66 "Wisconsin Statb Horticultura.l Society. 



He thought the cause was in the fact that the ground was very- 

 dry when it froze up and when severe freezing weather came on 

 the roots froze dry. The snow came late, and when it melted 

 the beds that were mulched were still frozen and the water ran 

 off, leaving the plants that were not entirely killed to die for want 

 of moisture. 



Mr. Reynolds, of Green Bay, bad a very good crop of Crescents. 

 The bed was set a year ago ; the vines grew vigorously and took 

 full possession of the ground ; the beds were covered lightly in 

 the winter, and came out in good condition and bore well. The 

 flavor of the berry was very good. 



Mr. Plumb said that nine-tenths of the crop in Rock county 

 came from the Crescent. The Wilson made but little growth, the 

 berries were small and poor. Professor Whitford, a neighbor of 

 his, cultivated some Crescent in hills, and they seemed like one 

 mass of fruit; he never saw such a sight. Professor Whitford 

 cultivated rows both ways, but did not get as much fruit as he 

 would have otherwise done. It does not do to stir the soil near 

 the plants when the fruit is forming. All the cultivation should 

 be done early in the season. The same with raspberries. He 

 thought the best way to cultivate raspberries was to set them in 

 rows, eight feet apart for black caps, six feet for red, and as thick 

 as they can well stand in the row. Would not take out the old 

 wood in the fall but the first thing in the spring, and also cut up 

 all stragglers. You cannot well raise fruit and suckers too. Early 

 in the spring run the plow along near the rows, throwing the dirt 

 away from the plants, pull out between the hills with a hook. In 

 about two weeks plow again, throwing the earth toward the rows ; 

 then level off and drag. Would not thin them out at this time, but 

 would cut back so as to force out the laterals, giving a greater 

 bearing surface and a stockier growth. Would not manure highly. 

 A neighbor set out to raise twice as large a crop as he did, 

 and manured very heavily, but the rust set in and badly injured 

 his crop. Mr. Stone has the best success of anyone, and he is on 

 light soil, manures but little, does not cultivate much, but 

 mulches. 



President Smith gave it as his opinion that a mulch of any- 



