer for Manchester. 



Mt. Vernon is very large and late in ripening its fruit. Its ber- 

 ries are of the largest size, but rather soft to ship any distance; 

 quality good; always sells well on account of size and late ripening; 

 holds its fruit up on very long and strong footstalks. Some of its 

 berries are entirely above the leaves, and show^ their ])right red 

 cheeks in the sun. It does well in matted rows or single hills. 



Windsor Chief is a pistillate. When given good cultivation, 

 and well fertilized on good soil, it will yield an abundant crop of 

 beautiful berries which cannot be surpassed by any of the old kinds. 

 They look well and sell well. 



Kentucky is a large, beautiful berry, a strong grower and an 

 abundant bearer of large, beautiful fruit; very late; good to fertilize 

 other late sorts with. 



Captain Jack is a great runner, an abundant bearer, and of good 

 (puility of fruit; a good fertilizer for early blooming kinds. If kept 

 in hills, will jiile its })erries u]) around itself. It is a good shi})per. 



Luelhi is a very stocky, hardy })lant and an enormous bearer of 

 hirge, firm and beautiful fruit. If well fertilized, it loads itself in 



